Chapter 13 vocab

Joint Occupation

situation in which people from two countries can occupy an area

Prairie Schooner

a canvas-covered wagon used by pioneers in the mid-1800s

Mountain Man

an adventurer of the American West

Emigrant

person who leaves his or her country to live somewhere else

Manifest Destiny

the belief popular in the United States during the 1800s that the country must extend its boundaries to the Pacific Ocean

Marcus and Narcissa

missionaries who went to Oregon and built a mission near the Cayuse people. Their goal was to provide medical care and convert them to Christianity. They brought measles with them and Native Americans died. The Cayuse blamed the Whitmans and they were murdered

Oregon Trail

Pioneers took a 2000- mile journey with their supplies and covered wagons

Adams-Onis Treaty

The Spanish agreed to set the limits of their territory at what is now California's northern border and to give up all claims to Oregon

Fifty-Four Forty or Fight

Political slogan of the Democrats in the election of 1844, which claimed fifty-four degrees, forty minutes as the boundary of the Oregon territory claimed by the United States

Tejano

a Texan of Latin American, often Mexican, descent

Stephen F. Austin

After Mexico offered vast tracts of land to people who would agree to bring families to settle there, Stephen F Austin brought 300 American families to settle in Texas. Austin's success made him leader among the American settlers.

The Alamo

A mission building where a much larger Mexican force barricaded a small Texan force. The Texans inside held off the Mexican army for 13 days until the Alamo crashed down. The fortress was overrun and everyone died within. "Remember the Alamo" became a rallying cry

Sam Houston

commander of the Republic of Texas government. He too led families into Mexican tracts of land with Stephen F. Austin. He gathered an army of about 900 near present day Houston. He launched a surprise attack against Santa Anna's camped army. He became president of the Texans

Rancho

ranch, especially the large estates set up by Mexicans in the American West

Ranchero

rancher, owner of a rancho

William Becknell

first American trader to reach Santa Fe, in 1821. He discovered the route called the Santa Fe Trail. He used covered wagons to transport his goods.

James K. Polk

President who was determined to get California and New Mexico from Mexico. He sent Zachary Taylor to lead forces against the Mexican army

Zachary Taylor

General who led US forces into the disputed area on the Rio Grande. His army captured important towns between Texas and Mexico. Then he captured New Mexico's capital

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

After losing the war, Mexico leaders signed the treaty. It became known as the Mexican Cession. Mexico gave the United States 500,000 square miles of territory.

Forty-niners

fortune seekers who came to California during the Gold Rush

Boomtown

A fast growing- community

Vigilante

person who acts as police, judge, and jury without formal legal authority

Mormons

members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was founded by Joseph Smith who said he received visions to build a new church.

Brigham Young

took over as head of the Mormon church after Joseph Smith's murder. He led the Mormons out of the Midwest and into Utah to escape persecution.