Flashcards on the Mexican-American War and Related Movements

These flashcards cover key terms, events, and figures from the Mexican-American War and related movements, including the experiences of settlers and the context of expansion in the United States during the 19th century.

Old Rough and Ready

Nickname for Mexican War General Zachary Taylor.

Old Fuss and Feathers

Nickname for Mexican War General Winfield Scott.

Conestoga wagons

Type of wagons pulled by oxen along the Oregon Trail.

Nueces River

River claimed by Mexico as the southern border of Texas.

Rio Grande

River claimed by the U.S. as the southern border of Texas.

Provocation of War

James K. Polk sent 4,000 U.S. troops into disputed Texas region to provoke war with Mexico.

Angelic Visitation

The angel Moroni is said to have visited Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormon Church.

Cannibalism

The horrific survival action taken by the famous group of westward travelers stuck in the Sierra Nevada.

Lincoln's Assertion

Claim by Abraham Lincoln that Polk's reason for declaring war against Mexico was a lie.

Divine Imperative

A moral obligation believed to be ordained by a divine being.

Polygamy

The practice of allowing a man to marry more than one wife.

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

Treaty that ended the Mexican-American War, favoring the United States.

Mexicanization

Requirement for Americans moving to Texas to speak Spanish, be Roman Catholics, and farm.

Anglos

Nickname for Americans living in Texas.

The Alamo

Mission where 187 Texans were besieged in 1836.

Santa Anna

Dictator of Mexico who fought against Texans; captured at the Battle of San Jacinto.

The Lone Star Republic

Nickname for the Republic of Texas.

James K. Polk

President who promised to annex Texas and did so in 1845.

Lame Duck vs. Dark Horse

Dark horse is a candidate with little recognition; lame duck is a sitting president who lost an election.

Cholera

Disease that posed the biggest threat to travelers on the Oregon Trail.

49ers

Nickname for the San Francisco football team, referring to the California Gold Rush.

Henry Clay

Whig candidate defeated by Polk in the 1844 presidential election.

Missionary

An individual sent to promote and spread their religious faith.

54 40 or Fight

Slogan used to assert American claim over the Oregon Territory.

The Gadsden Purchase

Small section of the southwest bought from Mexico in 1853.

Civil Disobedience

Essays written by Henry David Thoreau in protest against the Mexican War.

Los Niños Héroes

Young men who fought to the end in the Battle of Chapultepec.

Los Patricios

St. Patrick’s Brigade that fought in the Mexican-American War.

Brigham Young

Leader of the Mormons who settled in Salt Lake Valley.

Passive Resistance

Concept influential to leaders like Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr.

Stephen F. Austin

Leader who brought 300 American families into Texas in 1820.

James Bowie and Jim Crocket

Famous Americans who died at the Alamo.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Formal name for the Mormon Church.

Frederick Douglass

Prominent voice of the abolitionist movement.

Seneca Falls Convention

1848 convention focusing on women's rights.

Constitutionality Argument

Claim that Polk's troop deployment was unconstitutional.

William Travis

Commander who invited his men to commit to the fight or escape at the Alamo.

Manifest Destiny

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

American Blood on American Soil

Contention raised by Polk to justify the war with Mexico.

Immigrant Increase 1810-1850

The population of the U.S. quadrupled from 7 million to 28 million due to mass immigration.

Missionaries' Description of Oregon

Described as better land than what settlers were leaving behind.

Slavery Conflict Concern

One reason Texas was slow to be annexed was the fear of upsetting balance between free and slave states.

1. Manifest destiny:

   1. The god given right that Americans believed they had to expand their land from the Atlantic to the Pacific ocean

2. Trade and Economic Opportunities:

   1. The Pacific region gave the U.S. access to trade routes with Asia, especially China and Japan. Many Americans thought that expanding west would help the economy grow by opening up new markets.

3. Naval Power and Military Strength:

   1. America wanted to build a strong navy and needed ports in the Pacific for ships to stop and refuel. Having bases on Pacific islands helped the U.S. become a world power and protect its interests overseas.

number 1 short answer

Anglos = White settlers from the U.S.

Tejanos = Mexican Texans

• Tension grew because Anglos ignored Mexican laws (like banning slavery and becoming Catholic).

• Anglos didn’t respect Tejano culture or government.

• Many Tejanos felt pushed out of their own land.

• Most of the tension was caused by the Anglos’ refusal to follow rules and blend in.

• The Texas Revolution (1835–1836) broke out because of these conflicts

number 2 short answer

• Texas won independence from Mexico in 1836 but didn’t join the U.S. right away.

• Many in the U.S. worried that annexing Texas would start a war with Mexico, which still claimed Texas.

• Others didn’t want Texas to join because it allowed slavery, and it would upset the balance between free and slave states.

• The U.S. was divided and didn’t want to cause more conflict between the North and South.

• Texas was finally annexed in 1845 after James K. Polk was elected president.

• Polk supported Manifest Destiny and wanted to expand the U.S. westward.

• The annexation happened because more Americans supported expansion, and the U.S. was ready to face possible war with Mexico.

• This led to the Mexican-American War in 1846.

number 3 short answer

• The Oregon Country was a large area in the Pacific Northwest that both the U.S. and Britain claimed.

• The conflict was about who owned the land, since both countries had settlers and trading posts there.

• Americans wanted the land because of Manifest Destiny and the chance to farm and trade.

• Some Americans even wanted to go to war, saying "54°40' or fight!" (a line of latitude).

• The conflict was settled peacefully in 1846 with a treaty.

• The U.S. and Britain agreed to split the land at the 49th parallel.

• Neither side wanted war at the time, especially since the U.S. was close to fighting Mexico over Texas.

• It was easier for both to agree than to risk a second war.

number 4 short answer

• The U.S. started the war after a border dispute and desire for more land—some saw this as aggressive and unfair.

• President Polk believed in Manifest Destiny and used the war to expand U.S. territory.

• Critics, like Abraham Lincoln, said the war was based on false reasons just to take land from Mexico.

• Supporters believed the war was “good” because it helped the U.S. grow and reach the Pacific Ocean.

• The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo gave the U.S. a huge amount of land, but hurt Mexico badly.

• The new land increased arguments about slavery, pushing the U.S. closer to the Civil War.

• Overall, the war helped fulfill U.S. goals, but many believe it was unjust and caused more problems later.

number 5 short answer