Lone Star
At the time Spain granted independence to Mexico in 1821, the land now comprising this state was very sparsely populated.
What is Texas?
This northern boundary spanned the modern states of Oregon, Idaho, and Washington, as well as the western coast of Canada up to the border of RUSSIAN ALASKA.
What is the Oregon Territory?
Mexico claimed this river as the southern boundary of Texas
What is the Nueces River?
JOHN FREMONT and STEPHEN KEARNY were sent to control these coveted lands
What are California and New Mexico?
In January of 1848, a man named JAMES MARSHALL innocently noticed a few shiny flecks of gold in a California stream at this location.
What is Sutter's Mill?
In 1823, this man led 300 American families onto land granted to his father by the Mexican government.
Who was Stephen Austin?
In the 1840s, settlers, lured by this lush piece of land, headed west on the OREGON TRAIL.
What is the Williamette Valley?
He was sent by Polk to offer Mexico $30 million for the Rio Grande, New Mexico, and California
Who is John Slidell?
Zealous Californians declared independence from Mexico and formed this new country
What is the "BEAR FLAG REPUBLIC"?
During the God Rush, over 80,000 people with this nickname flocked to California
What are Forty Niners?
"REMEMBER" this Spanish mission became a rallying cry for Texas independence in 1835
What is the Alamo?
This method of travel, pulled by oxen, transported settlers to Oregon
What is the conestoga wagon?
Polk ordered this future president to cross the Nueces River with his command of 4,000 troops.
Who was Zachary Taylor?
This general invaded Mexico at Vera Cruz before marching to Mexico City
Who was Winfield Scott?
The social center of new mining communities that sprung up out West during the Gold Rush
What was the saloon?
This group of people were Spanish-speaking settlers of Texas
Who are the Tejano people?
Born in Pineville, NC, this man was elected president in 1844
Who was James K. Polk?
Polk appeared before Congress on May 11 and declared this about Mexico
What is that Mexico had crossed into American territory and killed American soldiers?
This writer was sentenced to prison for refusing to pay the taxes he knew were used to fund the war effort.
Who was Henry David Thoreau?
The name for mining towns abandoned after the gold was exhausted
What are ghost towns?
The Lone Star flag flew proudly over this republic for nine years.
What is the Lone Star Republic? (or Texas)
The popular slogan that led Polk to victory in the 1844 election
What is "FIFTY-FOUR FORTY OR FIGHT!" ?
Polk's accusation prompted Congress to declare war on this country.
What is Mexico?
This mapped out the terms of the Mexican-American Wars' end
What is the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo?
This German-Jewish immigrant invented trousers for the miners — his blue jeans became an American mainstay
Who was Levi Strauss?