Manifest Destiny Quiz Flashcards
What does ‘Manifest Destiny’ refer to?
The belief that the United States was destined to expand westward to the Pacific Ocean.
Which president was elected in 1844, and what were his main campaign promises?
James K. Polk; the annexation of Texas, the acquisition of California, and the “reoccupation” or the Oregon Territory
What was the main goal of the 1844 election campaign slogan ‘Fifty-Four Forty or Fight’?
To assert U.S. claims to the Oregon Territory up to the latitude of 54°40′.
What treaty settled the Oregon boundary dispute between the U.S. and Britain?
The Oregon Treaty of 1846
What were the causes of the Mexican-American War?
Border disputes over Texas and the U.S. annexation of Texas.
What was the result of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848)?
The U.S. acquired California, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, and parts of Colorado and Wyoming.
What was the Gadsden Purchase (1853)?
The U.S. purchased land from Mexico to facilitate a southern transcontinental railroad.
What was the significance of the Wilmot Proviso?
It proposed banning slavery in any territory acquired from Mexico.
Which states were part of the land acquired through the Mexican Cession?
California, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, and parts of Colorado and Wyoming.
What was the role of the California Gold Rush in Manifest Destiny?
It spurred westward migration and the rapid settlement of California.
What was the primary purpose of the Homestead Act of 1862?
To encourage westward expansion by offering settlers 160 acres of public land for a small fee.
What role did railroads play in Manifest Destiny?
They facilitated westward expansion by connecting eastern states to western territories.
What were ‘squatters’ in the context of westward expansion?
Settlers who claimed land in the West before it was officially surveyed or opened for settlement.
What was the impact of Manifest Destiny on Native Americans?
It led to displacement, loss of land, and violent conflicts such as the Indian Removal Act and Trail of Tears.
What was the Ostend Manifesto (1854)?
A document suggesting the U.S. should purchase Cuba from Spain and implying war if Spain refused.
What did the annexation of Texas in 1845 lead to?
Increased tensions with Mexico, ultimately leading to the Mexican-American War.
What is the significance of the term ‘borderlands’ in the context of Manifest Destiny?
Regions where U.S., Native American, and Mexican cultures and territories intersected and clashed.
What was the purpose of the Overland Trails?
To provide routes for settlers traveling to Oregon, California, and other western territories.
How did the concept of Manifest Destiny justify westward expansion?
By framing it as a divine right and duty to spread democracy and civilization.
What role did missionaries play in westward expansion?
They sought to convert Native Americans and spread Christianity in western territories.
What was the outcome of the Election of 1844?
James K. Polk won, advocating for expansion and annexation of Texas and Oregon.
What was significant about the Election of 1848?
Zachary Taylor, a Whig and Mexican-American War hero, won the presidency.
What were the major events of the Mexican-American War?
Battles at Palo Alto, Buena Vista, and the capture of Mexico City; ended with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
Who were the mountain men, and what role did they play in westward expansion?
Fur trappers and explorers who opened trails to the West, like the Oregon Trail.
