The Most Underrated American President

Here's the story of James K. Polk, the most underrated President in American history. He did more in four years as President than most Presidents do in eight. #jamespolk #apush #americanpresidents
My James Polk song: • The James Polk Song
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Produced by Matt Beat. Music by Electric Needle Room. All images either by Matt Beat, found in the public domain, or used under fair use guidelines.
Sources:
fivethirtyeigh...
Matuz, Roger. The Presidents Fact Book.
millercenter.o...
www.dmwv.org/me...
college.unc.ed...
Photo credits:
ProhibitOnions
Matthew Trump
Kimberly Vardeman
Tom Murphy VII
Tilden76
Golbez
Sealy j
Ch1902
Kballen
Sound credits:
thecheeseman
When I think of American Presidents who kept their promises, the first one that always pops in my head is James K. Polk. Even though Polk had such a huge impact on the United States, hardly any Americans know about him. James Polk is underrated. So in this video, I’m going to give him some much needed recognition.
Polk was born literally in a log cabin near Pineville, North Carolina on November 2, 1795, the oldest of ten kids. When he was ten, his family picked up everything and moved west to the Tennessee frontier. They took the 500-mile journey by wagon, and it sucked. However, James’ dad did well in Tennessee, living the American Dream, eventually owning thousands of acres of farmland and lots and lots of slaves.
Polk was sickly growing up. At 17, he had horrible gallstones and had to have them surgically removed. This was before anesthesia, ok. They cut open his body and removed the gallstones while he was completely conscious, strapped to a table and holding his dad’s hand. But the good news is his overall health recovered quite a bit after this. At 18, he barely knew how to read or write, but he really kicked it into gear at that age, studying his butt off and becoming proficient in English, Greek, and Latin. He ended up graduating from the University of North Carolina with first honors in both mathematics and classics. Next, Polk studied law and found himself becoming more and more interested in politics. He was always a fan of Thomas Jefferson, but he was quickly becoming inspired by a family friend named Andrew Jackson. By the time Polk was in his twenties, Jackson was a war hero who was looking to become President.
After being a lawyer for a bit, Polk aligned himself with Jackson when he ran for the Tennessee legislature in 1823. He won that election and became popular in Tennessee, becoming a Representative in Congress for Tennessee’s Sixth District two years later. While in Congress, Polk was one of Andrew Jackson’s biggest supporters, earning him the nickname “Young Hickory,” you know...since Jackson was “Old Hickory?” So clever, I know. After Jackson became President in 1829, Polk was right with Jackson on every major decision, including the decision not to renew the charter of the Second Bank of the United States. His support made Polk one of the early leaders of the newly formed Democratic Party. Polk’s colleagues elected him to Speaker of the House in 1835, and he greatly expanded that role. In 1839, Tennessee residents elected him governor. However, he lost his re-election bids the next two times as many blamed the Democratic Party for the economic depression of the late 1830s and early 1840s.
In 1844, Polk became the first dark-horse Presidential candidate for the Democratic Party, meaning at the beginning of the Democratic Party national convention no one thought he had a chance but by the end of it he was their guy, mostly because Polk wanted to annex the country of Texas, adding it to the United States.
So in 1844, it ended up being Polk versus Henry Clay, the Whig Party candidate who had a history of losing presidential elections. During his campaign, Polk made no effort to hide his ambitions. He was very clear. He was a firm believer in manifest destiny, or the belief that the United States expanding across the entire continent was the right thing to do and destined to happen. Polk wanted to expand the country’s border whenever and wherever possible, and most Americans seemed to agree with him.
Polk promised he was only running for one term, but if elected, during those four years he would 1) cut tariffs
2) re-create an independent U.S. Treasury
3) add some or all of Oregon Territory to the United States
And 4) somehow get California and New Mexico from Mexico and add it to the United States

[@iammrbeat]

For your "best Presidents lists", where do you rank James K. Polk?

[@EPluribusUnumYT]

Meh, when I rank US Presidents, Polk ranks #19

[@Captain-Sum.Ting-Wong]

Off topic a bit but what are your thoughts about Kris Kobach winning?

[@iammrbeat]

Not a Kris Kobach fan. I will be voting against him in November.

[@j-man8546]

Mr. Beat you should do a joint Supreme Court briefs video on Gregg v Georgia and Furman v Georgia

[@EPluribusUnumYT]

@@iammrbeat Well then who are you supporting, Jeff Caldwell (L), lan Cohen (I), Aaron Coleman (I), Laura Kelly (D), Rick Kloos (I), Greg Orman (I), or Nicholas Schrieber (I)

[@adrianespinel7758]

I think the reason we think politicians and Presidents DON'T keep their promises is because we humans have a tendency on focusing on the public failures than on the quiet successes, we focus more on the 33% that didn't get done than on the 67% that did.

[@punctuationman334]

Adrian Espinel that becomes exacerbated when right and left wing media sites only focus on the failures of there opponents. If Bernie becomes president expect the right the pull off the same bullshit the left did with Trump.

[@user-ip5xn9ks9k]

@@punctuationman334 True

[@SHURIKENRCN]

Baby Blue Exactly

[@hangukhiphop]

Sure, 67% (attempted) might be the quantitative results (by some measurement), but what about the qualitative results? Some issues carry more weight than others, not only in scope but also in how polarizing it was at the time and how hard the sitting president was willing to fight for it.

[@TheGenericAssasin]

This is actually a psychological phenomenon that is documented and studied. Humans have a strong negativity bias, so you need at least 5 good things for every 2-3 bad to consider an experience positive.

[@yms8280]

Gallstones. Removed at 17 years old. Surgically. No anesthesia. I can’t even...

[@iammrbeat]

I think he had Brandy at least (the drink, not his girlfriend at the time)

[@TheSphee131]

They were BUILT DIFFERENT

[@aidenlosh9518]

Um, underrated? Excuse me, Mr. Beat, but be had the highest honor of being the namesake of the middle school in Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide. :)

[@iammrbeat]

Indeed!

[@Shardok42]

He's also the namesake of one of the two counties that my city, Salem OR, is part of it.

[@hendog5396]

Aiden Losh 11/10 comment

[@jasonreeves496]

Not to mention having his namesake emblazoned across the chest of #33, Mr. Al Bundy in the 1966 Chicago City Championship! Al honored Polk with 4 touchdowns as they smote their opponent who carried the moniker of the disgraced, impeachable Andrew Johnson!

[@MuhammadFarukh]

Ah, that was a great show from back in the day!

[@benbauer7866]

I’m not a giant manifest destiny fan, but it’s hard to deny Polk’s accomplishments are very tangible and paved the way for the US to become the superpower it is today.

[@EmmaDoty21]

“No President who performs his duties faithfully and conscientiously can have any leisure.” -James K. Polk

[@ohmyblindman]

Trump anyone?

[@dsxa918]

He was a better president than a lot of them.

[@revinhatol]

To most Native Americans ("Indians"), he was like Thanos when we watched the MCU.

[@revinhatol]

@Captain Blammo *Thanos

[@matertua2272]

As a Native American I can confirm this.

[@nope929]

*American Indian A poll was conducted where they prefer American Indian to Native Americans due to Native American being too general, although most vastly prefer their tribe's name to anything else

[@juantistic3855]

mexicans too

[@grahamvert8174]

haw haw 19th century racial prejudice is like sooper hero moovy

[@shikat2371]

James Polk was the one responsible for expanding the United States all the way to the Pacific. He fulfilled all of his campaign promises, including taking California away from Mexico and Oregon from the British. He worked so hard that, by the time he left office, he was so exhausted that his immune system suffered greatly. He would die in less than four months after leaving office. I think Polk was the only American president who promised to serve only one term.

[@simonepatuzzi5838]

No, even Rutherford Hayes

[@annbush1826]

Calvin Coolidge?

[@nope929]

@@annbush1826 no, he didn't come in promising.

[@nope929]

@@simonepatuzzi5838 he didn't run on that though like Polk

[@Shaw4123]

He also wanted the Baja California peninsula and the Sonora desert two sparsely populated areas included in the original treaty of Guadalupe, Nicolas Trist failed to acquire them in negotiations though.

[@wintersouljah8437]

He got his ruthlessness from the man he admired the most... Old hickory..

[@jimmyday656]

We need to legalize dualing for members of congress. Cut back on the 5h1t talk, and would make Jackson proud.

[@Shaw4123]

He was Young Hickory.

[@notaraven]

@@jimmyday656 if I recall Hamilton pulled a "suicide by duel" to basically ruin the career of his rival. I always figured that's the reason why duels fell out of favor, no one really comes out of a duel looking good or reasonable...

[@excelisfun]

Your videos are consistently awesome! Thanks Mr. Beat!!!

[@luiscastanon6031]

No you’re that’s it

[@heatherperleberg7816]

@@luiscastanon6031 What?

[@zoomerjack5435]

Honestly, I'd go with either Polk or Silent Cal as the most underrated president.

[@johngrauman4208]

Coolidge set up the conditions for the great depression which Hoover got all the blame for. Polk is basically a thief

[@gwynethprice99]

John Grauman erm no

[@WTMNNJR]

Tammy T ah yes the Federal Reserve.

[@aznluvr7]

@Tammy T So 6 years of Coolidge mean nothing then?

[@neilpemberton5523]

@Tammy T Wrong! The Great Depression was caused by the initial policy responses to the financial crash, according to this economics writer: www.forbes.com/sites/johntamny/2015/10/18/the-fed-and-the-great-depression-a-myth-that-just-wont-die/amp/

[@insertaliashere1379]

In 1844, the Democrats were split, The three nominees for the presidential candidate, Martin Van Buren, a former President, and an abolitionist, James Buchanan, a moderate, Lewis Cass, a general and expansionist, From Nashville came a dark horse riding ooooooooooooooooon, *He was James K. Polk, Napoleon of the Stump* - They Might Be Giants

[@arthurmarsch6211]

Yes!! I was just about to post about this song!! It slaps!!!!

[@dijondarling]

Stay woke. Mr. Beat made this video only to promote his own bangin' tunes

[@iammrbeat]

Of course not, but since you brought up, feel free to purchase my James Polk song on Itunes ;) itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-presidents-of-the-united-states-of-america-volume-1/765425539

[@Sp1n1985]

@@iammrbeat 🎶 after the forth listening 👂🏾 its kinda catchy

[@jag3596]

I really appreciate that you took the time to have grammatically correct subtitles. Really helps people like me whose speakers are completely busted.

[@jag3596]

It's a shame I couldn't hear that song of yours though.

[@iammrbeat]

I appreciate you giving me this feedback. It's a pain to type those in, but glad to see it is well worth it. :D

[@dwavyy300]

What your dumbass can’t understand unless it’s grammatically correct ? Wierdos

[@heatherperleberg7816]

@@dwavyy300 ?can't this person saying you what is understand

[@nickcameron4107]

how can he be underrated when he's the only president that I know of that has a They Might Be Giants song?

[@spamsingles5948]

Tippecanoe and Tyler too have a song as well though

[@coderedskyrim]

I remember my 8th grade history teacher telling me that he was the most underappreciated president of all time.

[@SiVlog1989]

Like I said in a previous video, I put Gerald Ford in the category of underrated presidents. Someone who was an antidote to Richard Nixon and his bribery and back stabbing, rebuilding trust between the government and the American people

[@Captain-Sum.Ting-Wong]

The Nixon pardon ruined his chance for reelection but he did it anyway, because he knew the country needed to get past Watergate. I admire him very much for that.

[@SiVlog1989]

@@Captain-Sum.Ting-Wong I don't know if it's true, but I have read that Gerald Ford was the last president who had a somewhat decent relationship with all sides the press, able to answer the questions put to him honestly and without bitterness

[@iammrbeat]

And I still agree with you!

[@johnnybadboy3475]

Yeah and it was funny when he tripped coming down from Air Force one.

[@FrankieBlueEyes]

@@johnnybadboy3475 he was clumsy, yet he was probably the best athlete ever to be president having played football for Michigan and turning down offers to play in the NFL.

[@rambunctiousbearguy]

It’s a good day when you release a new video

[@iammrbeat]

It's a good day when you leave such a nice comment. :D

[@Helloredtiger333]

Being a huge ass US History need these videos warm my soul! Thank you Mr. Beast

[@iammrbeat]

lol sure thing

[@person3070]

don't you just hate it when youre big US history

[@Michael_De_Santa-Unofficial]

@@person3070 Happened to me once. Hated it.

[@corbetthowell3392]

Gonna have to disagree. Calvin Coolidge is probably the most underrated.

[@redjirachi1]

He had 4/3rds of a term instead of 3/3rds

[@caoilte8097]

Well in the youtube us history community Coolidge is greatly loved but Pol is never talked about

[@elizabethcsicsery-ronay1633]

What the hell did Cal do?

[@makemedosomething1671]

@@elizabethcsicsery-ronay1633 cut taxes for the rich

[@chrissygerwitz520]

@@makemedosomething1671 And set the country up for a stock market crash and the Great Depression.

[@AtomicReverend]

How is KZbin demonetizing. History videos?

[@iammrbeat]

They demonetize for controversial topics. I have 23 videos that are currently demonetized.

[@AtomicReverend]

Mr. Beat I figured as much. I love history, especially US history it bothers me that people want to change facts or try to rewrite it or even worse hide it. The thing is, almost all of history can be controversial. From the Moors invading Sicily, to something modern like Trump getting the middle class blue collar vote... Well I guess at least they haven't suspended your account. I keep hoping for an internet bill of Rights that will protect freedom of speech... I know these are private companies (FB, KZbin, Twitter and the like) but this is the modern day town square and it bothers me that suppression is practiced in the United States by companies that made their fortunes off of American citizens.

[@jons5756]

Can't talk about politics, old or new

[@jctevo3d1978]

1984...much?

[@nightprowler6336]

Instagram also shadow bans political, historical, or geographical accounts.

[@JamesKPolk-zf9rm]

Underrated? People don’t see me for my glory of expanding the country by 1/3? How apostrophes, thank you Mr. Beat for understanding my true greatness.

[@doctormatthattan]

it’s wild seeing jimmy dore and joe rogan in a mr. beat video

[@iammrbeat]

I actually am a fan of both.

[@thehomeplatespecial597]

He shouldnt sully his videos with jimmy

[@Ian-xd2in]

@@iammrbeatwhat about now Mr beat?

[@MoreOnPleeez]

Why does it matter? Im curious.​@@Ian-xd2in

[@108nighthawk]

He (Polk) is always on my list near the top. Another underappreciated one, ate least in my opinion, is Calvin Coolidge.

[@NoahBodze]

Calvin Coolidge is our second-greatest President, second only to Washington for obvious “first” reasons.

[@prodripper1401]

My boy Chester a. Arthur was also a pretty good guy

[@pauloluciomachadodebrito8107]

Some corrupt schemes that started in the Harding administration, existed during Coolidge period and would keep on the Hoover days. Not to mention that Coolidge administration didn't see the problems in the production especulation and stockmarket especulation, leading up the 1929 recession Not to mention the growth of crime organizations with the alcohol trafficking, such crime organizations would be taken down only in the 80's. By Rudolph Giuliani and the R. I. C. O. Law.

[@MichaelSidneyTimpson]

@@NoahBodze except for helping cause the Great Depression....

[@NoahBodze]

@@MichaelSidneyTimpson Next time, stupid, just say "I don't understand economics." It's exponentially more succinct and honest than the objectively stupid post you just wrote... and it spares us all of how little you know. Next time, tho, stupid. Everyone here knows you're stupid now. You're welcome!

[@LePrince1890]

With his Secretary of the Navy, George Bancroft, he created Annapolis as a Naval Academy.

[@suralos]

How did you know I was wearing a green shirt?

[@iammrbeat]

What can I say- I guessed. ;)

[@IronicallySell]

Polk was doing deeds when no one was bothered to remember, an underrated legend

[@dj_vin6]

Im currently binge watching Mr Beat this is so awesome! :D

[@thewestisthebest6608]

And the award for the most overrated President goes to John F. Kennedy Kennedy wasn't a bad Presidents but people consistently rank him with in their top 5 rated Presidents right up their with our Mount Rushmore Presidents even though Kennedy had no significant legislative victories, he started our involvement in Vietnam which his Vice President continued, the economy wasn't bad but wasn't great under him. He did do some good with starting our space race to the Moon but ultimately he was an average, maybe slightly above average President that most Americans rank as one of the greatest American Presidents right up there with Lincoln and Jefferson where he does not belong.

[@zyxwut321]

Without his assassination he would've had a difficult presidency. LBJ was much less likable and charismatic but he was scary tough and smart and willing to sacrifice himself for his goals. He ultimately did, living just a few years after he retired in poor health and shattered by the impacts of the Vietnam War and social strife.

[@yao052]

The West is the Best Although JFK is one of my favorite presidents and it is true that he was quite overrated, he didn't escalated the conflict in Vietnam. While Kennedy did put a lot of troops or like he would say "advisors" in Vietnam, LBJ (another favorite president of mine) was the one who turned the conflict into a war after the Gulf of Tonkin incident. There is even evidence that JFK wanted to pull troops out of Vietnam in 1965.

[@yao052]

The West is the Best personally, I believe that Reagan gets the price as the most overrated US president of the 20th century.

[@yourmama3515]

He could’ve done way more if he was re-elected

[@kordellwilliams4317]

Nah, Ronald Reagan is definitely more overrated

[@InternetDarkLord]

7:45 Fun fact: The treaty did not include the San Juan Islands, resulting in the 12 year Pig War between the US and British Empire.

[@philip8551]

I KNEW it was going to be Polk before I clicked. I recommend an excellent biography I have called, 'Polk: The Man Who Transformed the Presidency and America'.

[@lucysomers8334]

i only know about him thanks to apush and my teacher called him “land santa”

[@JamesKPolk-bl7rz]

"Hello"

[@Old_Hickory_Jackson]

Hi

[@drewm3996]

The most underrated president “Andrew Jackson biggest supporter” doubt intensifies*

[@darlene7847]

Okay Andrew Jackson then Trump, Polk 5th or 6th

[@MVTX]

As a Texan, I appreciate what President Polk did for my state. We were better off joining the United States at that time.

[@Captain-Sum.Ting-Wong]

Lol Texas sucks. Stolen from Mexico by a bunch of white farmers who were mad Mexico had outlawed slavery. Should of left them to rot on their own.

[@MVTX]

nice name you got, troll. I'm not White by the way I am actually Tejano. And my family prospered way better under the rule of those "white farmers" than they would have under the Mexican flag.

[@Captain-Sum.Ting-Wong]

+Michael Vargas Yeah cause your family wasn't black.

[@jarrellkoo3619]

Tired of being jewed Just ignore this hypocrite

[@Captain-Sum.Ting-Wong]

+Tired of being jewed The anti Semitic trolls are always the weakest in their insults.

[@diannhall7564]

Thank you. I enjoyed this. Polk has always been one of my favorites because he knew what he wanted and did it in ONE term! And exited gracefully!!

[@TheAutisticBrony]

Sadly the man worked himself to death. The stress made him more vulnerable to cholera.

[@anikaloper9504]

personally i think jimmy carter is the most underrated. he is a man with unwavering morals who negotiated the camp david accords and panama canal treaty, and supported civil rights as the governor of a state that was largely segregated. his presidency was by no means flawless, but he was certainly handed the short end of the stick in the fact that many of the factors that contributed to his downfall were out of his control. i think he always did what he felt was right regardless of optics, which also made him look bad at times.

[@CoPSwords]

KZbin is demonitizing Mr. Beat? What the heck?

[@iammrbeat]

About 23 of my videos are demonetized for covering "controversial topics"

[@Sp1n1985]

@@iammrbeat did this get resolved?

[@osmiumsoul9535]

I love that song Mr beat. It's probably my most listened to of your president songs honestly

[@LegoLiam1803]

Polk is actually one of my favorite Presidents. Top 10 even.

[@aryotec]

Hello Mr.Beast

[@iammrbeat]

HOW DARE YOU. :)

[@aryotec]

@@iammrbeat hehe :)

[@philipgagarin6673]

@@aryotec hi Ryan poop

[@Tennis932000]

I think i've said it at least a hundred times, but your channel is criminally underrated and you should have at least a million subs. Although history channels and informative channels are on the rise now and it is the new trend ( channels like Cynical Historian, The Exploration, knowing better, Epimetheus, The Armchair Historian, Name explain, The great war, Jabzy, Invicta, Emperor Tigerstar, Historia Civilis, Kings and Generals, Wonder why, Feature History, History with Elbert, Ten Minute History) Tried to include everyone i watch, probably missed some but you get my point, these are all channels on the rise and all of them awesome channels but not quite as good as you, wish you the best Mr. Beat!!!

[@barbarak2836]

tennis932000 Thank you so much for mentioning all these history channels to check out!

[@zacharyclark4290]

Napoleon of the Stump.

[@iammrbeat]

Darn straight.

[@cpt.flippybirds9015]

As always, you refresh my grade school memories... they don't teach these things in our schools anymore... sad.... Hey, maybe you should have used "Polka"music for the song? Have a nice day ☺🐦

[@CynicalHistorian]

*FOR THE HONOR OF THE SOUTHWEST!!!* (and post-revisionist historical advocacy)...I wouldn't judge Polk so easily. Lincoln/Buchanan used the same tactic that Polk did, but we don't consider them to be a bullies. It is a deceitful stratagem, sure, but a decisively effective one. Numerous wars have begun on such causation, most of which we consider to fit perfectly as a _jus bellum iustum_ by definition. Then again, I've lived in the Southwest my entire life, soooo.....yeah

[@iammrbeat]

Yeah I think Lincoln was a bully, too. :/

[@briansheehan3430]

Lincoln most certainly did not use deceptive Machiavellan stratagem. South Texas was considered disputed territory. Fort Sumter was not disputed, and was by all means a federal military battery in which the southern "confederate" secessionists had fired on, even though they had outnumbered the US troops stationed there 6,000 to 87, and could have easily occupied the fort peacefully to encourage more negotiation. Even so, southern Texas was only "disputed" because Santa Anna claimed his signing of the Treaty of Velasco was as a POW and not as a surrendering General. It was Mexican troops who crossed the Rio Grande, and General Taylor who had sent Captain Thornton to scout the area where he was ambushed. Polk didn't send Thornton into Mexico.

[@MrAdamNTProtester]

What isn't recognized is that mexico made ZERO effort to regulate & oversee these lands, the pioneers that lived there were constantly being harassed by outlaws & travelers passing through desperate & short of resources... there had to be a government of some recourse for the people & THERE WASN'T ONE... it is only after the US started to exercise authority in the region that Mexico decided that the land was there's... of course no one once again speaks of the Indians who inhabited the land yet also were seasonal nomadic types... So you can DECIDE your version of history but I am unabashed about celebrating the inclusion of all this territory into the US... the problem is the TREASON that has been established in the US not the expansion of its blessings to all people... we have stopped believing in GOD endowed RIGHTS of EVERY PERSON- there are NO special persons with special rights there are NO unspecial persons with NO or limited Rights... and we have forgotten about the CUSA limits on Gov't powers... REMEMBER that Slidell & the Mexicans could have negotiated in GOOD FAITH and reached a pragmatic solution amenable to all parties & maybe even brought a chief or two into the negotiations... instead Mexico believed Americans were weak... they paid a steep price in finding out that is NOT the case... decency is NOT weakness! It is a lesson our gov't police military & foreign countries have to be constantly reminded of... our goodness is NOT weakness... so stop testing that- or suffer the SAME results! people need to stop looking at history through WHINE colored glasses & realize the reality real people are experiencing. Polk is worthy to be counted amongst the greats. California is STILL the BEST state in the Union!

[@Rollin_L]

@@MrAdamNTProtester I agree with most of your post... until that last line, lol. As a CA native, I would have agreed with you up to about 20 years or so ago. Now, CA is as poorly run as Mexico itself, with the middle class getting killed, the lower economic class growing, and the wealthier class oblivious, apathetic and- for the moment- content. They have enough money and private security to remain unaffected for now... until the state collapses financially, which seems inevitable. If not for Silicon Valley and its tax revenues, I don't think CA could survive. But you are quite right about Mexico having no measurable presence north of the Rio Grande. And, as Brian Sheehan posted above, the "border disupute" arose simply from the tyrant Santa Anna being a deceitful, dishonest narcissist. There was not an agreement made that he ever intended to keep. I think Mexico should be damned grateful were were kind enough to let them have the land from Mexico City to the river. We could easily have kept it all, and we paid them for what we did keep, at a fair price for the time period.

[@neilpemberton5523]

@@iammrbeat Was Lincoln a bully, or did he draw a line and tell the South not to step over it? For the the best part of 3 decades after Jackson stared down Sth Carolina over Nullification the South was the bully, threatening secession at regular intervals if it didn't get its way. Southern Democrats got very used to having access to the President, because the Whig party only captured the White House twice in all those years. James M McPherson calls Lincoln's election the Revolution of 1860 because the North was finally ready to say enough is enough and wrest control of the national destiny, by destroying the effective southern veto over the future direction of the country. Stephen Douglas, the northern Democrat candidate for president, threw his full support behind Lincoln, so the North was more united and stronger than ever before in 1861 prior to the war. Southern secession was seen in the North as possibly the first step towards the break up of the Union into several Republics, especially as it was a minority response to a fair election result. The South was unashamedly arrogant, with its extremely rich planter class living high on the hog due to insanely high cotton yields tortured from slaves via the whip. As as well as their view of slaves as lesser beings, the South had a second racism against the 'yankee race', and when I read the Southern Fire Eaters' speeches I seriously wonder what planet they were on. In my view, the Fire Eaters were for the most part horrible people. Robert Barnwell Rhett was a particulary egregous schemer. The only one I have taken a liking to is Edmund Ruffin, a brilliant pioneering soil scientist and tough old cuss who lived his convictions totally honestly, treating his slaves humanely, and tragically shooting himself after the war rather than lie that it was not about slavery as so many other southerners did. But bottom line- southern rhetoric and self-serving politicking pissed off the North more and more until finally the North said 'no more'. I really get annoyed by Lost Causers playing the victim card when the real victims were the slaves. Lost Causers are the sort of people who remember everything and learn nothing. In any case, it can't be denied that Polk continued enabling the South's high and mighty view of itself, though I admit I did not realize the extent of his achievements in office.

[@sambradley2975]

James K Polk, Chester Arthur, Ronald Reagan, George Washington, Richard Nixon, Theodore Roosevelt, William McKinley, Calvin Coolidge, Andrew Jackson, John Adams.

[@terrywaters1667]

Mr. Beat does a great job and he helps you remember facts. Greetings from Nashville.

[@carinaslima]

James K. Polk Documentary 📄 James Knox Polk was a man, born in North Carolina in Pineville, 2 of November 1795, He was the 11th president of the United States, sucessor to John Tyler and precedent to Zachary Taylor. He is often considered as a mediocre, or good president. Less times as bad. He, was amongst few presidents, to fulfill all of his campaign promises while in office. He went to war with Mexico, in the Mexican-American War. He was president from 4 of March 1845 to 4 of March 1849. When his sucessor, Zachary Taylor was sworn in, taking the oth of office. He restored treasure of the United States, and diminuished tariffs at high extent. He was the 9th governor of the state of Tennessee, from 14 of October 1839 to 15 of October 1841. Preceded by James C. Jones, his sucessor was Newton Cannon. He was loyal to Family Friend Andrew Jackson, and, even agreed with Thomas Jefferson in some policies to the extent. He was a farmer, then a lawyer. He was a Democrat.

[@thelionsmane3032]

James Polk was already my favorite president before this video :) nice

[@HDRookie]

I remember in high school history we got assigned a president to cover their achievements for a project and I got Polk and thought it would be hard. It was super easy it turned out. So when I saw the title I had a feeling lol.

[@UnkleGaga]

Hahaha. Same thing happened to me.

[@SiVlog1989]

I was watching a CBS News video from 2019, where they were talking about the phrase "Time will Tell," where one of the people interviewed, David McCullough, put up the case for John Adams as an underrated President. He said; "(...) He was the first Founding Father who became President and never owned a single slave." I have to admit, that's very significant

[@OzymandiasSaysHi]

John Adams was awesome. Check out the excellent HBO miniseries about him from 2008 and you won’t be disappointed.

[@blackbloodwolf]

As a black man who grew up in Detroit and went to Detroit Public Schools; I'm proud that they taught us about John Brown in our history classes as I'm noticing that many people didn't have the same coming up. Should definitely be added to the curriculums of standard education for history

[@Mr._XStence]

The summer between my junior and senior year of high school, I wrote a list of all presidents from best to worst. James K. Polk made #13.

[@WDKimball]

My family has lived in Maine since the 17th century, and my 3X grandfather was US Marshall before the Great Rebellion. He was so opposed to Polk and his war in Mexico that it is still talked about in the family. "Why should we in Maine fight and pay for a war in Mexico and the annexation of Texas?' A question that has become more pertainant than ever before.

[@HeyPuppetHead]

He was surely a good president, or at least good enough to have a they might be giants song named after him, Mr. James K. Polk, our eleventh president.

[@AustinSPTD1996]

Also not a particular favorite of mine, but one admittedly has to credit Polk for his work ethic and fulfilling all of his major promises within a single term. Certainly a short yet interesting video on him, Mr. Beat. Definitely the embodiment of a person of their word!

[@jeffreyhughesnc]

Hey Mr. Beat - I'd say Chester Arthur is very underrated too. Taking office after Garfield's assassination and reluctantly stepping up to the plate. The reason he was VP was to satisfy the Stalwarts wing of the GOP i.e. Senator Roscoe Conklin (NY). Arthur did a 180° (turning his back to the Stalwarts) and implemented many of Garfield's policies including Civil Service reform; which was a knife in the back of the Stalwarts and the Tammany Hall Democrats (all products of New York, I might add). By the way, I owe you a report regarding our trip to Iceland... haven't forgotten.

[@sambradley1968]

Arthur was a great President. 😊

[@gregoryf4186]

Arthur is in my top ten

[@shelley6477]

You and Lin Manuel are currently working on “Polk, The Musical,” right?? It’d be awesome!

[@mandyinseattle]

James K Polk is my great great great great great grandfather, and my mom's maiden name was Knox :)

[@chandlerwhite8302]

:30 wow, it’s my hometown!! Shout out to Columbia, Tennessee. Drove right by it today.

[@patrickbateman8622]

Thanks man

[@ja_e314]

in 1844 this man kept his campaign promise, and only ran one term, while now we have a guy who can't take his own re-election loss, and made america mediocre

[@msgreen512]

This video was AWESOME, I am your newest subscriber and l will support this channel and the other. I actually admire President James Polk. He was ruthless yes, but he did what he said he'd do!🇨🇱

[@aaronpro595]

James K. Polk was also the first president to be photographed while in office

[@scottm8914]

That young hickory made me spit ice cream out my mouth 😂

[@yungpacket985]

10:50 Mr. Jackson I don’t feel so good

[@thecupheadfan1837]

Polk died after jackson did

[@ingore9021]

I love how it just says "YAY" every time he wins a victory.

[@BrandonHanson]

Thank you Mr. Beat for this video. Terrific research and more valuable history.

[@vvalerio1951]

I heard of him. Didn't he start he war with Mexico and conquered the lands controversially belonging to Mexico?

[@leedeville6935]

"If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor..." Barry O

[@thunderbird1921]

"We're not doing regime change in Iraq", "Jobs won't be lost to China", "We're not losing in Vietnam", the list of major broken promises by both parties goes back seemingly forever.

[@sdb7092]

On achievements alone hes defenitly a top 10 President, He accomplished more in 4 years than 90% of all other US Presidents in 8! 1. George Whasington 2. Abraham Lincon 3. Thomas Jefferson 4.Theodore Roosevelt 5. Franklin D. Roosevelt 6. James K. Polk 7. Harry S. Thruman 8. James Monroe 9. Dwight D. Eisenhower 10. Ronald Reagen Lastly, i dont care if he was a jerk to our enemies, The man was great for our country's future...and help set us up to become the eventual global power we became.

[@archivesoffantasy5560]

I’m English, but I’d say 1. Lincoln 2. Polk 3. Washington I’m also a big fan of Grant but understand he wasn’t the most politically shrewd. Though he did still have some notable feats as potus as well as being the saviour of the nation and emancipator through Union victory. I’d still put him top 10 presidents

[@realdankengine]

Great to see Jimmy in the intro!

[@hughgolub3673]

Before I even watch I agree with you. Polk did so much for the Us he’s so underrated

[@alanivar2752]

Like when he invaded Mexico and took their land?

[@thunderbird1921]

@@alanivar2752 Well, sort of true. He called for annexing Texas and expanding further west, which made war with Mexico all but certain at some point.

[@alanivar2752]

@@thunderbird1921 More like he tried to buy a bunch of Mexico from itself, they refused, so he personally ordered basically the entire American military to invade and just claim it for America anyway, starting a trend Latin America has gotten unfortunately accustomed to

[@ohmyblindman]

Would love to hear the reasons YT gives for demonetizing your content, and as for taking down, what could you have done?

[@khaul]

When I was in middle school civics class, I was picked to do a presentation on Polk, at the time I was very upset, “who is this guy?”, I thought. Finding out he was the reason the US got so much territory it surprised me. All in one term, very crazy

[@flaviusaetius5701]

There's a difference between attempting something and actually fighting for something.

[@paultheaudaciousbradford6772]

Imagine resigning the Speakership of the House to run for Governor of TN.

[@julius-stark]

Give Jimmy a break, he's a nightclub comedian not a historian. Great seeing him in the video though.

[@iammrbeat]

I actually really enjoy both Rogan and Jimmy.

[@luperamos7307]

@@iammrbeat Do you still enjoy Jimmy Dore? His show has changed quite a bit from 4 years ago and has a massive right wing following

[@RunstarHomer]

@@luperamos7307 How have Jimmy's views changed in the last 4-5 years? I don't really think that's true. He's always had a following on the right because he doesn't ignore corruption and dishonesty in the Dem party like a lot of left wing commentators do, but his criticisms of both parties are always from a left wing perspective.

[@coderedskyrim]

Wow I got the shock of my life when I found out that this is the beat goes on.

[@jamespace1965]

He's widely known as the hardest working president.

[@SafariBroadcasting]

It just your opinion that Polk “misrepresent” the facts when saying that Mexico had "shed American blood on the American soil". Mexico had not even recognized Texas’ independence up to that time. The US had admitted Texas as a State with the condition that the US agree that the Rio Grande was Texas’ southern border. Just before Mexican troops killed US troops north of the Rio Grande, General Mariano Paredes took over control of Mexico in a coup with the popular pledge to take back all of Texas from the United States. The Treaty of Velasco signed by Mexican President Santa Anna in 1836, designated the Rio Grande border. The US Senate debated the border location before ratifying the Declaration of War with Mexico. Polk was poised for war and felt it was justified since his negotiators had just returned having been humiliated by officials in Mexico’s capital, but Mexico knew they were declaring war when they attacked US troops north of the Rio Grande.

[@MrAdamNTProtester]

What also isn't recognized is that mexico made ZERO effort to regulate & oversee these lands, the pioneers that lived there were constantly being harassed by outlaws & travelers passing through desperate & short of resources... there had to be a government of some recourse for the people & THERE WASN'T ONE... it is only after the US started to exercise authority in the region that Mexico decided that the land was there's... of course no one once again speaks of the Indians who inhabited the land yet also were seasonal nomadic types... So you can DECIDE your version of history but I am unabashed about celebrating the inclusion of all this territory into the US... the problem is the TREASON that has been established in the US not the expansion of its blessings to all people... we have stopped believing in GOD endowed RIGHTS of EVERY PERSON- there are NO special persons with special rights there are NO unspecial persons with NO or limited Rights... and we have forgotten about the CUSA limits on Gov't powers... REMEMBER that Slidell & the Mexicans could have negotiated in GOOD FAITH and reached a pragmatic solution amenable to all parties & maybe even brought a chief or two into the negotiations... instead Mexico believed Americans were weak... they paid a steep price in finding out that is NOT the case... decency is NOT weakness! It is a lesson our gov't police military & foreign countries have to be constantly reminded of... our goodness is NOT weakness... so stop testing that- or suffer the SAME results! People need to stop looking at history through WHINE colored glasses & realize the reality real people are experiencing... at the TIME when things happened not when you read about them... Polk is worthy to be counted amongst the greats. California is STILL the BEST state in the Union!

[@mandaloretheinevitable]

Polk is definitely one of my favorite presidents.

[@ryan7095]

James k Polk is from my hometown

[@Malcolm.Y]

Trump didn't argue that he wanted to "give" anyone healthcare. Not like "give" means in socialism?

[@mikephalen3162]

Trump has succeeded in not "giving" us health care in any way, shape or form. He's even managed to do nothing useful during a world pandemic. Whatta guy.

[@Alex-gd4ts]

James Polk despojó mas de la mitad del territorio mexicano en ese momento. Y sin una justificación mas que la fuerza armada :,v Que sed

[@Alex-gd4ts]

@@frankcrosby6222 James Polk dispossessed more than half of the Mexican territory at that time. And without a justification other than the armed force :'v. Such sad

[@laybronjahamez2357]

Finally.

[@fanimations4431]

You should do Gerald Ford. A fun fact about him is that his birth name was Leslie Lynch King Jr!

[@jpsned]

Yup! And if his mother hadn't remarried Gerald R. Ford (whose name Leslie took), we would have had a President King! 🙂

[@HitmanR97]

First good video I could find, thank you sir

[@hyperdrive282]

I live about 45 minutes from Polk’s old house in Colombia, Tennessee. Visited his museum, really interesting stuff! Glad a good president came out of my wonderful state! He went in with a goal, did exactly that, then went out after one term doing what he had set off to do. (Not to neglect Andrew Jackson though)

[@kimberlytorrez1395]

My family is related to him and my name and my childrens names are listed in the genealogy book at the museum

[@augustbiernbaum4841]

When he was like, he was a sickly child, I was like “that’s me.” Then he said gallstones removed at 17, which I just did, as a 17 year old, on Wednesday

[@Aditya-sn4sr]

Hello, Future President Biernbaum

[@MrAdamNTProtester]

Did you forgo the anesthetics

[@MichaelSidneyTimpson]

GenX-ers and before had a HUGE heralding of Polk when we took History class in High School. I remember him well being made a big hero (note, I grew up in California...) We also learned how "great" the Spanish-American war was, leaving out that thing in the end regarding the Phillippines.... So yeah, it used to be "taking over a bunch of land that isn't ours is so great!" to now, "oh, well...it was a different time."

[@Cybernaut551]

A flawed figure at best.

[@charliemoore1218]

James K. Polk’s house in Murfreesboro was awesome. I had such a cool tour there and learned so much about his home life.

[@lennoxt.anderson8966]

Grover Cleveland and Jimmy Carter are more underrated in my opinion.

[@MrAdamNTProtester]

Jimmy hahahahahahahahah carter... welcome back carter more like

[@polandballofspace4226]

Yes! Finally. Polk was such a cool guy

[@iammrbeat]

A bit of an imperialist jerk, in my opinion, but one we should recognize for his great accomplishments for sure.

[@polandballofspace4226]

Mr. Beat Mhm. I agree

[@AYVYN]

I was wondering how Polk funded his expansion without a central bank, and this champion got legislators to establish an independent treasury. Genius, unequivocally genius. Love it.

[@bmjv77]

He rocked a sweet mullet. Definitely puts him in at least the top 10.

[@uyuman1]

What you said at the ending was surprising as I am right now wearing a green shirt (well technically polo).

[@iammrbeat]

Well I was talking to you then.

[@uyuman1]

Well you're welcome then.

[@brianschwab9607]

Jimmy Dore! I thought i clicked the wrong video

[@chanelmone4721]

Me too, I was like why did Jimmy Dore come on I thought I clicked a Beats video

[@timgish4888]

Well done on the most underrated president very informative!!

[@kauffner]

Perhaps the reason James Polk is underrated is because his presidency is often viewed as part of the lead up to the Civil War. The slavery issue, asleep since the Missouri Compromise of 1820, was awakened by the fight over the Wilmot Proviso of 1846 and the question of what to do with all that territory Polk acquired.