What is the 19th-century movement of settlers into the American West that began with the Louisiana Purchase and was fueled by the Gold Rush, the Oregon Trail, and a belief in "manifest destiny.
Westward Expansion
What's one main reason people move to California during the middle of the 1800s?
Economic opportunities / seek a better life (mine gold or work on railroads)
What was the Mormon Trail?
Migration route used by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints leaving to escape persecution and settling in Salt Lake.
![]()
What concept is being portrayed in this painting?
Manifest Destiny

What letter represents the land acquisition from Spain?
F - Florida (1819)
What were two negative effects of westward expansion?
Conflicts with Native Americans and forced them onto reservations. Gold rush in California led to pollution in rivers and deforestation. Slavery expanded as we gained new states and with good farmland.
Gold in California and fertile land in Oregon are examples of _______ reasons for manifest destiny.
Economic
What are two examples of political reasons for westward expansion?
Expand democracy, security of the nation, power, American's growing belief in manifest destiny.
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

What letter represents the land acquisition as a result of the U.S.-Mexican War in 1848?
D - Mexican Cession (1848)
Causes of the Mexican American War.
Texas Annexation, Dispute over the boarder between Texas and Mexico, Manifest Destiny
What country originally owned Texas?
Mexico
One reason America was concerned with annexing Texas.
Slavery was legal in Texas and they feared adding another slave state.
What route did people travel to move west for a fresh start or new life?
The Oregon Trail

What letter represents the land acquisition that caused the U.S. and Mexico to declare war?
C - Annexation of Texas (1845)
What were two effects of the Louisiana Purchase?
Doubled the size of the U.S., expanded the border further west to the Rocky Mountains, access to abundant fertile farmland and natural resources.
Puritans settled in New England colonies. Mormons settled in Utah. What reason caused these groups to move away from their original locations?
Religious freedom
What immigrant group came to America during the gold rush?
Chinese
Which territory joined the US after it became an independent republic?
Texas

What letter represents the land acquisition that resulted from an agreement with Great Britain to split the territory at the 49 degree parallel?
E - Oregon Territory (1846)
The increasing number of immigrants led to resentment and a rise in...
nativism (believed immigrants were taking away jobs)
What was the experience of the Chinese immigrants once they arrived in California?
There was not much gold to be found. Americans were not friendly because they feared they would take away jobs.
What is "Manifest Destiny"?
The idea that the U.S. should own all the land from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.
What was one positive effect of westward expansion?
Chance to gain a better life via economic opportunities (farming on cheap land, jobs in mining and railroads), helped the U.S. economy grow – railroads, new technology

What letter represents the land acquired with purpose of building a railroad and expanding trade?
J - Gadsden Purchase (1853)