Oregon Trail
What is the definition of a Homesteader?
someone who lives self-sufficiently by growing and preserving food.
What does sectionalism mean?
Loyalty to a region instead of the Nation as a whole
What was James K. Polk a believer in that drove him to desire the lands owned by Mexico?
Manifest Destiny
What is a boomtown?
A community that experienced a rapid growth of people due to the discovery of a valuable resource
This was the battle that started the war for Texas Independence
The battle of the Alamo
How much land and for what cost was given to Americans in the Preemption act of 1830
160 acres - $1.25
This was the leader of the Texan Independence Army
Sam Houston
What was the Wilmont Proviso?
A proposal to outlaw slavery in all territory acquired from Mexico
What was a "Forty-Niner?"
A prospector who traveled to California to mine gold
This was the person who discovered Gold at Sutter Mill in California, kicking off the Gold Rush
James W. Marshall
Wagons and around 5-6 months
Monterrey
How did the United States Navy Contribute to the Mexican-American War?
By blockading Mexican Ports and strangling the Mexican economy.
What issues did Americans face when going to California during the Gold Rush that they did not expect? Name two issues
Expensive equipment was needed to mine the Gold that was left
Little to no food or infrastructure
Labor was tuff and filled with log days of work
Getting to California was very difficult for many people
What happened to the Donner Party?
What issues arose for the Native Americans when American Settlers arrived in the West? Name the two main issues the Native Americans saw
Overpopulation and the over hunting of the buffalo population
Explain how James K. Polk gained justification to declare war on Mexico? Be specific in the Generals name and what they did
Zachary Taylor was sent to the disputed border knowing he would be fired upon. When Mexico fired upon American troops - Polk had his Justification
Name three modern day state locations that was gained from Mexico after the Mexican American War?
California
Arizona
Colorado
Utah
Nevada
New Mexico
What were two other reasons Americans moved westward other than Gold?
Restart for those in debt
The east was overcrowded
Land ownership
Trade routes and market potential
Start new businesses
Before the Mexican-American War, what did America claim was the southern border? What did Mexico claim was the actual border?
America - Rio Grande
Mexico - Nueces River
What invention did Cyrus McCormick invent that helped in westward Expansion?
The Mechanical Reaper
What item did the battle of the Alamo start over and what did the flag read above this item?
A cannon - "Come and Take it"
This was where Winfield Scotts forces landed in an amphibious invasion during the War, encircling the Mexican military forces
Veracruz, Mexico
Who owned the sawmill James Marshall was working at when he discovered gold?
John Sutter - the owner of Sutter Mill
This was the parallel line that James K Polk had the northern boundary of America moved to giving us the current state of Washington
49th Parallel