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拓展國土 Expanding the Nation
波爾克透過同意設定穿過落磯山脈到太平洋岸的49th 緯線（華盛頓州的北方邊界）、取代他在總統競選活動中所說的 "以54'40'緯度線為界、否則就是戰爭 !" ，作為美國和加拿大的國界，避免了與英國發生戰爭；在他競選時所提議的是以54th 緯線為北方邊界（現今的加拿大境內）。
波爾克在拓展國土上的野心、感染到所有的美國人，認為在北美大陸上取得更多的土地、是美國人的權力和天命，也驅使了美國取得奧勒岡州的疆域，雖然必須以德州維持奴隸制度作為北方新增一個廢除奴隸制度州的交換。
Polk avoided war with the British by agreeing to settle on a border along the 49th parallel (the northern border of Washington state), across the Rockies to the Pacific instead of rallying round the "54'40' or fight!" motto of his presidential campaign, which referred to a border as far north as the 54th parallel (in present-day Canada).
Polk's expansionist ambitions held great appeal when many Americans thought it their right and destiny to occupy as much land as possible on the North American continent. Also driving the acquisition of Oregon, though, was the need to balance Texas as a slave state with a free state in the north.
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