Ch 6.3 Trappers and Settlers Flashcards
pelts
fur covered hide of an animal
trappers
someone who traps animals for their fur
mountain men
trappers who lived in the Rocky Mountains
trailblazer
a person who leads the way for others
pioneers
new settlers who came from Eastern states
wagon trains
traveling in groups of wagons
What mistake did the Donner party make?
They tried to take a shortcut and ended up trapped in a mountain pass in a snowstorm. 40 members died of cold and hunger.
Manifest Destiny
people felt that the vast area between the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean called the United States belong to the Americans.
republic
a government in which the people choose their own leaders
treaty
an agreement to make peace
Why did Russian and American hunters come to California?
hunting sea otters, seals, and beavers for their pelts
What hardships did pioneers face?
Each family had to bring everything it needed for its new life out west and it all had to fit in a wagon, therefore many pioneers walked most of the way arriving weak and hungry.
How did fur trappers make it possible for pioneers to travel to California?
As the mountain men hunted beavers in mountain streams, they became the explorers of the Far West.
Why did Russians build Fort Ross?
It was the Russians’ base for hunting sea otters and seals.
What was the result of Jedediah Strong Smith’s decision to go to California in search of beaver pelts?
The result they were the first people to land.
Compare and contrast Jedediah Smith & Johann Sutter
Compare: both were trailblazers
Contrast: Sutter stayed and founded a fort in Sacramento. Smith was thought to be a spy and was ordered to leave California.
Why were the pioneers willing to give up their old lives to move to California?
They heard about California’s fertile land and wonderful climate.
What was the result of Jedediah Smith’s decision to go to California in search of beaver pelts?
He was exiled from California.
What was James Beckwourth known for?
He discovered an important pass through the Sierra Nevada.
map scale
uses a unit of measure, such as an inch, to represent a real distance on earth.
small-scale map
covers a large area but cannot include many details
large-scale map
shows many details of a smaller area
Who was John Fremont?
a young explorer and mapmaker in the US Army.
What happened when John Fremont arrived in California with 60 armed men?
He was ordered to leave California by Mexican Army officer Jose Castro.
Why did no one in California know that the United States and Mexico were at war?
news traveled slowly.
What made California such a valuable addition to the United States?
the climate, fertile soil and long coastline; but more importantly gold was found in the Sierra Nevada 9 days before signing the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
How much of its territory did Mexico hand over to the United States in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo?
more than 1 million square miles, nearly half of its territory
How did Bernarda Ruiz solve the problem of continued fighting between Californios and Americans in Calif?
She set up a meeting between Fremont and Pico at the Cahuenga Pass and the two men signed a treaty to make peace.
How did the Mexican War change the boundaries of the United States?
The U.S. gained Calif, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Wyoming allowing the US to stretch from the Atlantic coast to the Pacific.
Did the Mexican Ware begin before or after James Polk became President?
before
How long did the war between Mexico and the US last?
40 years
A _____ map could help you learn more about the San Pedro rancho of Los Angeles.
large scale
How did Jose Carillo and his soldiers fool the US troops during the Mexican war?
They rode their horses back and forth across the dusty hills churning up dust that made it hard to see and dragging a single cannon to different place to fire. It made the impression that the US troops were fighting a large force.
How did the war between Mexico and the US end in Calif?
It ended with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo where Mexico gave nearly half of its territory to the US.
Why do you think the rebels decided to put Vallejo in prison during the Bear Flag Revolt?
because they declared Calif to be a republic where they can choose their own leader.
