201-232 Flashcards
the belief that the United States was destined, or meant, to extend from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Settlers moved west in an attempt to trade, gain access to free land, and convert Native Americans. Groups faced numerous challenges along the way including disease, geographic barriers, weather, lack of supplies, conflicts with Native Americans, etc.
Manifest Destiny
fur trappers of the northwest.
Mountain Men
founded by Joseph Smith, was a religious group based on the religious text Smith created called the Book of Mormon. Mormons were religiously persecuted and their leader, Joseph Smith was killed by an angry mob. Mormons fled persecution in the east and settled in the Valley of the Great Salt Lake in Utah.
Mormons,
To many settlers, Oregon held out the promise of fertile, available farmland and greater freedom. But first, they had to pack their belongings and set off on the very long and difficult trip
Oregon Trail
First major highway to the west, mainly a trade route but saw its share of emigrants, especially during the California Gold Rush. The trail also became an important route for stagecoach travel
Santa Fe Trail
In 1819, there were exactly 11 slave states, and 11 free states. Missouri had been asking to join the Union as a slave state since 1817. Northerners, of course, were strongly against this proposition. Therefore, the Missouri Compromise was created. This compromise consisted of three parts. The first part was that Missouri would enter the union as a slave state and Maine would enter the union as a free state. The second part was that anything north of the southern border of Missouri, in the Louisiana Territory, was automatically a free state. And lastly, the third part of the Missouri Compromise was the Fugitive Slave Act, which allowed any slave owner to pursue slaves into a free territory and return them south.
Missouri Compromise
Shortly after Mexico won its independence from Spain, it began allowing Americans to settle in Texas. Stephen F. Austin led nearly 300 American settlers into Texas. The only stipulation was that the American settlers had to follow Mexican laws. Many American slaveholders were against Mexican laws. Finally in 1833, General Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana took control of Mexico as a dictator. Shortly after, Texas declared independence from Mexico. The first major battle of this event was the Battle of the Alamo. Although Mexico was ultimately victorious in this battle, it was a major turning point of the revolution. In April 1837, Sam Houston led a group of revolutionaries to San Jacinto. In nearly 18 minutes, Houston had captured Santa Ana securing Texas independence. Then Texas was annexed into the U.S., making Mexico very angry.
Texas Revolution/Sam Houston
a frontiersman, legendary folk hero and three-time Congressman. He fought in the War of 1812 and died at the Alamo in the Texas Revolution.
Davy Crockett
Statesman and a key political figure in the creation of the state of Texas. He led Texan forces against general Santa Ana at the Battle of San Jacinto. He was elected the first president of the Republic of Texas in 1836
Samuel Houston
The first major battle of the Texas Revolution Santa Anna’s forces surrounded the Alamo killing Tejano and American forces inside. Although Mexico was ultimately victorious in this battle, it was a major turning point of the revolution and led many Americans to join the Texan army.
Battle of the Alamo
was the 11th President of the United States from 1845 to 1849, the last strong President until the Civil War. He was called the “Dark Horse Candidate” because he intended to run for Vice President but was nominated as president at the convention. He ran against Henry Clay and won. He was also the president of the Manifest Destiny. Polk led the charge to acquire land in the Southwest from Mexico.
James K. Polk
James K. Polk knew that the Mexican government needed cash. He offered money to settle the claim for the Rio Grande Border. He also offered to purchase California and the rest of New Mexico. Mexico declined this offer because they didn’t want to give more land to the U.S. American and Mexican forces fought over the Texas border. After a big defeat for Mexico, the Mexican Capital was in America’s hands.
Mexican-American War
an American military war hero best known as the 12th president of the United States. Taylor was sent by President Polk to the Texas border with Mexico to settle disputes over the location of the border. He led American forces in the Mexican-American War. Oregon boundary
Zachary Taylor
Under the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, Mexico recognized the annexation of Texas and ceded a lot of territory to the U.S. This territory included present-day California, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico. In return, the U.S. paid $18 million to Mexico. California was acquired after California declared its independence from Mexico in the Bear Flag Revolution.
Mexican Cession
was an agreement between the United States and Mexico, finalized in 1854, in which the United States agreed to pay Mexico for a portion of Mexico that later became part of Arizona and New Mexico. This provided the land necessary for a southern trans-continental railroad and attempted to resolve conflicts that lingered after the Mexican-American War.
Gadsden purchase
