Chapter 13: Immigration, Expansion, and Sectional Conflict

What were the main reasons for the wave of immigration to the US between 1840-1860?

Over 4.2 million immigrants, including Germans and Irish, sought economic opportunities and farmland.

What challenges did German immigrants face upon arriving in the US?

They were criticized for not integrating into American society and often settled in German neighborhoods.

Who were the Know-Nothing Party and what did they stand for?

A secretive political party in the 1850s that was anti-Catholic and anti-immigrant.

What is nativism?

The belief in the superiority of native-born Americans over immigrants.

What significant event occurred during the Texas Revolution?

Anglos led by Austin and Houston fought for independence from Mexico and established the Lone Star Republic.

Why did President Polk believe in Manifest Destiny during the war with Mexico?

He felt that the war would lead to the acquisition of Texas, California, and New Mexico for the US.

What was the outcome of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo?

The US acquired California, New Mexico, and established the Texas border at the Rio Grande, while Mexico received $15 million.

What was the Wilmot Proviso and what was its fate in Congress?

It proposed that slavery should not exist in territories gained from the Mexican War, but it failed to pass the Senate.

What role did the Gold Rush of 1849 play in California's statehood?

It contributed to California's rapid population growth, allowing it to gain statehood in 1850.

What position did Zachary Taylor take regarding the admission of California as a state?

He supported the idea of Popular Sovereignty.

What was the Gadsden Purchase?

An 1853 agreement in which the US acquired land from Mexico (present-day southern Arizona and New Mexico) for $10 million.

What was the significance of the Battle of San Jacinto?

The decisive battle of the Texas