USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -The northern boundary of Oregon was the latitude line of 54 degrees, 40 minutes. “Fifty-four forty or fight!” was the popular slogan that led Polk to victory against all odds. Oregon City, along the banks of the Willamette River, the final stop along the Oregon Trail as it appeared in 1848.

Detailed explanation-2: -The title references the expansion of the United States that President James K. Polk called for. The expansion was to include Texas, California, and the Oregon territory. Since the northern boundary of Oregon was the latitude line of 54 degrees, 40 minutes, “fifty-four forty or fight!” became a popular slogan.

Detailed explanation-3: -"54-40 or fight” – James K. Polk, highlighting his position on resolving the Oregon Territory boundary dispute with Russia and the United Kingdom.

Detailed explanation-4: -"Fifty-four Forty or Fight!" 54°40′ was the southern boundary of Russian America and considered the northernmost limit of the Pacific Northwest. One actual Democratic campaign slogan from the election (used in Pennsylvania) was the more mundane “Polk, Dallas, and the Tariff of ‘42".