Manifest Destiny and Westward Expansion

Flashcards based on key terms and concepts related to Manifest Destiny and Westward Expansion.

Manifest Destiny

The belief that the expansion of the United States throughout the American continents was both justified and inevitable.

Presidential Election of 1840

An election where Whig candidate William Henry Harrison defeated incumbent Martin van Buren.

Aroostook War

A conflict over the boundary between Maine and New Brunswick that led to the Webster-Ashburton Treaty.

Webster-Ashburton Treaty

An 1842 agreement that resolved the Aroostook War and established a border between the U.S. and British territories.

Republic of Texas

A former independent nation that joined the United States in 1845.

James K. Polk

The Democratic President of the U.S. from 1845 to 1849 who was known for his expansionist policies.

Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo

The 1848 treaty that ended the Mexican-American War and resulted in the U.S. acquiring a large portion of Mexico's northern territories.

Fifty-Four Forty or Fight

A slogan used by expansionists in the 1840s who wanted the U.S. to claim the entire Oregon Territory.

Mexican-American War

A conflict that began in 1846 over territorial disputes between the U.S. and Mexico.

Texas Annexation

The process through which the Republic of Texas joined the United States, officially completed in 1845.