"You're trying again?" America questioned, sitting with his hand folded beneath him, like he used to as a child to keep himself from fidgeting when England was in a bad mood. He was nervous, there was no denying it. Public sentiment had swung back towards annexation, but the thought made his stomach churn.
"It's joint resolution this time," Tyler justified, feverously scribbling away at the document, running his free hand through his thinning hair. He looked worn, stressed and overworked, but the determination was clear in his expression, over-powering the rest. "It will work this time. Polk will continue on with this, I'm positive. It will work it…"
"I'm sure it will," America got to his feet, moving to stand next to Tyler. In a moment of sympathy, he placed his hand on top of the man's, gently prying the pen from his grasp. "But it's late, and you're tired. You can finish this in the morning, and Polk supports the cause…there's no reason to rush."
"You're right," Tyler breathed, leaning back against his chair, eyelids falling shut a few times in short succession, a little longer each time, before he rubbed at them, willing himself to stay awake.
"Here," America held out a hand to help the older man to his feet, smiling as he thought back to Washington's final days in office. Tyler was no Washington, but he was likable enough, and America was going to miss him.
"Goodnight," Tyler bid with a tired smile, before moving of towards his bedroom.
"Goodnight," America returned, watching his figure fade into the darkness.
"How do they feel?" Polk asked, observing his Nation's reaction carefully, almost critically.
"Fine," America answered, almost as a question, surprised. They were perfectly clear now, despite still feeling odd on his nose, a new weight however slight.
The corners of Polk's mouth quirked upwards into a pleased smile. "Perfect! They look good on you as well, if I may say so myself."
"Thanks," America grinned, though a bit awkwardly, as Polk continued to watch him. "Can I take these off now?"
"Do you want to?" Polk returned quizzically, the surprise in his voice catching America off guard.
"Yeah, I mean…I don't need glasses," he returned lamely, taking the spectacles off to examine them.
"I'm not going to force you," was all Polk said, before returning to his paperwork.
Sighing, America sat down with the glasses, putting them on and taking them off, repeating the process. It didn't look all that different, either way. It was troublesome to wear glasses…heroes didn't wear glasses.
And so he tucked them into his pocket, to be contemplated later.
"He'll accept the 49th parallel," America announced to England, watching the Brit's face for the expression he knew would come.
"He'll accept it?" England frowned, predictably, looking the epitome of offended. "I won't accept it…not at all." His minister nodded approvingly from where he stood on the peripheral, most likely unnoticed by the Brit—he had a habit of being more polite around his people.
"Come on, Iggy," America cajoled. "He wanted all of Oregon…he's being nice to let you keep a bit."
"Let me keep a bit?" England's grimace deepened. "It's jointly owned between us…he doesn't have the right to let me keep anything."
"Oh, Iggy, don't be like that," America continued, wishing his former caretaker would be more accepting of the proposal; Polk wasn't going to be pleased.
"No, I'll behave however I want," England responded, his petulancy reminding America of his own behavior prior to the Revolution with a start, and how hypocritical it was of the older Nation to act in such a way. "And stop calling me Iggy!"
"England, I—"
But the European was out of the room before he could finish his sentence.
"Let him know," Polk began, shortly after America's return from his failed negotiation, "that we intend to end the joint occupation. This should scare them out of their smugness, as their position is indefensible. But if they try to negotiate, listen. We don't need to make an enemy of Britain."
"Sounds like a plan," America agreed, smiling. This plan would definitely work, if he knew anything about the older Nation.
And sure enough it did, when England and his foreign secretary asked to meet up shortly after he got word of the United States' new stand.
"We will agree to the 49th parallel," Aberdeen relented as soon as the discussion began, glancing back at England as if to make sure the Nation wasn't about to object. He looked about ready to, not happy in the least, but the European knew better than to go against his people's wishes, no matter his pride.
"That's great!" grinning earnestly, the young Nation glanced over to England, who seemed preoccupied with glowering at a harmless potted plant. He got to his feet, leaving his negotiator to discuss the details.
"England, I—" America began, only to be cut off by a glare.
"Stuff it, git," was all England would say in return, before continuing his destruction of the innocent plant via staring contest. He stiffened when the younger Nation chuckled a few times, cheeks coloring.
Iggy is so easy to tease, America mused to himself. And I wouldn't have it any other way.
Historical Notes: In the Election of 1844, the Whigs unanimously nominated Clay, ignoring Texas in their party platform. Van Buren seemed to have the Democratic nomination in his pocket, also wanting to keep Texas out of the campaign. However, Calhoun wouldn't stand for this. Many of the southern Democratic delegates were pro-annexation, and with the help of some northern expansionists, the Southerners passed a rule requiring that the choice of candidate be by a 2/3 majority, which Van Buren could not muster. But "dark horse" James K. Polk, a good pro-annexation Jacksonian, won the nomination. Silas Wright was originally chosen as the five-presidential candidate, to mollify the Van Burenites, but he was close friends with Van Buren, and refused to run when he was notified of the presidential nomination. Instead, George M. Dallas, who supported annexation, was chosen as Polk's vice-president. The Democratic platform demanded that Texas be "reannexed"—implying that it had been part of the Louisiana Purchase—and that all of Oregon be "reoccupied"—suggesting that the joint occupation of the region with Great Britain agreed to in the Convention of 1818 would be put to an end.
Texas was now part of the campaign. Clay, sensing the new expansionist sentiment, hedged on his opposition to annexation, though this lost him about as many votes as it gained. The election was extremely close. The Liberty party was an antislavery group organized in 1840, with presidential candidate James G. Birney. He had few supporters, but most of the lived in New York, taking valuable votes away from Clay. If Clay had won New York, he would have won 141 to 134. But as it was, Polk won New York and the presidential election, 170 to 105. Tyler promptly called on Congress to annex Texas by joint resolution, which would avoid the necessity of obtaining a 2/3 majority in the Senate; this was done a few days before Tyler left the White House. Under the resolution, if Texas agreed to annexation, as many as four new states might be carved from its territory. Polk accepted this, and in December 1845, Texas became a state.
Polk was tense and calculating, but strong-willed and hardworking. He was very successful in his endeavors as president, able to have the tariff of 1842 lowered, restore the independent treasury, as well as oppose internal improvement and get his way. He also gained part of Oregon. In his inaugural address, he informed the British minister in Washington, Richard Pakenham, that he would accept a boundary following the 49th parallel to the Pacific, which Pakenham flatly refused, without even submitting it to London. When Congress met in December 1845, Polk asked for the authority to give the necessary one year's notice for annulling the 1818 treaty of joint occupation. Congress complied, and in May 1846, Polk notified Britain that he intended to end the joint occupation.
Officials of the British Hudson Bay Company had been alarmed at the rapid growth of the American settlement in Willamette Valley, 5000 Americans by 1845, to the 750 British subjects. The company decided to shift its head quarters from the Columbia to Vancouver Island, as British experts declared that "the Oregon country could not possibly be defended in case of war". When Polk hinted he'd still be willing to compromise, British foreign secretary, Lord Aberdeen, leapt at the chance and suggested the same (rejected) proposal of the 49th parallel. Polk agreed. The treaty followed that line from the Rockies to Puget Sound, excluding Vancouver Island (below the line) which was left entirely to the British, so that both nations retained free use of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Although some northern Democrats accused Polk of treachery because he failed to fight for all of Oregon, the treaty was in such accordance with national interest that Senate approved it by a large majority in June 1846.
Would've had this up yesterday, but I got sucked into the distraction known as TV Tropes. Hope you like the chapter ^^ I had fun with this one. The Mexican-American War should start moving next chapter.