Westward Expansion

These flashcards cover key concepts and significant events related to the Westward Expansion of the United States, including political debates, conflicts, and economic motivations.

Manifest Destiny

The belief that the United States was destined by God to expand across the continent.

Missouri Compromise

An 1819 agreement that maintained the balance between slave and free states by admitting Maine as a free state and Missouri as a slave state.

Texas War for Independence

A conflict from 1835 to 1836 in which Texas gained independence from Mexico.

The Alamo

A pivotal battle during the Texas Revolution where Texians fought against Mexican forces and sparked a movement for independence.

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

The 1848 treaty that ended the Mexican-American War and ceded significant territories to the United States, including California and New Mexico.

California Gold Rush

A mass migration to California following the discovery of gold in 1848 that greatly impacted the U.S. economy.

Stephen F. Austin

An American empresario who played a key role in the early settlement of Texas.

Santa Anna

The Mexican general and president who became a dictator and led Mexican forces during the Texas War for Independence.

Oregon Trail

A 2,000-mile path that connected the Missouri River to Oregon, used by migrants moving west.

The Lone Star Republic

The independent nation of Texas from 1836 until its annexation by the United States in 1845.