1847 State of the Union Address

Speech by US President James K. Polk February 2026 February 2025 1847 State of the Union Address General Wool and staff in the Calle Real, Saltillo, Mexico, taken by an unknown photographer during the Mexican-American war, ca.1847.jpg General John E. Wool and cavalry in Saltillo Mexico (1847), Polk's war was the first to be photographed 1847 12 07 House Chamber, United States CapitolJoint Meetings, Joint Sessions, & Inaugurations US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives https://history.house.gov/Institution/Joint-Sessions/Joint-Sessions/ history.house.gov 4 November 2024 en Washington, D.C. 38 53 23 N 77 00 32 W region:US-DC_type inline,title State of the Union Address James K. PolkGeorge M. DallasRobert C. Winthrop Format Written Previous 1846 State of the Union Address Next 1848 State of the Union Address The 1847 State of the Union Address was delivered by the 11th president of the United States James K. Polk to the 30th United States Congress on December 7, 1847. President Polk addressed issues of national prosperity, the ongoing Mexican-American War, and the growth of American territorial interests. Highlighting the nation's prosperity, Polk noted, "There has been no period since the Government was founded when all the industrial pursuits of our people have been more successful or when labor...has received a fairer or better reward." He celebrated the nation's strength, linking its industrial success to the increased freedoms and rights upheld by a democratic government, and lauded the self-governance achieved since the nation's founding nearly seventy years earlier.Third Annual Message The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/third-annual-message-6 www.presidency.ucsb.edu 4 November 2024 The Mexican-American War was a central focus of the address. Polk detailed the events leading to war, emphasizing that "the United States were the aggrieved nation" forced into conflict after Mexico's refusal to negotiate. He justified the need for territorial indemnity, stressing that the United States sought compensation for the costs of war and reparations for longstanding grievances with Mexico, as well as the establishment of secure borders along the Rio Grande. Polk also addressed concerns over territorial expansion, particularly the acquisition of New Mexico and California. He argued that Mexico could neither govern nor defend these distant regions effectively and claimed they were “naturally connected” to the U.S. He anticipated that under American governance, these territories would develop rapidly, providing secure access to the Pacific and offering new commercial opportunities with East Asia. Citing the need for improved governance in the recently acquired Oregon Territory, Polk proposed the establishment of a territorial government and encouraged settlement, recommending land grants as incentives to pioneers moving westward. He also reaffirmed America's commitment to westward expansion, framing it as vital for both economic growth and national security. Polk concluded with an appeal to the unity and patriotism of Congress, invoking George Washington’s Farewell Address to remind his audience of the dangers of regional divisions, saying, “It is of infinite moment that you should properly estimate the immense value of your national union to your collective and individual happiness.” See also Bibliography of James K. Polk References 1846 State of the Union Address 1848 State of the Union Address State of the Union addresses 1 1847 Category:Speeches by James K. Polk Category:30th United States Congress Category:1847 in American politics Category:1847 in Washington, D.C. Category:1840s State of the Union addresses Category:December 1847