Manifest Destiny
What was Manifest Destiny?
The belief that the United States was meant to expand west to the Pacific Ocean
Who was president during much of the westward expansion?
James K. Polk
What trail did pioneers use to reach Oregon?
The Oregon Trail
What territory was jointly occupied by the US and Great Britian?
Oregon Territory
What discovery caused a rapid increase in population in California?
California Gold Rush
Which quote best represents the Manifest Destiny?
"The United States has the natural right to expand all the way to the Pacific Ocean."
How did James K. Polk win the election of 1844?
He promised to expand the US westward.
What physical barrier did pioneers cross on their journey west?
Rocky Mountains
Which president agreed to joint occupation of this land?
James K. Polk
What event is known as California Gold Rush?
Thousands of people moving to California to find gold.
Which belief was part of Manifest Destiny?
American settlers believed their way of life was superior to that of American Indians.
Which lands did Polk want the U.S. to gain? Name at least one.
Oregon territory, California, and the Southwest
Did the Oregon Trail pass through the Great Plains?
Yes
What land did the U.S. gain after the Mexican-American War?
Large area of Southwest, including California.
How did the westward expansion change the US economy?
It increased trade, farming, and mining
How did Manifest Destiny affect westward expansion?
It encouraged Americans to move west and settle new lands.
Why was Polk willing to go to war with Mexico?
To gain land in the Southwest
What trail helped settlers move west through the Appalachain Mountains?
Wilderness Road
What did many families travel in for safety?
wagon trains
what happened to Native Americans as settlers moved west?
They were forced off their land.
What group was most negatively impacted by the Manifest Destiny?
American Indians, because they were forced from their lands.
Why were trails important during the westward expansion?
The provided routes for settlers
Why was the westward expansion hard on Native Americans?
They lost their homes and land.
What was one long-term effect of westward expansion?
The U.S. became a continental nation.