A Country of Vast Designs: James K. Polk, the Mexican War and the Conquest of the American Continent
Simon Schuster
11/3/2009
Audiobook
575 pages
When James K. Polk was elected president in 1844, the United States was locked in a bitter diplomatic struggle with Britain over the rich lands of the Oregon Territory, which included what is now Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Texas, not yet part of the Union, was threatened by a more powerful Mexico. And the territories north and west of Texas -- what would become California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and part of Colorado -- belonged to Mexico. When Polk relinquished office four years later, the country had grown by more than a third as all these lands were added. The continental United States, as we know it today, was established -- facing two oceans and positioned to dominate both.
I basically knew nothing about James Polk before reading this book beyond that he came after Tyler and before Taylor. I found the story of his presidency immediately relateable to modern politics. The trials that he went through are amazing and the success he had in both completing the tasks he laid out for himself and sticking to his promise of only one term are impressive. The book was well written and kept my interest the entire time. I listened to the audio book, so I’d imagine that a second reading would help me pick up more tidbits.
I found the information about the Mexican-American War especially fascinating. I knew very little about this war, let alone the machinations that went into it’s development and ultimate settlement. The time restraints on communication alone bring such a different element to diplomacy from today’s immediate notification that it almost becomes unbelievable.
Overall, a very good book that I found highly entertaining and informative.