Westward Expansion Flashcards
Manifest Destiny
The belief that America should own land from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. James K. Polk won the Election of 1844 because he told the people that he would achieve Manifest Destiny.
Early Aquisitions
- Louisiana Purchase - obtained from France for $15 million
- Florida - Fearful of war Spain sold Florida for $5 million in the Adams-Onis Treaty
Oregon Territory
This territory was controlled by Britain and the U.S. In the 1840s thousands of settlers traveled to Oregon using the Oregon Trail. In 1846, James Polk agreed for the 49°N line to be the
boundary between the U.S. and Canada.
Texas Revolution
Sam Houston and the Texan army won the Battle of San Jacinto on April 21, 1836. Santa Anna was captured and surrendered which ended the war. In 1836, Texas won its independence and became its own country.
Annexation of Texas
From 1836 to 1845 the Republic of Texas had four presidents. Texas wanted to join the U.S but America was concerned about the issue of slavery in Texas and feared offending Mexico. In 1845, James K. Polk and Congress added Texas as the 28th state of the U.S.
Mexican-American War
The U.S. wanted land from Mexico and provoked a war in attempts to gain California and New Mexico Territory. The war lasted from 1846 to 1848 with America winning every major battle and capturing Mexico City.
Mexican Cession
In 1848, the U.S and Mexico signed the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Mexico gave the U.S what was called the Mexican Cession in exchange for $15 million. in 1853 the U.S bought the Gadsden Purchase from Mexico for $10 million to build railroads.
California Gold Rush
In 1848, gold was discovered in California. In 1849, thousands of people, Forty-Niners, rushed to California in hopes of becoming rich. The first 300 Chinese immigrants to America came during the gold rush. Most did not find gold but stayed in California making it a new place for pioneers to move
Mormons to Utah
In 1830, Joseph Smith started a new religious group called Mormons. Many states persecuted the Mormons, so the Mormons moved to Utah because there were no settlers in that area. By 1877 there were 125,000 Mormons living in Utah.
