chapter 12 notes

Manifest Destiny- Manifest Destiny: the 19th-century belief that the United States was destined to expand westward across North America.

Marcus Whitman- Marcus Whitman: an American missionary who helped encourage U.S. settlement in the Oregon Territory in the 1840s.

Narcissa- Narcissa Whitman: a missionary and wife of Marcus Whitman, and one of the first white women to cross the Oregon Trail.

Stephen F. Austin- Stephen F. Austin (1793–1836) was an American empresario known as the “Father of Texas.” He led the settlement of Americans in Mexican Texas, helping establish successful colonies. Although he first supported cooperation with Mexico, political conflicts led him to back Texas independence. He played a key role in the Texas Revolution and later served as the first Secretary of State of the Republic of Texas.

Sam Houston- Sam Houston was a military leader and politician who helped Texas gain independence from Mexico and became its first president.

Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna-Antonio López de Santa Anna was a Mexican general and politician who served as president multiple times in the 1800s. He is best known for his role in the Texas Revolution and is a controversial figure in Mexican history.

Battle of San Jacinto-The Battle of San Jacinto (April 21, 1836) was the decisive battle of the Texas Revolution. Texan forces led by Sam Houston defeated the Mexican army under Antonio López de Santa Anna in a surprise attack, leading to Texas gaining independence from Mexico.

Republic of Texas- The Republic of Texas was an independent nation from 1836 to 1845, formed after Texas won independence from Mexico following the Battle of San Jacinto. It later joined the United States as the 28th state.

Oregon trail- The Oregon Trail was a major migration route used by settlers in the mid-1800s to travel west from the United States to Oregon, California, and Utah. It played a key role in westward expansion.

Santa Fe trail- The Santa Fe Trail was a trade route used from the 1820s to the 1880s, connecting Missouri to Santa Fe, New Mexico. It was important for commerce and westward expansion in the United States.

Mormon trail- The Mormon Trail was a migration route used in the 1840s by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as they traveled from Illinois to Utah to escape persecution and settle in the Great Salt Lake Valley.

John Tyler- John Tyler was the 10th president of the United States, serving from 1841 to 1845. He became president after William Henry Harrison died and was known for supporting the annexation of Texas.

Henry clay- Henry Clay was an influential U.S. statesman and senator known as the “Great Compromiser.” He helped shape major agreements like the Missouri Compromise and the Compromise of 1850, working to ease tensions between North and South.

Daniel Webster- Daniel Webster was a leading U.S. senator and statesman known for his powerful speeches and support of the U.S. Constitution and national unity. He played a key role in debates over states’ rights and slavery.

Webster-Ashburton treaty- The Webster-Ashburton Treaty (1842) was an agreement between the United States and Great Britain that settled border disputes between the U.S. and Canada (especially Maine and the Great Lakes region) and helped improve relations between the two countries.

Dark horse- In politics, a “dark horse” is a candidate who unexpectedly wins or gains attention, often surprising everyone because they were previously little-known or considered unlikely to succeed.

James K. Polk- James K. Polk was the 11th president of the United States (1845–1849). He is known for expanding U.S. territorythrough the annexation of Texas, the Oregon Territory, and the Mexican-American War, fulfilling the idea of Manifest Destiny.

Liberty party- The Liberty Party was a small political party in the 1840s in the United States that opposed the expansion of slavery. It was one of the first political groups to make abolitionism a national political issue.

Joint resolution- A joint resolution is a formal proposal passed by both houses of Congress in the United States. It is similar to a law and, if approved by the president (or passed over a veto), has the force of law. Joint resolutions are often used for special or temporary measures, like declaring war or annexing territory.

Mexican war (1846-48)- The Mexican-American War (1846–1848) was a conflict between the United States and Mexico. It began over a dispute about the Texas border and ended with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, in which Mexico ceded a large portion of land to the U.S., including California, Arizona, New Mexico, and more.

Zachary Taylor- Zachary Taylor was a U.S. general and the 12th president of the United States (1849–1850). He became a national hero during the Mexican-American War for his victories in battles like Palo Alto and Buena Vista.

Battle of Buena Vista- The Battle of Buena Vista (February 22–23, 1847) was a key battle in the Mexican-American War. U.S. forces led by General Zachary Taylor defeated a much larger Mexican army under Santa Anna in northern Mexico, boosting Taylor’s national fame.

Stephen Kearny- Stephen Kearny was a U.S. Army general during the Mexican-American War. He is known for leading the Army of the West to capture New Mexico and California, helping the U.S. expand its territory.

John C. Fremont- John C. Frémont was an American explorer, military officer, and politician. During the Mexican-American War, he helped lead U.S. forces in California and played a key role in the Bear Flag Revolt, which led to California joining the United States.

Bear flag republic- The Bear Flag Republic was a short-lived, independent California republic declared in 1846 by American settlers during the Mexican-American War. It was quickly taken over by U.S. forces, leading to California becoming part of the United States.

Winfield Scott- Winfield Scott was a U.S. general in the Mexican-American War known for leading a successful campaign to capture Mexico City. He was called “Old Fuss and Feathers” for his strict discipline and later ran unsuccessfully for president.

Vera Cruz- Veracruz is a port city in Mexico that was the site of a major U.S. amphibious assault during the Mexican-American War in 1847. The capture of Veracruz by General Winfield Scott allowed U.S. forces to advance inland toward Mexico City.

Guadalupe Hidalgo- The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848) ended the Mexican-American War. Under the treaty, Mexico ceded a large amount of land to the United States—including California, Arizona, New Mexico, and more—while the U.S. paid Mexico $15 million.

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo- The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848) officially ended the Mexican-American War. Mexico gave up a large portion of its northern territory to the United States (including California, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, and parts of Colorado and Wyoming), and the U.S. paid Mexico $15 million.

Gadsden Purchase-