Manifest Destiny and Native American History

This set of flashcards covers key vocabulary and concepts related to American history, specifically focusing on Manifest Destiny, westward expansion, and the impact on Native Americans.

Manifest Destiny

The belief that the United States was destined by God to expand its boundaries from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean.

Boomtown

A fast-growing community that sprung up quickly due to economic opportunities, often related to resources like gold.

Forty-niners

Gold seekers who moved to California in 1849 during the Gold Rush, hoping to find wealth.

Chamber pot

A portable toilet, commonly used indoors before modern plumbing was widespread.

Pioneer

Early settlers who moved westward, often traveling in wagon trains to seek new opportunities.

Scramble for land

The rush to settle and claim territory provided by America's westward expansion.

Trail of Tears

The forced relocation of Native American nations from their homelands to designated Indian Territory, leading to great suffering and loss of life.

Economic hardship

Financial difficulties that can push individuals or groups to seek a better life elsewhere.

Nullification Act

A declaration by a state to invalidate federal laws they believed were unconstitutional or not in their best interest.

Indian Removal Act of 1830

Legislation that authorized the federal government to remove Native American tribes from their homelands to lands west of the Mississippi River.

Texas Declaration of Independence

A document declaring the independence of Texas from Mexico, citing grievances against the Mexican government.

Cayuse people

A Native American tribe in the Pacific Northwest, significantly impacted by European settlers and disease.

Vigilante

A person who takes law enforcement into their own hands without formal legal authority, often in mining towns.

Emigrant

A person who leaves their country to settle in another, particularly in the context of westward movement in the U.S.

Cotton gin

A device that quickly and efficiently separates cotton fibers from their seeds, impacting agricultural economics.

Spiritual and cultural clash

Conflicts arising from differing beliefs and practices between Native Americans and European settlers.

Treasure seeking

The act of searching for valuable resources, such as gold, especially during the Gold Rush.

Agrarian society

A society based on farming and agriculture, often with a focus on rural communities and land ownership.