Derek Thompson

I'm Derek Thompson. This is Plane History. Walt Bornemann, welcome to the show. Hi, Derek. Good to be with you. Robert Mary, welcome.

I'm Derek Thompson. This is Plane History. Walt Bornemann, welcome to the show. Hi, Derek. Good to be with you. Robert Mary, welcome.

I'm Derek Thompson. This is Plane History. Walt Bornemann, welcome to the show. Hi, Derek. Good to be with you. Robert Mary, welcome.

Before we dive into this material, I just want to first say it's really thrilling to be able to have two different James Polk biographers here to help me understand this incredibly pivotal time in American history. And before we dive into the material, I'd love to know what drew you to the subject. So, Walt, let's start with you. There are so many stories to tell about American history.

Before we dive into this material, I just want to first say it's really thrilling to be able to have two different James Polk biographers here to help me understand this incredibly pivotal time in American history. And before we dive into the material, I'd love to know what drew you to the subject. So, Walt, let's start with you. There are so many stories to tell about American history.

Before we dive into this material, I just want to first say it's really thrilling to be able to have two different James Polk biographers here to help me understand this incredibly pivotal time in American history. And before we dive into the material, I'd love to know what drew you to the subject. So, Walt, let's start with you. There are so many stories to tell about American history.

What's so interesting to you about James Polk?

What's so interesting to you about James Polk?

What's so interesting to you about James Polk?

So I want to draw back the curtains here in the election year of 1844. And the U.S. is defined at this time, it seems, along two axes, north, south, east, and west. And in the north, industrialization is surging. In the agrarian south, slaves make up about a third of the population. Cotton is by far America's biggest export. East of the Appalachian Mountains is home to still 90% of the U.S.

So I want to draw back the curtains here in the election year of 1844. And the U.S. is defined at this time, it seems, along two axes, north, south, east, and west. And in the north, industrialization is surging. In the agrarian south, slaves make up about a third of the population. Cotton is by far America's biggest export. East of the Appalachian Mountains is home to still 90% of the U.S.

So I want to draw back the curtains here in the election year of 1844. And the U.S. is defined at this time, it seems, along two axes, north, south, east, and west. And in the north, industrialization is surging. In the agrarian south, slaves make up about a third of the population. Cotton is by far America's biggest export. East of the Appalachian Mountains is home to still 90% of the U.S.

population, but west of the Mississippi, migration is booming. We are about to enter the heyday of the Oregon Trail. The concept of manifest destiny is on the people's lips. And the year 1844 also happens to be an extraordinary one in telecommunications history. This is the year that Samuel Morse sends the first telegraphic message with four words, "'What hath God wrought?'

population, but west of the Mississippi, migration is booming. We are about to enter the heyday of the Oregon Trail. The concept of manifest destiny is on the people's lips. And the year 1844 also happens to be an extraordinary one in telecommunications history. This is the year that Samuel Morse sends the first telegraphic message with four words, "'What hath God wrought?'

population, but west of the Mississippi, migration is booming. We are about to enter the heyday of the Oregon Trail. The concept of manifest destiny is on the people's lips. And the year 1844 also happens to be an extraordinary one in telecommunications history. This is the year that Samuel Morse sends the first telegraphic message with four words, "'What hath God wrought?'

And on top of all this, there's the seismic presidential election and the looming issue of Texas, newly independent Texas. Bob, why don't you set the table for us with Texas? What should we know about Texas in the year 1844?

And on top of all this, there's the seismic presidential election and the looming issue of Texas, newly independent Texas. Bob, why don't you set the table for us with Texas? What should we know about Texas in the year 1844?

And on top of all this, there's the seismic presidential election and the looming issue of Texas, newly independent Texas. Bob, why don't you set the table for us with Texas? What should we know about Texas in the year 1844?

Walt, I wanna connect some dots here before I throw it back to you. As Bob said, Texas defeats Mexico, and Sam Houston very quickly appeals to the US to annex Texas, to protect it from Mexico. President Martin Van Buren says no. In the 1840 election, Van Buren gets walloped by William Henry Harrison. Harrison is elected. He dies in a month. John Tyler takes over the presidency.

Walt, I wanna connect some dots here before I throw it back to you. As Bob said, Texas defeats Mexico, and Sam Houston very quickly appeals to the US to annex Texas, to protect it from Mexico. President Martin Van Buren says no. In the 1840 election, Van Buren gets walloped by William Henry Harrison. Harrison is elected. He dies in a month. John Tyler takes over the presidency.