Manifest Destiny Vocab

Caroline

An American ship set on fire and sunk by the British while supplying Canadian rebels.

Creole

A U.S. ship captured by rebellious enslaved people who were then given asylum by the British in the Bahamas.

Aroostook War

conflict between American and British (Canadian) lumberjacks over the Maine-New Brunswick border.

Manifest Destiny

Belief that white Americans had the right to expand west.

54-40 or fight

A slogan demanding U.S. claim of all Oregon up to the latttuide of 54°40

Liberty Party:

small political party that focused on ending slavery

Spot Resolutions:

Abraham Lincoln asked President Polk to show the exact “spot” where American blood was shed to start the Mexican-American War.

California Bear Flag Republic

A short-lived independence movement in California by American settlers against Mexican rule.

Battle of Buena Vista

A major battle in the Mexican-American War where U.S. forces led by Zachary Taylor defeated a larger Mexican army.

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

treaty that ended the Mexican-American War; Mexico gave the U.S. a large amount of land,

Conscience Whigs

Members of the Whig Party who opposed slavery and the Mexican-American War.

Wilmot Proviso:

proposal to ban slavery in land gained from Mexico after the war