The Oregon Trail
Who were the pioneers?
Answer: The pioneers were families from the eastern United States seeking new opportunities in the West, often farmers, craftsmen, and merchants.
Who were key figures?
Answer: Key figures included Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie, and William B. Travis.
Who were the key participants?
Answer: Key participants were the "forty-niners," including prospectors from various regions, including the eastern U.S. and other countries.
What is Manifest Destiny?
Answer: Manifest Destiny is the belief that American settlers were destined to expand across North America.
What was the Oregon Trail?
Answer: The Oregon Trail was a 2,000-mile wagon route from Missouri to Oregon Territory used by pioneers.
What happened at the Alamo?
Answer: The Alamo was a 13-day siege where Texian defenders fought bravely against Mexican forces but were ultimately defeated
What was the California Gold Rush?
Answer: The California Gold Rush began when gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill in 1848, leading to a mass migration to California.
What is Westward Expansion?
Answer: Westward Expansion refers to the movement of American settlers from the eastern United States to western territories throughout the 1800s.
Why did people travel the Oregon Trail?
Answer: People traveled the Oregon Trail seeking better opportunities, land ownership, and adventure, influenced by the idea of Manifest Destiny
Why was the Alamo important?
Answer: The Alamo became a rallying cry for Texas independence and a symbol of bravery.
Why did the Gold Rush matter?
Answer: It led to rapid population growth and California's quick admission as a state, while also impacting Native Americans.
What were the results of the Mexican-American War?
Answer: The U.S. won the war, resulting in the acquisition of nearly half of Mexico's territory, including California and Nevada
Where did the Oregon Trail lead?
Answer: The Oregon Trail began in Independence, Missouri, and ended in Oregon's Willamette Valley, passing through several states.
What was the outcome of the Alamo?
Answer: Mexico won the Battle of the Alamo, but Texas ultimately gained independence.
Where was gold found?
Answer: Gold was primarily discovered in California's Sierra Nevada mountain range, particularly in the Mother Lode region.
What was the Homestead Act?
Answer: The Homestead Act of 1862 offered free land to settlers who would farm and improve it over five years.
When was the Oregon Trail active?
Answer: The Oregon Trail was most heavily used between 1841 and 1869
Why did the Battle of the Alamo inspire Texians?
Answer: The sacrifice of the defenders motivated many to join the fight for Texas independence.
When did the Gold Rush occur?
Answer: The Gold Rush began in January 1848 and peaked between 1849 and 1852.
How did Manifest Destiny influence American culture?
Answer: It encouraged the belief in spreading democracy and civilization, shaping government policies and settlement patterns.