Chapter 11 - A Nation on the Move Flashcards
Alcalde
A Mexican official who often served as a combined civil administrator, judge, and law enforcement officer.
What were the goals and outcomes of the Lewis and Clark expedition?
Commissioned by President Jefferson after the Louisiana Purchase, Lewis and Clark were tasked with exploring and mapping the territory, finding a water route to the Pacific, and establishing trade with Native tribes. Though they didn’t find a water route, they gathered valuable geographic, scientific, and cultural knowledge of the West.
Why was Missouri’s admission to the Union so controversial?
Missouri’s bid for statehood in 1819 sparked conflict over slavery’s expansion, with northern politicians opposing its entry as a slave state. The Missouri Compromise of 1820 allowed Missouri in as a slave state and Maine as a free state while banning slavery north of latitude 36°30′ in the Louisiana Territory.
What led to Texas gaining independence from Mexico?
Tensions over cultural differences, slavery, and legal systems caused conflict between American settlers and Mexican authorities. After battles such as the Alamo and San Jacinto, Texas declared independence in 1836, though Mexico did not recognize it. The Republic of Texas existed independently until 1845.
What were the causes and effects of the Mexican-American War?
Driven by expansionist goals and the concept of Manifest Destiny, the U.S. went to war with Mexico after annexing Texas. The 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the war, ceding a vast amount of land (including California and much of the Southwest) to the U.S. and confirming the Rio Grande as the border.
What was the key debate about new territories acquired by the U.S.?
The central issue was whether slavery would be allowed in the western territories. The conflict between free-soil advocates (who wanted to ban slavery to protect white labor) and pro-slavery forces set the stage for deeper sectional conflict leading to the Civil War.
What broader objectives did Jefferson set for the Lewis and Clark expedition?
Jefferson wanted to assert American claims to the West, access the Pacific for trade with China, map the Missouri River’s tributaries, and collect scientific data. The explorers faced storms, disease, and dangerous animals. They also tried to forge peaceful ties with Native tribes and took extensive notes on the region’s resources.
How did the Missouri Compromise reflect growing sectionalism in the U.S.?
The Missouri Compromise exposed deep divisions between North and South over slavery. Northerners, regardless of party, supported the Tallmadge Amendment to limit slavery, while southerners saw it as a threat to property rights. The compromise admitted Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state, preserving Senate balance but marking a troubling sectional divide.
What caused American settlers in Texas to rebel against Mexican rule?
Settlers clashed with Mexico over slavery, religion, and legal systems. Discontent grew after Mexico banned slavery in 1829 and limited immigration. American settlers sought independence to establish Texas as a slave state. Tensions erupted in battles like the Alamo and culminated in Texas’s declaration of independence in 1836.
What was the Free-Soil movement and what were its beliefs?
The Free-Soil Party emerged to stop the spread of slavery into new territories. Supporters like David Wilmot opposed slavery not for moral reasons but to protect free white labor. They believed slavery degraded the dignity of labor and feared the expansion of what they called the “Slave Power” elite.
Who was Sacagawea and how did she contribute to the success of the Lewis and Clark expedition?
Sacagawea, a Shoshone woman, served as a guide and interpreter. Her presence with her infant son signaled peace to other tribes, helping the expedition navigate Native territories and secure crucial supplies and horses from the Shoshone.
What happened at the Battle of the Alamo and why is it significant?
In 1836, about 200 Texan defenders, including James Bowie and Davy Crockett, were killed by Mexican forces under Santa Anna after a 13-day siege. Though a loss, the battle became a symbol of heroic resistance and galvanized support for Texan independence with the rallying cry “Remember the Alamo!”.
What role did Sam Houston play in the Texas Revolution?
Sam Houston led Texan forces to victory at the Battle of San Jacinto, capturing General Santa Anna and forcing him to sign a treaty recognizing Texas independence. Houston later became the first president of the Republic of Texas.
What were the terms and consequences of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo?
Signed in 1848, the treaty ended the Mexican-American War. Mexico ceded over 500,000 square miles of land (California, Arizona, New Mexico, etc.) and recognized the Rio Grande as Texas’s border. The U.S. paid $15 million, but the huge land gain intensified debates over slavery and sectional tensions.
How did Henry Clay influence the debate over slavery in the West?
Known as the “Great Compromiser,” Clay crafted the Missouri Compromise to maintain balance in the Senate. He was also central to later compromises, trying to ease sectional tensions between North and South over slavery’s expansion.
Mexican Cession
The lands west of the Rio Grande ceded to the United States by Mexico in 1848 including California, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, and parts of Wyoming and Colorado.
Northwest Passage
A non existent all-water route across the North American continent sought by European and American explorers.
Compromise of 1850
Five separate laws passed by congress in September 1850 to resolve issues stemming from the Mexican Cession and the sectional crisis.
Wilmot Proviso
An amendment to a revenue bill that would have barred slavery from all the territory acquired from Mexico
This treaty negotiated by who brought Florida to the Union
JQA - Adam Onis Treaty
