westward expansion

Question 1

What does Manifest Destiny mean?

Answer 1

the belief popular in the United States during the 1800s that the country must expand west from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean

Question 2

Why did Americans want to expand to the Pacific Ocean?

Answer 2

Land and opportunity
Spread freedom and democracy
Future for America
James K. Polk was the president who believed in Manifest Destiny

Question 3

What impact did Westward Expansion have on Native Americans?

Answer 3

They fought back against expansion
They were moved to reservations so settlers could have their land instead

Question 4

How did the majority of Americans move West?

Answer 4

Covered wagon trains on the trails like the Oregon Trail

Question 5

How did the Adams-Onis Treaty help further Westward Expansion?

Answer 5

Spain agreed to set the limits of their territory at what is now California’s northern border and to give up all claims to Oregon
The rest of Oregon was gained by the Oregon Treaty with Britain. It stated that all land below the 49th parallel would belong to America and all land above would belong to Britain

Question 6

Who are “mountain men” and why were they living on the frontier?

Answer 6

The men living in the Oregon Territory
Earned a living by fur trading

Question 7

What was the result of the Oregon Treaty?

Answer 7

U.S. and Britain split the land at the 49th parallel
Britain got the land North of the 49th parallel
U.S. got the land South of the 49th parallel

Question 8

Why did Americans move into Mexico, specifically the area of Texas?

Answer 8

Mexico offered them land to increase the population and develop/farm the land

Question 9

What happened at the Alamo? What impact did it have?

Answer 9

Before the Alamo, Mexico offered land grants to Americans to come live in Texas. Mexico was trying to increase their population by offering them land grants.. Americans were interested in the farmlands there.

Question 10

What is the Lone Star Republic?

Answer 10

Before Texas became a state, it was its own independent country for 9 years. It was called the Lone
Star Republic

Question 11

What does it mean to annex something?

Answer 11

to add a territory to one’s own territory

Question 12

Why did the United States fight a war with Mexico?

Answer 12

Border dispute and Texas being annexed (added) to the United States

Question 13

What was the result of the Mexican American War?

Answer 13

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo signed and ended the war
Mexico cedes (gives up) California, Nevada, Arizona and other areas to the United States for $15

Question 14

What does it mean to cede?

Answer 14

to transfer control of something

Question 15

Why did the population in California grow and diversify?

Answer 15

Gold was discovered and people rushed there to become rich
“California Gold Rush” of 1849

Question 16

What does it mean to be a 49er?

Answer 16

Prospectors who came to California in 1849 in search of gold

Question 17

What hardships did miners face in California?

Answer 17

Harsh weather
Discrimination
Lack of success

Question 18

Were prospectors successful in mining for gold? Why or why not

Answer 18

Not usually - gold is difficult to find and usually in small amounts
Foreign Miners Tax made it more difficult for Chinese and Mexican prospectors

Question 19

What are boomtowns and ghost towns?

Answer 19

Boomtowns were towns that grew quickly when people came searching for gold in the area
Ghost towns were towns that were largely abandoned when gold was no longer available