The Second Term of James K Polk

1.The election of 1848
1.1 The Democratic nomination Shortly after announcing that he would run for a second term President James K Polk was the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination the only opposition coming from Lewis Cass of Michigan. Vice President George M Dallas was renominated for Vice President
1.2 The Whig nomination After Polk announced he was running for reelection the Whigs tried courting General Zachary Taylor who refused to run. The Whig nominee then became 1844 nominee Henry Clay who chose Daniel Webster as his running mate
1.3 The Free Soiler nomination A third party, the Free Soil Party, was organized for the 1848 election to oppose further expansion of slavery into the western territories. The party was led by Salmon P. Chase and John Parker Hale. Former President Martin Van Buren defeated Hale by a 154-129 delegate count to capture their nomination, while Charles Francis Adams, the son and grandson of two other presidents, was chosen as the vice presidential nominee.
1.4 The General election campaign From the start Polk was leading both canidates and on election day Polk won reelection in a landslide by 182 electoral votes
 
The Presidency of James K Polk
After losing the Presidency for a third time Henry Clay went into retirement never to enter politics again declining to run for the Senate. Meanwhile tensions grew between the south and the north over slavery with President Polk trying to meditate. On June 15 1849 Polk died of cholera George M Dallas was now President of the United States
 
Tensions over slavery is why Polk decides to run for a 2nd term? Those tensions must be pretty great (potentially devisive & destructive to the Union) for him to do so. Remember, that in OTL Polk declared/'promised several times that he would only serve 1 term. He also said several times that he had accomplished everything on his presidential agenda and that his work as POTUS was done.

Also, Polk's post-presidency "goodwill tour" is likely butterflied away in TTL, so he won't be contracting Cholera in New Orleans as per OTL ... however, the stress of a reelection campaign may run him down and weaken his immune system enough that he contracts Cholera or some such disease after the inaguration and dies sometime during the summer of 1849.
 
The Presidency of George M Dallas
Tensions with the north and south were reaching a boiling point with President Dallas siding with the north. The main issue was about the expansion of slavery into the western territories. On September 9 1850 the conflict exploded with riots all over the south. Between that date and September 20 11 southern staes left the Union to form the Confederate States of America. Congressman Howell Cobb of Mississippi was selected as President and Senator Robert Barnwell as Vice President. In the battle of Bull Run Us forces led by Zachary Taylor defeated Jefferson Davis and John C Breckinridge ending the Rebellion of 50. In the final agreement slavery was banned in the new western territories in return for the southern states rejoining the Union peacefuly. Taylor was once again courted as the Whig nominee this time he accepted the election of 1852 was on.
 
2.The election of 1852
2.1 The Democratic nomination President George M Dallas ran for the nomination unopposed chossing William R King as his running mate
2.2 Zachary Taylor after annoucing his run for President was nominated unopposed choosing Millard Fillmore as his running mate
2.3 The General election campaign While not attacking President Dallas Taylor said it was time for change after 24 years of Democratic control which rang with the voters. On election day Taylor narrowly won the election with 149 electoral votes
 
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I hope that you will flesh this scenario out over time. It needs depth and breadth. Please also give some attention to plausability and the dynamics of cause & effect.
 
Trotsky, absolutely correct, so if any president could have won a second term it was Polk. Which leaves us with the question of how you convince the man who turned down a term as president which was his for the asking to reverse his decision and his campaign promise.
 
The Presidency of Zachary Taylor
As his term in office began conflict was erupting over the unorganized Kansas territory and if it would become a free or slave territory. Senator Stephen Douglas of Illinois said that the people of Kansas should decide to become free or slave. Douglas proposal would become the Kansas Nebraska Act. Taylor opposed the act and was able to pervent passage. On July 9 1854 Taylor died of gastroenteritis to be succeded by Millard Fillmore.
 
The Presidency of Millard Fillmore
Fillmore unlike Taylor was more pro-slavery and divisions in the party soon appeared. Fillmore had only reluctantly opposed the Kansas Nebraka bill. With the Presidential election approaching the party decided to stick with their President.
 
3.The Presidential election of 1856
3.1 The Democratic nomination The Democrats chose Franklin Pierce over Stephen Douglas. Pierce chose John Quitman as his running mate
3.2 The Republican nomination Millard Fillmore was easily renominated chossing Andrew Donelson as Vice President
3.3 The General election campaign Despite Democratic efforts they lost the election narrowly to Fillmore 159 to 129 with Fillmore running in Taylors memory
 
Tensions over slavery is why Polk decides to run for a 2nd term? Those tensions must be pretty great (potentially devisive & destructive to the Union) for him to do so. Remember, that in OTL Polk declared/'promised several times that he would only serve 1 term. He also said several times that he had accomplished everything on his presidential agenda and that his work as POTUS was done.

Also, Polk's post-presidency "goodwill tour" is likely butterflied away in TTL, so he won't be contracting Cholera in New Orleans as per OTL ... however, the stress of a reelection campaign may run him down and weaken his immune system enough that he contracts Cholera or some such disease after the inaguration and dies sometime during the summer of 1849.

Perhaps he gets is wish and significantly more Mexican territory is annexed. If there are more slave states on their way that could lead to increased tension, though I don't think it would be that bad if the treaty managed to get through congress. The North has plenty of Free states in the pipeline to balance out a couple of more slave states.
 
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