Per the Indian Removal Act, many Native American peoples were forced to relocate to unsettled lands west of this major river
Mississippi River
He signed the Indian Removal Act in 1830, served as the 7th President of the United States, and today, his portrait is on the $20 dollar bill
Andrew Jackson
Before being admitted as a state to the U.S., and prior to becoming an independent nation, Texas was a province of this nation from 1821 to 1836
Mexico
A dispute over the location of the U.S./Mexican border was one of the primary causes of the war as each nation claimed the same territory near this major river (which today serves as a significant portion of the U.S./Mexico border)
Rio Grande River
Gold was discovered in California in 1848 as workers along the American River were building one of these
Sawmill
Known for its flat terrain and vast grasslands, this was the first major geographic landform that settlers encountered as they made their way west
The Great Plains
Many of the Native American peoples impacted by the Indian Removal Act were forced to resettle in this territory
Indian Territory
He led Texas forces during the Texas Revolution and became the first President of the Republic of Texas – Today, one of the largest cities in Texas is named in his honor
Sam Houston
Nicknamed the “Father of Texas”, he helped recruit thousands of settlers and their families to Texas – the state capital of Texas is named in his honor
Stephen F. Austin
A key part of the U.S. strategy to win the war was to seize and occupy the territories of California and ___ _____
New Mexico
The use of this was often required when mining for gold and unfortunately sometimes led to accidental explosions causing serious injury and even death
Dynamite
As settlers ventured further west on the Oregon Trail, they had to cross this massive mountain range which stretches the North American continent from north to south
Rocky Mountains
Much of the Indian Territory is in this present-day state which shares a border with six states (Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, & Texas)
Oklahoma
He was a Jewish immigrant who specialized in making clothing and dramatically grew his business during the California gold rush
Levi Strauss
Elected as President of Mexico in 1833, he later named himself dictator and overthrew Mexico’s Constitution which angered many American settlers in Texas
Santa Anna /
Antonio López de Santa Anna
He was most well-respected general in the U.S. Army at the time of the war and was sent by President James K. Polk to capture Mexico City
General Winfield Scott
Those hoping to strike it rich made their way to California via numerous methods of transportation, however the most common form of transportation they used was by this
Wagon
Upon successfully crossing the Rocky Mountains, settlers would then have to traverse this major river (much of which is in the present-day state of Idaho)
Snake River
In 1838, several years after the Indian Removal Act was signed, this president, who was the 8th President of the United States, ordered the U.S. Army to forcibly remove and relocate Native American peoples to the Indian Territory
Martin Van Buren
After the death of Joseph Smith, he became the head of the Mormon Church and lead the Mormon migration westward to the Utah Territory
Brigham Young
Immediately prior to the first battle of the Texas Revolution (the Battle of Gonzales), Texas settlers flew a large white flag which featured a cannon, a lone star, and the phrase:
“COME AND _____ __”
TAKE IT
This was the name of the treaty that ended the war and established the Rio Grande River as much of the border between the U.S. and Mexico, among many other things
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
For those who could afford to travel to California by ship, they could sail to Panama, cross Panama by mule, and then sail up the Pacific to California
-OR-
they could sail south, around the southern tip of this continent, and then all the way back up north along the Pacific coast to California
South America
Settlers traveled along this major river of the Pacific Northwest as they made their way along the final stretch of the Oregon Trail (today, this river serves as much of the border between the states of Oregon and Washington)
Columbia River
Numerous Native American peoples protested the Indian Removal Act and resisted relocating - most notably was this prominent tribe located in the Southeastern U.S.
Cherokee
A strong supporter of Manifest Destiny, he was elected president in 1844, annexed Texas, and served as president during the Mexican-American War
James K. Polk
Six weeks after the Battle of the Alamo occurred, Texas won their independence by defeating the Mexican Army in the Battle of ___ _____
San Jacinto
As part of the agreement which ended the war, Mexico agreed to cede the territories of California, New Mexico, and Utah to the U.S. in what would become known as Mexican _____
Cession
The California gold rush led to the creation of these small towns which sprung up seemingly overnight and out of nowhere all across California
Boomtowns
It typically took settlers four to six _____ to complete their journey on the Oregon Trail
Months