Westward Expansion
What is Manifest Destiny?
US government and people should pursue expanding west, as it is their god given right, their fated destiny to move out West and spread Christianity in 1845
What was the border dispute between Mexico and the United States?
Mexico viewed Nueces River as the border while the US viewed the Rio Grande River as the border, which is more South. This lack of clarity was due to Santa Anna not formally respecting and accepting the Rio Grande as the border despite signing treaty at San Jacinto
How did the US gain Oregon Territory?
The US made a compromise with Britain to gain much territory
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List 3 causes to Westward Expansion.
1. Spreading Christianity / Manifest Destiny
2. Gold
3. Farming
4. New Opportunities
5. Railroads (after Transcontinental Railroad was created in late 1860s)
6. Telegraph for communication
Explain the final spark that led to the Mexican American War.
Mexico killed troops that were sent south of the Nueces, leading to Congress approving war against Mexico in May 1846.
List 3 reasons why Texas declared independence from Mexico.
Santa Anna ruled harshly “my way or the highway”
No public education offered
Not respecting people’s religious views
Heavy taxes on American imports
Mexico abolished slavery, which hurt cotton producers
Who were the 49ers?
80,000 People who moved to California in 1849 in search of gold
Which group of people became negatively impacted from westward expansion?
Native Americans
How did the US instigate war with Mexico?
Polk sent troops south of the Nueces River. If Mexico attacked, this would provide an excuse to wage war with Mexico.
List 3 contributing factors to Mexico failing to win the Mexican American War.
Mexico’s government and leadership was unstable, they lacked unity, communication, resources, and loyalty from troops. US better prepared to fight.
Who was President during the Mexican American War (1846-1848)?
James K. Polk
List 3 reasons why people traveled along the Oregon Trail.
Get Rich off beaver fur trade
Spread Christianity
Search for Gold
How did James K. Polk originally try to gain Southwest territory from Mexico?
Polk originally tried purchasing land from Mexico for $30 million, but Mexico refused the offer
List 3 present-day US states the US gained from the Treaty of Hidalgo Guadalupe.
Mexico ceded 55 percent of its territory, including parts of present-day Arizona, California, New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, Nevada, and Utah, to the United States
The U.S. government paid Mexico $15 million for the land they gained, which was ½ the amount they offered before the war.
What was the Lone Star Republic (1836-1845)?
Independent republic created in the modern state of Texas after Texans led by Sam Houston successfully fought for independence from Mexico while US President Martin Van Buren denied Texas's application for statehood, as he feared annexing Texas could lead to a war with Mexico.
List 3 challenges faced along the Oregon Trail.
Took 4-6 months from Missouri to Oregon
Covered Wagon was the best transportation vehicle at the time for such a journey
Weather conditions
Obtaining Food and Water
What was the name of the treaty that ended the Mexican American War in 1848?
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
List 2 potential problems that could arise due to the land the US gained from the Mexican American War.
Protecting land
using land productively to encourage people to move there
whether or not these new states should be slave states or free states. Could tip the balance of power, which would create tensions in the US.
List 2 impacts the California Gold Rush had on its population
1. San Francisco’s population grew from 200 in 1848 to over 100,000 by 1871
2. Led to many other people migrating to California as well including carpenters, which helped form sustainable communities
3. Led to California becoming an ethnically diverse territory (About 40% of 1860 California population was foreign born)
4. Over 100,000 (⅔) of Native Americans population died during the Gold Rush and Mexican Californios (California Natives who were Mexican) were discriminated against