Ideas and Motivation
Under which US president is the idea of Manifest Destiny associate with? They wished to annex the Oregon country.
What was the major route that pioneers and settlers took to travel to the Western United States?
This was a fort where a group of Texans were brutally defeated by Mexican troops
The Alamo
Which U.S. general led troops to the Rio Grande, provoking Mexico to attack?
Future president Zachary Taylor
What law/act forced Native American tribes to be removed from their lands?
Indian Removal Act
While the Mexicans still had control of Texas, what was the main pull factor to get American settlers into Texas?
Cheap land
What major route was used primarily as an avenue of trade?
The Santa Fe Trail
Who was the leader of Mexico who fought the U.S. at the battle of San Jacinto and during the Mexican-American war?
Santa Anna
This phrase was used to describe a boundary issue between the U.S. and Great Britain
Fifty-Four Forty or Fight
Explain at least 2 long term impacts of the California Gold Rush
The Gold Rush led to the rapid displacement and mistreatment of Native American populations as settlers competed for land and resources.
The Gold Rush helped establish California as an economic hub connected to national and international markets.
Environmental damage from mining permanently altered California’s rivers, land, and ecosystems.
The Gold Rush encouraged immigration from around the world, shaping California’s long-term cultural diversity.
What is the relation between the concept of Manifest Destiny and the idea of American exceptionalism?
Manifest Destiny is a direct result of American exceptionalism - it reflects the belief that it is the mission of America alone to spread its values and institutions to others.
What caused the booming, diverse population increase in California?
The Gold Rush
Where did Texas rebels defeat Mexican forces and end up capturing Santa Anna?
Battle of San Jacinto
Which of the following events occurred last?
1. Treaty of Valasco
2. Gadsden Purchase
3. Louisiana Purchase
4. Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
1. Treaty of Valasco (1836)
2. Gadsden Purchase (1853)
3. Louisiana Purchase (1803)
4. Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848)
Give at least 2 examples of the impact of westward expansion on Native American communities
Many Native Americans were forced onto reservations, often in areas with poor land and limited resources.
The Trail of Tears caused thousands of deaths as tribes were forcibly relocated from their homelands.
Westward expansion led to violent conflicts and wars between settlers and Native American tribes.
Traditional cultures, languages, and social structures were disrupted as Native Americans were pressured to assimilate.
Diseases brought by settlers spread rapidly, causing high mortality rates among Native populations.
Explain an argument in favor of Manifest Destiny.
Supporters believed Manifest Destiny was justified because it allowed the United States to expand democracy, freedom, and opportunity across the continent.
Many Americans argued that westward expansion provided cheap land and economic opportunities for farmers, settlers, and new businesses.
Manifest Destiny was seen as a way to strengthen national security by preventing European powers from controlling land in North America.
Expansion westward helped unite the country by connecting regions through trade, transportation, and shared national goals.
Many Americans felt it was their God-given duty to settle the land and make productive use of its natural resources.
The Transcontinental Railroad
Name at least 2 reasons why the annexation of Texas was delayed
Free state slave state balance / slavery expansion, war with Mexico, political opposition
Explain how the idea of Manifest Destiny was used in order to justify the Mexican-American War?
The idea of Manifest Destiny was used to justify that the United States had a divine and natural right to expand westward, making the acquisition of Mexican territory seem inevitable and morally justified.
What is the name of the land that we had gained in the Mexican-American War? - general term
Regarding Manifest Destiny today, how is it still relevant? What is the main reason?
It influences how we interact with our neighbors to the north and south and helps us understand our own history.
What were some economic motivations behind the Westward expansion in the 19th century?
Many Americans moved west to obtain cheap or free land that allowed them to farm and build wealth.
The discovery of gold and other natural resources encouraged people to migrate west in search of quick profits.
Westward expansion opened new markets for trade, allowing farmers and businesses to sell goods across the country.
Expansion allowed the United States to gain valuable resources like timber, minerals, and fertile soil.
What allowed us to gain a portion of land in the modern-day Arizona and New Mexico?
The Gadsden Purchase
How did the Mexican-American War lead up to adding onto more tensions between U.S. citizens that led to the Civil War?
The result of gaining new territory led to heated debates over the expansion of slavery
What is the connection between the Trail of Tears and the idea of Manifest Destiny?
the Trail of Tears was a direct consequence of Manifest Destiny