Manifest Destiny and Westward Expansion

Question 1

Word Association! When you see or hear ‘Manifest Destiny’ you should think and/or say _______.

Answer 1

T.O.M. = Texas, Oregon, and Mexico

and sing “From Sea to Shining Sea” from that song ‘America The Beautiful’

Question 2

As America continued to grow and expand westward, what central issue kept coming back (like dandelions in the back yard, argh!)? Then, explain WHY.

Answer 2

Slavery! As the United States acquired more and more territory, the new states/territories being added to the union threatened to DISRUPT THE BALANCE between the number of slave states and free states. Both sides feared the other having more votes in Congress, especially in the Senate.

Question 3

Who was John L. O’Sullivan?

Answer 3

A journalist who, in 1845, wrote an editorial (opinion piece) in the New York Morning News in which he coined the phrase “Manifest Destiny”.

Question 4

What does the phrase “Manifest Destiny” actually mean?

Answer 4

Manifest Destiny was a BELIEF (IDEA) that the US was OBVIOUSLY (Manifest) DESTINED (Destiny) or MEANT to expand (overspread) and posses (own) the entire continent from sea (Atlantic Ocean) to shining sea (Pacific Ocean). This idea was widely held and had religious connotations. People believed GOD wanted the US to have the continent.

Question 5

What does the word “Expansionist” mean?

Answer 5

An expansionist was someone who favored (supported) America’s territorial growth. Expansionists were often in favor of the US getting more land any way possible, including war, if necessary.

Question 6

During the 1830s and 1840s, many Americans headed westward in conestoga wagons following famous trails to the west. What were some of these trails?

Answer 6

The Oregon Trail is perhaps the most famous.

There was also the Santa Fe Trail, the Mormon Trail, and the California Trail.

Question 7

This man led some of the first American emigrants to settle in the Mexican province of ‘Tejas’ (Texas). By 1835, Tejas became home to about 30,000 American settlers. These settlers did NOT follow the rules created by the government of Mexico. Who was the man that really started it all?

Answer 7

Stephen F. Austin. Today, the capital city of Texas, Austin, carries his name.

Question 8

This man seized power in Mexico in 1834 and became a dictator in the eyes of Americans living in Tejas. This leader will be responsible for the Alamo.

Answer 8

General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna.

Question 9

In 1835, Texans and Americans were chanting ‘Remember the Alamo.’ Why? What happened there exactly?

Answer 9

In March 1836, Santa Anna’s Mexican forces attacked the Alamo (a former mission turned garrison) leading to a 12 day siege. All of the Texans (and American supporters) defending the Alamo from Santa Anna were slaughtered.

A few weeks later, a similar execution happened at Goliad.

Question 10

This man led Texan forces after Santa Anna to avenge the Alamo and help Texas win its independence from Mexico. At the Battle of San Jacinto, this man’s forces captured Santa Anna.

Answer 10

Sam Houston. Today, the city of Houston, Texas carries his name.

Question 11

Upon winning the war for independence against Mexico, Texas became known as _______________.

Answer 11

The Lone Star Republic. Its flag had a single (lone) star.

Texas did NOT immediately become a state.

Question 12

Texas wanted to join the Union (USA) almost immediately after winning its independence from Mexico. Why didn’t it?

Answer 12

Texas was seeking to enter the Union as a SLAVE STATE. This would have upset the balance and make the SLAVE STATES stronger. The FREE STATES were upset by this.

Question 13

What does ‘Annex’ or ‘Annexation’ mean?

Answer 13

To annex means to attach or add. Texas wanted to be annexed by the US. Annexation is the process of annexing (adding, attaching).

Question 14

This man ran for President in 1844 as a Democrat from Tennessee. He campaigned on the promise to annex Texas. Southern expansionists supported this man.

Answer 14

James K. Polk

Question 15

What do the words ‘Fifty-Four Forty, or Fight!” refer to?

Answer 15

The Oregon Territory. Expansionists wanted the US to take possession of the Oregon Territory all the way NORTH to the 54-40 line OR go to war with England to take possession of the land! In the end, the US compromised with England (Canada) and acquired Oregon up to the 49th parallel (the current boundary between the US and Canada out west).

Question 16

What event caused the Mexican-American War?

Answer 16

The US finally annexed Texas in 1845. However, there was a disagreement between Mexico and the US about the borders of Texas. Polk sent troops into this contested area and they were attacked by Mexican soldiers. Polk asked Congress to declare war, which it did in 1846.

Question 17

How did the war go for the United States? For Mexico?

Answer 17

The war went very well for the US as it swept to victory. For Mexico, they lost the war and had to cede (give up) a lot of their land in the treaty that ended the war.

Question 18

What was the name of the treaty that ended the Mexican War?

Answer 18

The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848). It forced Mexico to give up the northern 1/3 of their country and added 1.2 million square miles of land to the US (parts or all of: California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado and Wyoming).

Question 19

The proposed law that wanted to ban slavery in any lands won from Mexico. It was proposed by a Congressman from Pennsylvania (in the NORTH) and it FAILED TO PASS. It did make southern, pro-slavery people ANGRY.

Answer 19

The Wilmot Proviso, proposed by Congressman David Wilmot of PA in 1846. Again, this NEVER BECAME LAW, but the very idea of it angered the South.

Question 20

This event, occurring in 1849, saw the migration of about 80,000 fortune seekers to the West in search or riches.

Answer 20

The California Gold Rush of 1849.

HINT: Think of the football team the San Francisco 49ers!

Question 21

One effect of the Gold Rush is this common article of clothing we wear today. It was created during the Gold Rush of 1849 in order to be a durable piece of clothing for the fortune seekers digging/panning for gold.

Answer 21

Blue Jeans - created by Levi Strauss (yes, THAT Levi Strauss) out of a durable French fabric called denim. The Jeans company ‘Levi Strauss & Co.’ officially began in San Francisco, CA in 1853.

Question 22

Can you describe/discuss the impact on the United States of acquiring the huge piece of land called the ‘Mexican Cession’?

Answer 22

1) Greatly increased the size of the US; 2) Brought the SLAVERY QUESTION front and center. The country had to decide whether the states/territories made from this land would be FREE or SLAVE! 3)This led to tensions and mistrust between Mexico and the US.

Question 23

From what treaty did the US acquire Florida?

Answer 23

The Adams-Onis Treaty of 1819 gave Florida to the United States from SPAIN.

Question 24

What are the SPECIFIC PROVISIONS (DETAILS) of the Missouri Compromise of 1820?

Answer 24

In 1819, Missouri wanted to enter the US as a slave state. However, this would disrupt the balance of Free and Slave States in the Senate. Therefore, Maine was created as a FREE STATE and Missouri was admitted as a SLAVE STATE. A line was drawn at 36-30 and the rule was that no slave state could be made NORTH of that line.

Question 25

BONUS: What was the Gadsden Purchase? Why was the purchase made?

Answer 25

In 1853, the US bought land in present-day SOUTHERN Arizona and New Mexico FROM Mexico. The purpose? The US planned to build a railroad across the continent that would pass through that land.