Oregon Country
What belief encouraged Americans to expand westward to the Pacific Ocean?
Manifest Destiny
Which European country transferred Florida to the United States?
Spain
What trade route connected Independence, Missouri, to Santa Fe, New Mexico?
The Santa Fe Trail
What event began the California Gold Rush?
The discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill
What was the main reason Mormon pioneers moved west?
To escape religious persecution and establish a community
What trail did thousands of pioneers follow to reach the Oregon Country?
The Oregon Trail
Why was Florida's admission as a state delayed?
Congress disagreed over the balance between free and slave states
What two rivers were involved in the Texas–Mexico border dispute?
The Rio Grande and the Nueces River
What were people who traveled to California during the Gold Rush called?
Forty-niners
Who founded the Mormon religious movement?
Joseph Smith
What were the early fur traders and explorers of the Rocky Mountains called?
Mountain men
What former Spanish mission became the site of a famous battle during the Texas Revolution?
The Alamo
Which president wanted to acquire California and New Mexico from Mexico?
James K. Polk
What is a boomtown?
A community that grows rapidly because of economic activity
Who led most Mormon pioneers west after Joseph Smith's death?
Brigham Young
Why did many American families want to settle in Oregon?
Fertile farmland, land ownership, and economic opportunities
What battle helped Texas win independence from Mexico?
The Battle of San Jacinto
What short-lived republic was established by American settlers in California?
The Bear Flag Republic
Why did some merchants earn more money than gold miners?
They sold essential supplies at high prices
What did Mormon settlers build to bring water to their farms?
Irrigation canals
What agreement established the Oregon boundary with Great Britain at the 49th parallel?
The Oregon Treaty of 1846
What does annexation mean?
Adding a territory to an existing country
What treaty ended the Mexican-American War?
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Why did California's application for statehood cause controversy?
California wanted to enter the Union as a free state
What was one major reason Utah's statehood was delayed?
Disputes over polygamy and federal authority