Manifest Destiny Test

• group of pioneers that set out for California but got stranded in the mountains and faced many hardships

• highlighted the reality of dangers and risks migrating west provided

Donner Party

• slogan by expansionists that referred to the latitude line that the U.S. wanted to clain territory up to

• showed American desire for expansion and set the boundry at 49th parallel

“54-40 or Fight”

• founder of the Mormon Church

• greatly influenced religious westward expansion to Utah where Mormons settled

Joseph Smith

• general ordered by Polk to protect the border from Mexico (and to provoke war)

• won the battle and later ran for president

Zachary Taylor

• the belief that it is American’s God given right and obligation to expand over the whole continent

• became a major motivation for westward expansion

Manifest Destiny

• small battle in Texas between Mexico’s army and Texans during the Texas’ rebellion

• Texas lost but inspired them to continue fighting for independence

The Alamo

1. Motivations for Expansion

   1. Trade: with Mexico

   2. Land: for farming & mining

   3. Pacific: access to Asia 

   4. Individual Opportunity: economic, religious freedom (mormons)

2. Destinations

   1. Santa Fe, New Mexico: Santa Fe Trail

   2. San Francisco, California: California Trail

   3. Salt Lake City, Utah: Mormon Migration

   4. Oregon: Oregon trail

   5. Texas

What were the motivations and destinations of American expansion?

1. Became independent because Mexico… (Texans hated this & ignored them)

   1. Said Americans must learn Spanish

   2. Said Americans are supposed to convert to Catholicism

   3. Outlawed Slavery

2. Stayed Independent: they wanted to join U.S. but every President said no

   1. Jackson did not want to provoke war

   2. Jackson did not want to bring up the issue of Slavery

Identify and explain 3 reasons why Texas became independent and stayed that way.

1. Clear Texas and occupy Northern Mexico

   1.  Control the land

2. Occupy California and New Mexico

   1. This land was really wanted so we needed to control it before war

3. March South on Mexico City

   1. Officially starts the attack

Explain Polk's strategy during the Mexican-American war.

1. Wants the credit for getting California

   1. Long war means greater likelihood of war hero (would steal credit)

2. Wants the war to stay popular

   1. Long wars are unpopular (bad credit, disliked)

3. Doesn’t want other countries involved

   1. Other nations would take land

Identify and explain 3 reasons why Polk wanted to keep the war small/short.

1. Makes slavery the national issues

   1. Balance of free states and slave states is at risk

   2. Whether slavery should continue in the new lands

2. Divides the Democratic party and Whigs regionally

   1. New parties were created (Barnburners joined by Liberty Party to make Free Soil Party)

3. Tensions based on power

   1. Who had the power to decide on Slavery in the future?

      1.  Congress or territories/states themselves?

   2. Debates over popular sovereignty

Identify and explain 3 effects of war on American politics.

1. California admitted to the U.S. as a free state

2. Texas becomes smaller and receives $10 mil to pay off debt

3. New Mexico and Utah admitted as territories with Popular Sovereignty

4. Slave trade is banned in D.C.

5. New Fugitive Slave Act is passed

What were the terms of the Compromise of 1850?

1. Election was focused on the issue of the annexation of Texas. Was between Polk and Clay.

2. Democratic Nomination:

   1. Van Buren lost support due to his opposition of the annexation of Texas

   2. Calhoun re-joins democrats, rallies southern support and deadlocks nomination

   3. Polk becomes compromise candidate

3. Presidential Election:

   1. Polk won the presidential election himself because the votes that would have given Clay the win were in New York who voted for a separate party, making Polk the winner

Explain the election of 1844. How did Polk win the Democratic nominee and the election itself?

The annexation of Texas wasn’t justified

• Manifest Destiny: Many Americans believed the U.S. was destined to expand westward to the Pacific, and Texas was a key part of that vision.

• Economic opportunity: Texas offered fertile land for agriculture, especially cotton, and potential trade advantages.

• Strategic importance: Annexing Texas helped the U.S. secure its southwestern border and prevent potential European (especially British) influence.

Was the annexation of Texas justified?