USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -Expansionist concerns were front and center in the presidential election of 1844, in which James K. Polk took an aggressive stance on the United States’s claims in Oregon Country. Various borders had been proposed, but the insistence on nothing short of a border at the 54th parallel led to the slogan “54-40 or Fight".

Detailed explanation-2: -54-40 or fight-James K. Polk The proponents of this slogan wanted for the US to have this territory or else go to war.

Detailed explanation-3: -In the beginnings of negotiations, Polk bluffed to Britain that he wanted all the territory up to 54°40’. In the end, the President’s shrewd but unseemly bluster earned him a compromise rather than a war with the British.

Detailed explanation-4: -Britain would have preferred the Columbia River as the boundary but was willing to consider a border farther north-but not 54 degrees north-and President James Polk, facing war with Mexico, was willing to compromise in order to resolve the issue.

Detailed explanation-5: -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.