Western Expansion

Manifest Destiny

the belief that the U.S. is destined to exapnd from the Atlantic ocean to the Pacific

Black Hawk War

War between the N. A. and the U.S. settlers pressure the Natives to go west of the mississippi so it can open up new land for them. the natives would be kicked out of their homes and forced to leave so Chief Black Hawk leads a rebellion. The US wins and the Sauk and Fox tribes are forced to move.

Central Plains

land east of the Rocky mountains controlled by NA after the Treaty of Fort Laramie

Treaty of Fort Laramie

there became a problem between NA and settlers trying to move west so they came to an agreement that the NA get control of the central plains and promise not to attack and the US honors boundaries and makes annual payments

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

ended the Mexican-American war when the US defeated Mexico. it said that the border that they shared was the Ro Grande which gives up a lot for the northern part of Mexico to the US including Arizona. New Mexico and California

Preemption Act of 1841

this said that squatters could stay on unsurveyed land and buy it later at $1.25 and acre before it was publicly sold this made easier for settlers because they could buy cheap land

Santa Fe Trail

a trade routes from Missouri to Mexico mostly settlers and traders followed this trail for moving west to find a new life and being able to trade with Mexico and a little with NA

Oregon Trail

trail from Independence, Missouri to Portland, Oregon. Was a 6 month trip and many people don’t survive due to the harsh conditions and diseases. different types of settlers and farmers took this trail to start a new life and search for fertile soil and land

Willamette Valley

a green land of rich soil, mild climate and tall forests with game

Conestoga Wagon

a big strong wagon used for traveling and transporting heavy things. many families used these on the trails and animals usually would pull them. however they were too big for the oregon trail so ppl used smaller ones for it

Mormon Trail

went from Illinois to Salt Lake City, Utah. The Mormons were a religious group and they were leaving to escape religious persecution in Illinois. Brigham Young was the first major leader who led a group who later becomes the first governor in their new lands their

President Santa Anna

a strong famous leader of Mexico who was president 11 times and is famous for leading his army in the Texas revolution and the battle of the Alamo he also was captured in the battle of San jacinto. he then rised back to power to fight in the Mexican-American war

James K. Polk

was the 11th president of the US who believed in Manifest destiny and made the expanded US territory greatly in one term. He took in Texas, California, Florida, Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, and the Oregon Country all through war and deals

Brigham Young

The first leader who led a group of Mormons on the Mormon trail from Illinois to Utah to escape religious persecution and later became the first governor in their new lands

Zachary Taylor

12th president of the US who was a tough war hero who led the battles in the Mexican-American war and dealt with the balance of slavery in new states. sadly he passed after 16 months in office

The annexation of Texas

texas fights Mexico and Texas becomes the Republic of Texas, its own country, but then Texas wants to join the US but other ppl wanted it bc of the good soil and ppl worried Abt the balance between free and slave states in the US. finally the US annexed Texas but then Mexico got angry and it helped lead to the Meican-American war.

Republic of California

also known as the Bear Flag Republic

Sutter’s Mill

where gold was first found in California that started the Gold rush

Gold Rush

a time where people were removing all across the country to earch for gold in California. this made California very populated and became one of the mass migrations. some ppl were lucky but most were not. it brought money business and railroads and helped Califronia become a state in 1850

Tejanos

mexicans who lived in Texas who mixed the culture of Spanish and Mexican. some were loyal to Texas and others with Mexico. The people who fought for Texas were a huge part of their fight for independence

Anglos

european settlers who came to line in America specifically Texas. some came from Empresarios and later many help fought for independence from Mexico in the Texas Rev.

Mexican Government

governement that formed after the independence from Spain

Texas Revolution: Alamo, Golidad, San Jacinto

Alamo - famosu fight in the Texas Rev where Texans(tejanos and anglos) fought against Santa Anna and the Mexican forces. The Texans had took control of the Alamo a fort so the mexican forces attack and the Texans were outnumbered and defeated. But this didn’t stop them, this made them want to keep fighting saying “Remember the Alamo”

Golidad - a massacre where Mexico kills 300 soldiers after they had already surrendered at Golidad. it was shocking and it encourage the Texans even more to keep fighting for independence

San jacinto - final battle of the Texas revolution where Samuel Houston leads a surprise attack on the Mexican army and then able to capture Santa Anna. they then forced him to sign a treaty recognizing their independence and he agreed to withdraw his forces making the Republic of Texas

Treaty of Velasco

agreement made by Santa Anna and the Texans to recognize its independence and withdraw the Mexican army. Santa Anna was forced to sign so they saw it as unfair bc he was a prisoner of war so it grew tensions between Texas and Mexico

Empresarios

Land agents who helped bring settlers to Texas when it was a part of Mexico. the were gives pieces of land but had to bring in big families from the US.

Stephen Austin

a famous empresario who brought over 300 families

Sam Houston

Led the battle of San Jacinto and became the first president of the Republic of Texas

Rio Grande

more southern river in Texas that Texans believed was the border shared with Mexico in the Mexican-American War

Nueces River

river in southern Texas that Mexico had believed was their shared border with Texas in the Mexican-American war

Compromise of 1850

Henry clay proposes agreement made to settle the balance of slavery in the new US states. California became a free state which was good for the north, Utah and New Mexico were voted on and became a slave state which was good for the South, Washignton DC then banned slavery and a strong Fugitive Slave Law was passed and said that the North ad to find runaway slaves and send them back to the South

How did Manifest Destiny justify U.S. territorial expansion in the 1800s?

Expansion gave people access to land, gold, trade, and farming, so Manifest Destiny made it feel right and natural to claim new land. People believed it was their duty from God to spread Christianity, civilization, and democracy to new lands

Why did the U.S. go to war with Mexico in 1846?

because they disagreed about what was their shared border

Why did Mexico originally allow American settlers into Texas, and how did that change over time?

they originally did to grow the population and help build the land so they sold cheap land to Americans but then they began to not follow their laws and started to feel they should have Texas so Mexico banned American immigration

How did the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo reshape the map of North America?

it gave the US half of Mexican territory and completed the US’s dream of expanding to the Pacific.

Why were Native American tribes frequently in conflict with westward settlers?

because settlers took NA lands after agreeing to not take them.

How did the Preemption Act of 1841 encourage migration to the West?

It made land more accessible to ordinary people, including farmers, immigrants, and those looking for a new start in life.They knew they could buy land they were already living on, which encouraged them to move west. It promised new beginnings and economic opportunities in the West, which was a huge pull factor.

Why did tensions rise between the Mexican government and Anglo settlers in Texas

before the revolution?

The settlers didn’t like Mexico’s laws, especially about slavery, and they felt Mexico was treating them unfairly. This made them angry and eventually led to the Texas Revolution.

Why did many Southerners support going to war against Mexico?

Southerners supported the war with Mexico because they saw it as an opportunity to expand slavery, gain new land for farming, and fulfill the idea of Manifest Destiny.

how did the Oregon Trail and other migration routes contribute to the spread of U.S.

territory? What were American settlers hoping to find in the West?

These trails connected the East to the West, allowing settlers to expand into new areas and make them part of the U.S. They were hoping to find land, gold, new opportunities, and for some, a place to practice religion freely. This led to the expansion of U.S. lands and more states being formed.

Why was the Compromise of 1850 seen as a temporary solution to sectional tensions over

slavery and expansion?

The Compromise of 1850 temporarily calmed tensions by trying to please both the North and the South. But it didn’t solve the core problem of slavery—it just put off a final decision, making it clear that the issue would likely come up again soon.