Facts Flashcards
What year did America declare independence?
1776
How many states were in the original United States
13
How many people did a territory need to join the union?
60,000
Name the two main mountain ranges in the American West.
Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevada.
Which country did America defeat to win the South West in 1848?
Mexico
Describe the terrain and climate of the Great Plains.
Flat. Dry hot grasslands in summer, cold in winter
What did many people refer to the Plains as?
The Great American Desert
Manifest Destiny
The American belief that it was God’s will that they inhabit
pioneer
A person who travels to an area not yet settled with the intention
Why did the Mountain Men go west in the late 1700s and early 1800s?
Hunt animals and bring back furs to trade.
How did Mountain men encourage future travellers to go west?
Told stories, developed trails, drew maps, had articles written
When was the economic crisis in the eastern states that pushed a lot of people west?
1837+
3 reasons why people wanted to leave the eastern states.
immigration, overcrowding, land prices up, crime (cities), poor living conditions (cities), unemployment
Why was California a popular destination up to 1848? (Name 2 reasons)
nice climate, lots of space, cheap land, good agricultural land.
Describe two methods of transport most pioneers used to get across the 3500 miles to California.
Boats until Independence, Missouri then covered wagon pulled by oxen or horse across the plains.
Name the four main geographical obstacles that made the journey difficult.
Rocky Mountains, Nevada Desert, Salt Lake/Flats, Sierra Nevada Mountains