Primary sourceSpeech8 December 1846
Second State of the Union Address
James K. Polk · 8 December 1846
Polk's 1846 annual message to Congress, covering the war with Mexico and the Oregon settlement.
Polk's own words to Congress, describing his administration's actions in the Mexican War and Oregon settlement.
About this source
What it is
This is the full text of President James K. Polk's second annual message to Congress, delivered in December 1846. It covers major events of his presidency, including the war with Mexico and the settlement of the Oregon boundary dispute.
Why it matters
The State of the Union address lets a president speak directly to Congress and the nation about the state of affairs. This message shows how Polk, who pursued an aggressive policy of territorial expansion, framed the war and diplomatic gains of his administration to the public.
Look closer
- How does Polk describe the condition of the country at the start of the speech?
- What tone does he use when discussing the war with Mexico?
- What might be left out of a president's own account of his policies?
This speech is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of James K. Polk on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.
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