Land Acquisition
Diplomacy is one way the United States acquired land. What does diplomacy mean?
The art of peaceful negotiation where both parties are happy with the outcome.
Which tribe, at least partially, was able to resist removal?
The Seminole
What act established the reservation system for Native Americans?
The Indian Appropriations Act.
What Native American had a huge role in helping the Lewis and Clark expedition successful?
Sacagawea
Which President added the most land acquisitions during their Presidency?
Polk
What did the Indian Removal Act of 1803 propose?
To remove all Native Americans east of the Mississippi River to the newly established Indian Territory in Oklahoma - by force if necessary.
What impact did white settlers have on the bison of the plains?
They were almost exterminated due to overhunting and greed.
Where did the Alamo take place? What parties were involved?
In Texas - the Mexican military lead by General Santa Anna and Texas rebels.
Which territory established its own independent republic for 10 years before being annexed by the United States?
Texas
What argument was provided to justify the Indian Removal Act?
Plantation owners and farmers needed new and fertile lands to provide for the growing nation's food and trade.
What was the greater purpose of Indian boarding schools? How did they work to accomplish this goal?
To assimilate a whole general of Native peoples into American culture. They did this by removing children from their people, would not allow them to speaking their own language or practice their religion. Cut their hair and dress them in uniforms. Brutally punish them if they ever broke a rule. Taught them they were savages and uncivilized.
What general areas were "purchased" from Mexico after the Mexican American War?
The current states of California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico
What was Thomas Jefferson's major contribution to Westward Expansion? How did he accomplish this?
Jefferson made the Louisiana Purchase from Napoleon in 1803, effectively doubling the size of the United States.
Why were the Cherokee people considered one of the "civilized tribes"? Did this help them in their position against the Indian Removal Act?
The Cherokee made major changes to their way of life, becoming farmers and owning large herds of cattle, sheep, and horses. They dressed in white clothes, had white styled schools, a newspaper, and their own Constitution modeled off the U.S. constitution.These efforts to assimilate had no impact on their removal.
What terms were included in the Dawes Act?
The head of a household received 160 acres to farm, 80 if you were a single man. The deed to farm was held by the government for 25 years. Native American who accept this deal were granted U.S. Citizenship
Why was New Orleans such an important target for the U.S. to acquire?
It was a direct route to the ocean from the Mississippi River which was a MAJOR route of transportation for trade, military movements, and general transportation for citizens. Under French control, they could severely limit American trade and transportation.
Explain the concept of Manifest Destiny. What sort of political actions were taken to further this policy? How were people affected positively or negatively?
Manifest Destiny is the idea that American had the "divine right" to push west and settle the land from coast to coast. It was America's duty to do so, not an option. It provided huge amounts of territory and resources for the country and provided a huge economic boom for mainly white citizens. Had a drastically negative impact on Native Americans as they lost their land and were continually moved to reservations and then had their reservation land reduced again and again as wanted by American government.
What impact did Andrew Jackson have on Westward Expansion? How did his actions affect white settlers? How did they affect Native Americans?
He spearheaded the cause of Indian Removal and refused to uphold a Supreme Court decision ruling that said the Indian Removal Act was unconstitutional. His actions lead to the Trail Tears and huge losses of life for Native people across the United States.
He also illegally invaded Florida during the First Seminole War which lead to the U.S. taking over Florida and basically forcing a sale from Spain.
How did the U.S. Government actively work to make Native people dependent on the government? Why did this do this?
How did the U.S. Government work to divide and control Native Americans? Give at least 3 specific examples.
Split reservations into individual plots of land to destroy communal ownership. Removed them from their native lands. Encourage assimilation into American culture with Christianity and speaking English. Established boarding schools to dismantle Indian culture from new generations - cut them off from their families, made them speak English, outlawed traditional religion, brutal punishment.