America's Most Underrated President | The Life & Times of James K Polk

I told you I'd get around to Polk eventually, didn't I? Yes that's right it's time to learn about the man who incorporated Oregon Country, Texas, and almost the entire American Southwest into the US of A, and dive head-first into Manifest Destiny and the increasingly strained issue of slavery. Oh, America, you have a lot of history for a nation your age, but trying to talk about it is like navigating a mine field. But on the bright side it's high time I got to have a little shameless patriotism.
Elaborations:
1:57 Seriously this is a good story I wish I knew before, admittedly more of a Texas story than an Oregon one but I wanted to mention it here. So Tyler had been rearing to annex Texas and had gone to great lengths to make it happen. He went on a national tour to boost his popularity and hand-picked new pro-annexation people for a whole bunch of positions.
One day he and his cabinet are cruising down the Potomac River on the fancy new ship the USS Princeton, boasting the world's largest naval gun. Naturally everyone wants to see it and they fire it off a few times and there is much rejoicing. But before the ride is over, the crowd wants to see it go off just one more time pretty please. So the captain says "Oh all right" gives it one more shot, the gun malfunctions, and Tyler's most important cabinet members die on the spot, along with his dreams of being the man to take Texas. Probably had a significant impact on Oregon negotiations too.
2:59 What happened was Polk had been trying to buy the disputed territory and marched an army in there when Mexico declined. Mexico fired the first shots at Rancho de Carricitos, but considering territorial expansion was Polk's thing, I'm inclined to say that fight was coming one way or another. It's kind of like how Bismarck got the Franco-Prussian war going without being the first one to declare war.
4:33 The idea was that the treasury would hold onto its own gold and silver so that if the banks ever ran out like they did in 1837 the government wouldn't have to say "Whoops, sorry, we have cash but nothing to back it up with" and would be able to carry on as usual, as it did in 1857. That's the general idea, anyway.
Songs in order of appearance:
Kevin Macleod - Thunderbird
Kevin Macleod - Division
Kevin Macleod - Long Road Ahead
John Philip Sousa - Stars and Stripes Forever
Kevin Macleod - Balloon Game
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Check out the latest Life & Times: Joseph Haydn!
• The Least Interesting ...
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[@dasky17]

As an American, I really should not have laughed so hard at the comparison of our westward expansion to lebensraum, but here we are...

[@JackRackam]

Perfectly all right to laugh at your country's expense now and again

[@dasky17]

@@JackRackam You're probably right, thanks Jack!

[@670HP-Package-NOW]

@@JackRackam laugh at our countries expanse*

[@ATemplarIGuess]

@@670HP-Package-NOW i smell communism

[@jimbor8774]

@@ATemplarIGuess You spelt liberate wrong.

[@DigitalDuelist]

"Alaska and Hawaii are nice, but let's be honest they're just DLC." -Best line ever

[@Julianna.Domina]

Does that mean Puerto Rico, Guam, and our other territories are just free content packs?

[@alexmartin4772]

@@Julianna.Domina well, never say never!

[@attackonmars5198]

I love his comedy lol pure gold!

[@San-li9ml]

@@Julianna.Domina Don't remind me that I'm basically so worthless I'm an free expansion pack.

[@gagagaga3147]

And Philippines was the free-trial expired component

[@valvano304]

Polk is one of the few US presidents who kept their promises. Seriously, he didn't run again because he had checked off his to-do list. Man of his word. He didn't annex Texas though. Tyler had already done that.

[@Nebulasecura]

Yes! Polk literally did everything that he campaigned to do and left afterward! Shame he died the way that he did

[@neo-filthyfrank1347]

He didn't run again because he was dying

[@getass3290]

@@neo-filthyfrank1347 he also promised not to and I don't think he was dying until after he left the presidency

[@g-forcefgt323]

He died like immediately after because he worked himself to death

[@StVertz]

He also knew he was in poor health and didn’t want to run lol

[@warrenrhinerson6373]

fun fact: he also had the shortest retirement of any American President. He died less than 90 days after leaving the White House

[@superrknight1858]

Good thing he didn't run for a second term

[@Nebulasecura]

Yup. That damn cholera outbreak of 1849

[@dvsurz]

@@superrknight1858 Good thing? He was a great president and one of the few to keep their promises. There's a reason he didn't run again.

[@superrknight1858]

@@dvsurzNo it's a good thing he didn't ran again as he would've died in office. I wasn't referring to his accomplishments

[@kallmannkallmann]

Think its fun when ppl die?!?!?!? SICK BASTARD

[@the_grenadier3985]

oohhh all that LIEBENSRAUM

[@wouldyouliketomeetkenbamba9495]

@Amon Ra Maybe it was a joke. "Love Space"

[@wouldyouliketomeetkenbamba9495]

@Amon Ra i dunno dude. Just some haphazard guess

[@irishg357]

@@wouldyouliketomeetkenbamba9495 Yeah, maybe they loved their lebensraum so much they changed the name, I feel you on this one, haha.

[@BuddyNovinski]

@@wouldyouliketomeetkenbamba9495 Ending the secular rule of the pope was the best thing that ever happened to the papacy. Italy had its own version of the separation of church and state.

[@wouldyouliketomeetkenbamba9495]

@@BuddyNovinski Wow a real reply to my username, thats the first one. Its just for memes lol. Christianity itself doesn't really have a concept of a true theocracy/Ecclesiocracy like Islam, Judaism, the eastern religions (to some extend), etc. They continue to emphasize the separation between their Spiritual and Temporal rule like how the Papal States is more similar in civil governance to a regular feudal monarchy than to a caliphate or a King-God system of the ancient egypt.

[@forgetfulfunctor1]

@3:08 "Forces going south" *shows gravity and electromagnetism crossing borders* I'm done with you man

[@Omar_ayach]

Oh I just got it after reading this I feel dumb now

[@traceyholloway5766]

What about Menelik II of Ethiopia? Despite famine killing 1/3 of the population, he co-founded Addis Ababa (which now has 4 million people in it) abolished slavery, modernised his nation and totally wrecked Italy at the battle of Adwa preventing Italian invasion for 39 years. And barely anyone has heard of him!

[@JackRackam]

+Tracey Holloway Wow, this is the first I'm hearing of him. This guy's got quite the track record!

[@budakbaongsiah]

Tracey Holloway Was he the predecessor of Haile Selassie?

[@traceyholloway5766]

Yeah. They were 1st cousins once removed. Haile Selassie would be a good one too.

[@sambradley2975]

Tracey Holloway Il Duce was so much better for Ethiopia!

[@pjishomo]

@sam Bradley We got a fascist here

[@vinny9868]

"Mexico was not a good place at the time" Mexico literally became just independent in 1810/1821 and proceeded to have a quite a lot of instability In 1838 France invaded (but lost) Continued to face instability Some new contentious Anglo settlers revolted all over the desolate North and next thing you know America invades and makes things worse They then go ahead and take over half of the territory, all under basically gun point. The instability continues. France invades again and succeeds. Another revolution in 1860 and things are still bad. The fun never stops for Mexico.

[@FOLIPE]

Too far from God, too close to the US.

[@merrittanimation7721]

It's always a party south of the Rio del Norte.

[@mecha7419]

F. OPE Why do you keep coming into the US then

[@josephnarvaez9507]

mecha that was a mexican saying and besides that they're kinda populating the former mexican territories

[@mecha7419]

Joseph Narvaez Pretty inaccurate quote

[@louiscallahan3720]

"...the elephant in the room slowly fracturing the country's ribs." That is THE funniest description of antebellum America I have ever heard. Goddamn.

[@traceyholloway5766]

You should do the life and times of Wotjek, the bear that fought for Poland in the Second World War.

[@JackRackam]

That would be really interesting to make a video on the life and times of a non-human! Unfortunately, fond though I am of large beer-drinking animals, there are a couple videos dedicated to Wojtek already that have done a good job and I'm not sure I could bring much new to the table. Cogito in particular made a good video about Wojtek that I'd recommend you watch if you haven't already: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rpu7aYONZdN0q5I

[@nukclear2741]

@@JackRackam yes, it would be that YOU did it.

[@CitrusyGuy]

@@nukclear2741 your wish is granted

[@jun-hs4eo]

The madman did it...

[@ZephLodwick]

He has now.

[@jaymayhoi]

Holding Polk's beer for a term

[@patrickbateman8622]

Thank you for the recognition.

[@princekalender2154]

Lebensraum for some, Manifest Destiny to others.

[@ProjectEkerTest33]

@Intellectual Ammunition Eh manifest destiny etcetera isn't so much fasict as it is Imperialist or Nationalist, fascism is more about the whole dictator stuff.

[@biliminsrlar5752]

@Intellectual Ammunition no but fascists wanted to copy America.Hitler literally wanted to do Manifest Destiny on Slavs.

[@aleksandersokal5279]

Comparing conquest of established and well of nations to colonizing mostly abandoned land, with only primitive people on it? Sounds like a bit of a stretch.

[@princekalender2154]

@@aleksandersokal5279 not really. Americans are always picky on being measured as they do to others. More or less population, is irrelevant if you have a God granted right to conquest. Modern Israel could also be thrown into the group.

[@aleksandersokal5279]

@@princekalender2154 Cultural development is important. If there would be another civilized state to the west of America they would not take it over like they did in our timeline. There were just a bunch of disunited tribes.

[@leiftorbjorn5621]

The real warcrime is that you only have 3000 subs

[@a.h.s.3006]

Around 3 years later and he is still under 80k, how is thag possible ?

[@ChevySilveradoGang]

3 years now, over 100k subs :)

[@jokesterthemighty227]

I'm more surprised you've only have less than 3k subs

[@rockyporterjr4215]

75,000 now you pompous bitch

[@mirzaahmed6589]

97k. Just had to trigger the algorithm at some point.

[@zas4384]

Over 100k now.

[@svchineeljunk-riggedschoon4038]

178k. Past noobs.

[@SamAronow]

1:41 Your depiction of Grán California under the Lone Star flag has made my heart grow three sizes.

[@Apollo1989V]

There was a tiny bit of Arizona and New Mexico that came latter. Thinking about a railroad to benefit the south, they bought an area they thought it should go through.

[@awildfilingcabinet6239]

Christian Minecraft Server 4 Homeschoolers yep. It was the Gadsden purchase, it gave Mexico more money than the peace terms of the Mexican-American war, and in the end wasn’t even used cuz they decided on a different route further north

[@siononalundula1699]

A wild Filing cabinet but it’s where Phoenix is. So there’s that.

[@NJFireDepartment]

In my opinion NM and AZ are literally DLCs to. Literally they because a state 1912. If you get my point you know what I mean.

[@robertlakey6659]

I'm from the U.K. and visited a friend in Michigan last month, but hired a car and drove down to Tennessee just to pay my respects at his gravesite to him. I've studied your history and out of all of your presidents, he was my personal favourite. I don't believe that America would be the country that it is today without his achievements

[@vitogeraci843]

I concur

[@michaelcole79]

Slaveowning warmonger who unjustly attacked our neighbor to the south to steal their land. Additionally wanted to expand slavery into the west. Not a good person.

[@BuddyNovinski]

Historical note: Polk was worn out when he left and died soon afterward. He also switched from being a Presbyterian to a Methodist. Perhaps he'd thought he'd been predestined as well?

[@SoryRN]

James K Polk agressor and unjust war against Mexico and a liar

[@GarlicPudding]

Polk is an underrated President. Guy's a champ.

[@cpegg5840]

He kept every electoral promise he made. That's a lost thing called integrity; sorely lacking in the politics of now.

[@shannonhondo260]

Very very underrated. Great Prez

[@Dunno1999]

he, Monroe, and Coolidge

[@robertortiz-wilson1588]

@@Dunno1999 Yes indeed.

[@corygriffiths4394]

Is he great for starting a war with Mexico lol

[@skippyvlogs8239]

I just wanted to know more about Polk for a history project, but this was an absolute delight

[@MorrisonProductions]

Oh my god I can just imagine the hours of tedium editing this, seriously worth it though.

[@Jasonwolf1495]

IDK what it is, but it always hit different when its America vs other national powers in the Americas. In a weird way that always felt much more justified. All nations were based on colonies or were still run by a power in europe, so it was more like they were always fighting to see who got what rather than it being taking the ancestral homelands of those nations. Now the native peoples thats a whole other thing that I do feel bad about, but also live so many years after it that I can't feel so bad because quite frankly what was done was done and I do my best to respect people thats all the power I got.

[@jmace2424]

Not sure if Polk still has a statue at UNC but when it was standing it had a statement on its base that unironically said “He increased the size of our nation by 2/3.”

[@theflyingeyeball]

Polk came through with all of his promises in only 4 years

[@postacorona6746]

As an American, the real most underrated president is, CALVIN COOLIDGE.

[@rogueraven1333]

Yes

[@rgg.x1]

Yes

[@messidas1307]

Well, i think my brain finally got to the point where it can't deal with the awesomeness of your videos. I think i need to lie down to process this one

[@allansimoncosta]

I recently commented on the Taiping Rebellion video about my favorite videos ever, and I'd like to amend that -- this one is definitely number one, all others get demoted one slot to fit Polk. Shit, I've seen this particular video enough times to recite it by heart while I play Civ. Great work, truly exceptional. I did not know enough about Polk at all before this video, and now I live on a street named after this pearl of a leader.

[@MaxwellAerialPhotography]

I like Jack Rackam but This is easily his best episode ever! How have I missed this video for so long?

[@barakdan1858]

Bless you Jack, educating us, making us laugh and keeping us safe all at once.

[@otter90]

I was kind of hoping this would be another Spanish Inquisition joke...

[@JackRackam]

+FBGrass Otter I mean I'm dubious, but not that dubious. Definitely considered Brazil, though

[@Mateo-mn8eb]

Can’t believe how underrated this channel is. Makes me actually want to learn more about history lol. Nice shit dude

[@TheBlindingStorm]

I'm going to use that DLC comparison now and forever. Thank you.

[@fatalrob0t]

Oh my god, I've just discovered you and I'm in love.

[@seendoo8393]

This is the most amazing channel I have ever randomly stumbled upon :)

[@goldheartart6684]

I am writing out letters as I watch this. Thank you for scaring the crud out of me for about 10 seconds there.

[@Foul_Ghoul]

I use to live about ten minutes away from Polk’s home. I just always considered him one of the most well known because of it.

[@cristerowarrior1450]

There were 666 likes on this video. I was 667. You’re welcome, crisis averted

[@kylesweet783]

This is my favorite episode, do more American history

[@redbird300011]

This is a great video, he's easily in my top three Presidents

[@Steven-dt5nu]

Man I love your stuff!

[@Blazetoamaze]

ace video my bro!

[@jonniheinisto9825]

Oh my god your channel is so good

[@patrickstewart3446]

“P-O-K-E! Yay Polk!” - Kelly Bundy’s Polk High Cheer.

[@ComradeHellas]

I get these vibes frequently but thankfully I am a subscriber.

[@charlesh7368]

Love this, just subbed

[@Lauren-tk1gq]

OMG this is like one of my favorite episodes of all time

[@caos1925]

Fun fact congressman Lincoln, yes THAT Lincoln opposed the Mexican american war too, then lost his seat for it, but hey then he may have never become president, after also failing to become a senator. And really the longer the civil war was delayed the better the North was only getting stronger and the South stayed about the same

[@brandonf24]

Hello from Columbia, TN...live just down the road from the Polk Home.

[@Elsass_Bastard]

Yay, new video :D

[@nicobambino191]

You should have played the They Might Be Giants song about Polk

[@JackRackam]

TIL They Might Be Giants have a song about Polk

[@nicobambino191]

@@JackRackam kzbin.info/www/bejne/fmq2p32Dj9hoiNU

[@JackRackam]

@@nicobambino191 Wow you're right, that song really encompasses a lot

[@brokenbridge6316]

I've heard a lot about this guy. Polk if I remember used to have the Marine Corp band play on the White House Lawn at least once a week. Funny video.

[@hazeldecker622]

I laughed so hard at leibensraum!

[@alessiodelcastillo1613]

Manifest Destiny was effectively what Hitler's Lebensraum was based on

[@NautilusSSN571]

And let's be honest if Hitler hadn't been a genocidal maniac he would probably be remembered as one of the greatest conquerors of all time.

[@angelortiz4815]

4:23 Passing on the hot potato to the next guy sums up republics/democracies pretty well

[@deltharion]

This channel is great

[@tank6817]

The Mexican American war WAS a practice round for the Civil war generals. They had all trained st West Point together and learned Jomoni warfare studying the Naoleonic wars, and the Mexican American war confirmed their beliefs in Jomoni warfare, which is why the civil war was the bloodiest war in US history (Jomoni emphasized a large decisive victory to end the entire war at once, that’s what happened when America took Mexico City, so the entire civil war each general was trying to earn his decisive battle (except for grant) which led to endless massive battles)

[@mollietenpenny4093]

I actually went to Sarah Childress Polk's childhood home last year. Sarah Polk's home was made into a bed and breakfast. I also went to the Tennessee State Museum last year (which is free by the way) and I saw a lock of James K. Polk's hair on display.

[@Foul_Ghoul]

Having grownup within walking distance of his Museum in Tennessee it’s a bit jarring to hear that he’s underrated.

[@rossmanIVXX]

Live down the road from that cabin probably the only reason I knew of him.

[@Snoknogunen]

Hopefully this isn't another spanish inquisition switcheroo like last time.

[@lovelydeath04]

The entire intro had me dying 🤣🤣🤣

[@Cheekster15]

This is my favorite video of your’s. Its fascinating to take a hard honest look at U.S. history and how aggressive its expansionist policies were.

[@sircashew1097]

As a history major I love your humor, I’m not a Nazi, I just love history jokes

[@dariusmahamedi4917]

Can you do Calvin Coolidge

[@hmfilippelli2253]

Polk was actually born on a plantation in Virginia to wealthy parents. When he ran for president he wanted to appear as a common man. When a newspaper put out a story that attempted to make fun of him by saying he was born in a log cabin and loved hard cider he decided to embrace this falsehood as it made him appear to be more common.

[@abhiramviswanathan4773]

The thumbnail is great

[@AndWeDanceVlog]

Just found you on Reddit! Congrats on the 3000 milestone!!

[@JackRackam]

+AND WE DANCE. Thanks a lot!

[@eastportland]

@@JackRackam Reddit again. Here comes 300k!

[@orionstark]

You should do a video on Grant's world tour.

[@snakey934Snakeybakey]

Van Buren should also be remembered for the trail of tears.... Buuut with a buddy like Jackson who needs accountability. Andrew Jackson was to Van Buren what Batman was to Comissioner Gordan.

[@Old_Hickory_Jackson]

That's my boy!

[@thedukeofswellington1827]

I took atlantic worlds have since been fascinated with comparative colonial systems in the Americas. The Spanish came over and brought Encomendia which is basically serfdom/manorialism. Where the British brought Capitalism and Representative Government. The results really speak for themselves

[@seanwieland9763]

Polk High! Four touchdowns in a single game! 🏈

[@rodrialcocer126]

Chingatumadre

[@Bronasaxon]

It’s a sad fact of reality that nations don’t become great and powerful by being nice to everyone.

[@VindulaP]

My second favorite president, only behind Lincoln.

[@jestersareawesome4332]

“Oh trust me, I’m American!” 1:04

[@azizwnajem9376]

Not ending on a fun fact? Disappointed. No really great video as always!

[@JackRackam]

+Azizwnajem Not this time, unfortunately, but there is a good story about Polk's predecessor John Tyler in the description

[@doanhoangvan5009]

May I suggest those figures for the next videos: Augustus, Marcus Aurelius, Frederick the Great, Bismarck, Napoleon?

[@b0b2oo0]

Could you do one on the president that did nothing?

[@Yuki_Ika7]

Reminds me of the they might be giants song about Polk

[@deltharion]

About what you mention about Baja California, there was a strong and consistent interest on the part of the United States with Polk (and after him) to get it, but they never achieved anything (or not the main goal at least), since there was always a fierce diplomatic resistance from the Mexicans (and other random things). Speaking particularly about Polk and Baja California, Polk did propose it for the Guadalupe-Hidalgo treaty, but the guy he sent, Trist, was against the annexation, because he thought there was no reason to demand land from Mexico beyond the Nueces strip and the Bravo valley , after all, Polk had said it was a defensive war, why would that entail taking over Mexican land? so he let it go. There were several attempts after that, some more peaceful than others but it never fulfil anything

[@space_lemonz4561]

It’s been two years and I am still pissed this has only 58k views

[@ladnerlad]

I live in Tsawwassen (the town above point roberts) and I will say kids DO NOT go to school in the US 60% of point roberts are retired Canadians and all the children (except maybe 10) are dual-citizens and go to school in Canada. I have never understood why people think they would actually go to school in the US it may not look far but from point roberts to about half an hour to the border and to cross takes 1-4 hours so if they crossed 4 times a day that is 3 hours minimum at the going to and from school and 14 hours maximum. So I guess you know this little timbit of information now I have no idea why I rant about this all the time. I think it's just because I think its dumb people always make a big deal about "School children cross an international border 4 times a day to go to school!" Like thats stupid in fact there are deals between the US and Canada with covid-19 and point roberts. They are allowed to cross the border still because they would be unable to get basic Healthcare.

[@robertortiz-wilson1588]

Thank you. I'm tired of hearing that too.

[@traceyholloway5766]

How about Fritz Haber or Maurice Hilleman? Those guys are soo underrated.

[@eastonb.9]

No cap I’m related to James Polk because my mom is so then that puts me on his family tree

[@Zetsuke4]

Nice.

[@arantanen3779]

Nice to see that you have made new video. And yeah American history is... nicest way to put it contreversial. but seriously dont mess with my budy and national legend Urho Kekkonen or help me god...

[@JackRackam]

+Niklas Rantanen Yeah, it's a surprisingly contentious subject. Considering Urho Kekkonen is a 20th century figure, you're probably safe. Probably. For now.

[@jesperhallbert467]

Both of my parents had a social studies text book, with an amusing "misprint", that sounded something like this: "Finland has elections every five years where they elect the president, Urho Kekkonen." -some Swedish social science text book in the 80s. Considering how long he served I think this it's not entirely incorrect.

[@GarseJanacek]

Guy is a beast.

[@ArtyFartyBart]

Four touchdowns in one game!

[@budakbaongsiah]

Something close to my heart and geography-wise, Raden Wijaya. Defeater of Yuan Empire, the one that created the biggest empire of South East Asia. Of course by means of oathbreaking and backstabbing, filling the ruthlessness quota.

[@jon4715]

Polk was probably the 4th or 5th greatest president in history.

[@JesusKathrynMiller]

✝️🤍😇🔯🕊️🐑🧄🌍🌏🌎🔭🎇🌲🤍✝️🦅🇺🇸🍀Holy Psalm 91 Jesus and KathrynMiller say Thankyou for sharing ✝️🤍✝️The History of President James K Polk🤍 Jesus Bless all past Presidents✝️🦅🇺🇸🍀🍀🍀

[@Talisman1010]

Hello

[@georgewilson7432]

[Musical saw sounding at the distance.]

[@whitedrawf]

I am a simple man I see an Umineko reference I upvote

[@thyhighcomrade2180]

coz you get the angle of those stars right. :)

[@MooShaka89]

I never knew we had a president named James K Polk. Wow.

[@stefanatliorvaldsson3563]

my favorite historical figure Leifur Eiríksson how the first european in north america and started a colony in newfoundland around the year 1000 but on day 1 he killed 8 native americans p.s. great video

[@edits4161]

rioters literally just tore down this mans statue smh :(

[@elg6197]

Don't be sad, he did US lebensra... er... manifest destiny I mean. Just think it this way, by living during the time they took the statue down, you are living through an historical event. That's something you could brag to a grandchildren someday.

[@Kolbjornelenano]

as a mexican all I can say its: Nice

[@jamesbhollingsworth5452]

We will build a bigger one someday brother.

[@jamescravero]

@@jamesbhollingsworth5452 All Mexico? Maybe All Canada too? That's hot.

[@jamesbhollingsworth5452]

@@jamescravero Extremely.

[@bookwormaddict3933]

Can you do Geronimo

[@coachgoltzbizpro23]

History comes at you fast... With Jack Rackham, it's faster than The Flash.