Mexican-American War

What motivated the U.S. desire for territories in western North America during the Mexican-American War?

The concept of Manifest Destiny.

What was President Polk's ambition regarding the Mexican Cession?

He wanted to claim all of the Mexican Cession, not just the Texas border.

What significant military action did Colonel Stephen Kearney lead in 1846?

He took Santa Fe, New Mexico, with 1,600 troops and no casualties.

What followed the U.S. control of New Mexico?

American forces won control of California shortly after.

Who led U.S. Army victories in Mexico during the war?

Zachary Taylor and Winfield Scott, including a key landing at Vera Cruz.

What was the outcome of the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo?

Mexico surrendered nearly 600 million acres to the United States in February 1848.

What differing opinions existed among Americans regarding the territories gained from the war?

Some wanted to claim all territory, while others opposed seizing any land.

What concerns did John C. Calhoun express about the territories gained?

He wanted to limit seizure to sparsely settled areas to avoid equality between races.

Who became a national hero from the Mexican-American War and later became President?

General Zachary Taylor.

What transportation developments emerged in the late 1840s and early 1850s?

The fastest growing rail lines and ships in the world.

How did transportation differ between the North and South during this period?

The North developed railroads, while the South relied on steamboats for commerce and travel.

What triggered the Gold Rush in 1849?

The discovery of gold in California in January 1848

How many ships and people traveled to California by the end of 1849 during the Gold Rush?

Over 700 ships carrying 45,000 easterners.

What motivated Mormons to migrate west?

They sought to escape religious persecution after the murder of their founder, Joseph Smith.

Who led the Mormons on their journey westward?

Brigham Young.

Where did the Mormons ultimately settle?

Present-day Utah

What caused a surge of Irish immigration to the United States in the mid-1800s?

The Great Potato Famine, starting in 1845, which destroyed the basic food supply for most Irish people.

How many Germans immigrated to America between 1846 and 1854, and why?

Over a million Germans, many fleeing a failed revolution in Germany in 1848.

What event in 1840 sparked the organized movement for women’s rights?

Women at the World’s Antislavery Convention in London were relegated to a separate seating area.

Who were key figures in the early women's rights movement in the U.S.?

Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton.

What was the "Declaration of Rights and Sentiments"?

A document demanding the right to vote and full equality for women in all aspects of life.

What did California's desire to enter the Union as a Free State create?

It upset the balance of power in Congress

What were the main components of the Compromise of 1850?

Abolished slave trade in D.C., included the Fugitive Slave Act, and admitted California as a free state while leaving slavery in other territories undetermined.

What was the impact of Harriet Beecher Stowe's "Uncle Tom’s Cabin"?

It changed white attitudes toward African Americans and objected to the Fugitive Slave Act.

 How did "Uncle Tom’s Cabin" depict the experiences of enslaved people?

It illustrated the terrors of being sold South and the vulnerability to sexual exploitation.

What was the commercial success of "Uncle Tom’s Cabin"?

It sold over 6.5 million copies in the United States and around the world.

What literary techniques did Stowe use in "Uncle Tom’s Cabin"?

Techniques common in domestic novels, emphasizing family sanctity, religious power, and endurance.

What concerns did many White Protestants have about Irish immigrants?

They viewed them as impossible to assimilate, claiming they "increase our taxes, eat our bread, and encumber our streets."

Which political parties did Irish Catholics and English/German Protestants typically support?

Irish Catholics generally supported the Democratic Party, while English and German Protestants supported the Whigs and often voted for Prohibition.

What was the Order of the Star Spangled Banner?

Founded in 1849 by Charles Allen, it was a secret society restricted to native-born White Protestants, whose members became known as the "Know-Nothings."

When did the Know-Nothings enter politics, and what was the result?

They entered politics in 1854, attracting voters from the Whigs and Democrats to both the Know-Nothing and Free-Soil Parties.

What was the Gadsden Purchase?

In 1853, the U.S. paid $15 million for a strip of land in Mexico for a southern transcontinental railroad, defining the final borders of the continental U.S.

What was the American sentiment towards Cuba in the 19th century?

Many Americans believed Cuba should be part of the U.S. and attempted to buy it from Spain in 1848, but were rebuffed.

What did Stephen A. Douglas propose regarding the Kansas and Nebraska territories?

He called for organizing the territories and proposed "popular sovereignty," allowing settlers to decide on slavery in their states.

What were the effects of the Kansas-Nebraska Act?

It divided the Democratic Party, upset the balance of power between North and South in Congress, and united various anti-slavery groups.

What new political party emerged in 1854, and what was its platform?

The Republican Party was founded, appealing to disgruntled voters with an antislavery platform.