Westward Expansion

The most popular overland route used by American settlers moving west.

Oregon Trail

What was found in California that sparked a huge movement of settlers into the territory in 1849?

Gold

The idea of Manifest Destiny was the idea that the U.S. should stretch from the ___________ Ocean in the east, to the ____________ Ocean in the west?

Atlantic (east) - Pacific (west)

This group of settlers who were trapped in the mountains during the winter of 1846 and resorted to cannibalism in order to survive.

The Donners or the Donner Party

This river today (in Texas) officially marks the border between the U.S. and Mexico.

Rio Grande

This American General was sent by President Polk to the disputed Texas territory to entice Mexico into starting a war?

Zachary Taylor

How many square miles of Land did Mexico cede to the U.S. in the treaty of Guadeloupe Hidalgo?

How many million U.S. dollars did we pay for it?

500,000 square miles - for 15 Million Dollars

Which two countries disputed ownership of the Oregon Territory?

United States and Great Britain

The Oregon Question was finally decided in June 1846. What line of latitude (or Parallel) was finally agreed upon as the U.S. and Canadian border?

49th Paralel

What river did Mexico claim was its northern border while the U.S. and Mexico were disputing where the border should be?

Nueces River

In what year did Texas become a U.S state?

1845

Who won the Presidential Election of 1844?

James K. Polk

The famous campaign slogan used by the winner of the Presidential Election of 1844.

Fifty Four Forty or Fight

Name 3 important battles we discussed that occurred during Texas's war for Independence from Mexico

Goliad, Alamo, and San Jacinto

What states were carved out of the territory Mexico ceded to the U.S. in the treaty that ended the war between the U.S. and Mexico?

California, Arizona, Utah, Nevada and New Mexico

He was elected President of Texas after the war with Mexico was over and Texas gained its independence.

Sam Houston

In what year did Texas declare independence from Mexico?

1836

Who became the Dictator of Mexico in 1834?

General Antonio Lopez De Santa Anna

What were the Five requirements for Americans moving into Texas?

1. Become a Mexican Citizen

2. Learn Spanish

3. Convert to Catholicism

4. No Slaves

5. Obey Mexican Laws

Why did Mexico encourage Americans to settle in Texas?

They could not get their own citizens to settle in the territory, and American Settlers could help the Mexican Government control the land.

What group of spanish speaking people were living in Texas before Americans settled there?

Tejanos

Why were two reasons Texas was not immediately adopted into the U.S. following their independence from Mexico?

• Texas was not immediately adopted into the U.S. after its independence because the North did not want to add another slave state since it would upset the free state slave state balance in the Senate.

• The U.S. Government felt adopting Texas into the U.S. would start a war.

He was the most well known of the Empresarios that helped encourage American's to settle Texas. He was also very important in helping Texas gain its independence?

Steven F. Austin

What group of people left Illinois to settle in modern day Utah in the mid 19th century in order to seek religious freedom?

The Mormons

Mountain Men were known as ___________ because they made important east west trails that western pioneers would later used to settle the west.

Trail-Blazers

The belief that Americans had the right and duty to settle land from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.

Manifest Destiny