American West Flashcards
(39 cards)
What year did america declare independance?
1776
How many states were in the original united state?
13
How many people did a territory need to join the union?
60,000
What are the two main mountain ranges in the American West?
The Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevada
Which country did America defeat to win the south west in 1848?
Mexico.
Describe the terrain and climate of the Great Plains.
Flat. Dry hot grasslands in summer, cold windy and snow covered in winter.
What did many people refer to the plains as?
The great American desert.
What is “manifest destiny”?
The American belief that it was God’s will that they inhabit the continent from east to west.
Define “pioneer” in American history.
A person who travels to an area not yet settled with the intention of developing a new home.
How did Mountain men encourage future travellers to go west?
Told stories, developed trails, drew maps, had articles written about them etc.
When was the economic crisis in the eastern states that pushed a lot of people west?
1837+
Give 3 reasons why people wanted to leave the eastern states.
(Any 3 of the ones below)
immigration, overcrowding, land prices up, crime (cities), poor living conditions (cities), unemployment.
Why was California a popular destination up to 1848? (Name 2 reasons)
Any of the ones below …
nice climate, lots of space, cheap land, good agricultural land.
Describe two methods of transport most pioneers used to get across the 3500 miles to California.
Boats until Independence, Missouri then covered wagon pulled by oxen or horse across the plains.
Name the four main geographical obstacles that made the journey difficult.
Rocky Mountains, Nevada Desert, Salt Lake/Flats, Sierra Nevada Mountains
Whose shortcut did the Donner Party follow?
Lansford Hastings
Why did the Donner Party get stuck in the Mountains in 1846?
Short cut took too long, got to the Mountains too late, snow.
Name one way the Donner Party and other pioneers encouraged further development.
.
Letters back to the east, stories covered in Dime novels, newspapers and journals.
What year did Joseph Smith start the Church of Latter Day Saints the Mormons?
1823
Who was the angel Moroni?
The angel that visited Smith and told him to go find the story of the Mormons.
What is the Book of Mormon based on?
Gold plates left by the first Israelites in America. Told the story of the Mormons.
give four reasons why the Mormons were persecuted in the east.
Any of the following …
Religious beliefs such as polygamy, economic success such as buying up land and setting up banks, blamed for 1837 economic crisis, anti-slavery, Joseph Smith wanting to become president, growing numbers.
What does polygamy mean and why did the Mormons practise it?
More than one wife, more women than men joined the Mormon religion in the 1840s.
Why was Joseph smith murdered in 1845?
Wanted to run for American president. Murdered by an Anti-Mormon mob.
