Based on the above image, which best describes what Polk meant by this slogan?

Question

In 1844 candidate James K. Polk ran for president of the United States. One of his campaign slogans was "Fifty-Four Forty or Fight."


Answer:
a. He wanted to go to war to secure territory from Canada.

b. He wanted to divide territory into two equal-sized halves.

c. He wanted to cede territory to Canada as a show of friendship.

d. He wanted to conquer Canada and make it part of the United States.

e. He wanted to demand a non-negotiable selling price for the territory.

Answer 1

A. The United States and Great Britain both claimed the same territory in the Pacific North West. The British had a base there but so did America. Most of the influence on the area was more American than British President Polk was ready to go to war to secure the territory for the US. but it was settled and so instead of being part of Canada, owned by the British, it became American.

Answer 2

He wanted the northern border for the Oregon territory set at the latitude line 54 degrees 40 minutes minutes or he would fight (declare war) to get it there. He won the election over Clay and through negotiations with the Brits who had jointly held the territory between 42 degrees and 54 40 wound up setting the boundary at 49 degrees north in 1846.

So the answer is A.