Manifest Destiny review

Question 1

What was the significance of the Alamo in 1835?

Answer 1

It was a 13-day siege where Texans, including William Travis, Sam Bowie, and Davy Crockett, fought against Santa Anna’s forces.

Santa Anna ordered ‘take no prisoners’ during the siege.

Question 2

Who organized 300 American families to settle in Texas in 1824?

Answer 2

Stephen F. Austin

Moses Austin was given a land grant as an Empresario.

Question 3

What were the laws imposed by Mexico on American settlers in Texas?

Answer 3

Restrictions included:
* Limited slavery
* Required conversion to Catholicism
* Required use of Spanish
* Strict immigration laws

Many Americans ignored these laws.

Question 4

Which battle marked the defeat of Santa Anna and secured Texas independence?

Answer 4

Battle of San Jacinto

Sam Houston was in command during this battle.

Question 5

What was the outcome of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848?

Answer 5

Mexico ceded New Mexico and California to the US and recognized the Rio Grande as the border.

The US paid Mexico $15 million and $3.25 million for American claims.

Question 6

What was the Gadsden Purchase and its purpose?

Answer 6

It was a purchase of land for $10 million to secure a land route for a railroad.

This occurred under President Pierce.

Question 7

Fill in the blank: The _______ proposed banning slavery in all land gained from Mexico.

Answer 7

Wilmot Proviso

Question 8

What did the Compromise of 1850 establish regarding California?

Answer 8

California entered as a free state.

The compromise also included popular sovereignty for New Mexico, Utah, and Nevada.

Question 9

True or False: The northern states supported the annexation of Texas.

Answer 9

False

They opposed bringing in another slave state.

Question 10

Who was the President that promised the annexation of Texas?

Answer 10

James K. Polk

Question 11

What was the Bear Flag Revolt?

Answer 11

A revolt by American settlers in California against Mexican rule.

Captain John C. Fremont was involved in this movement.

Question 12

What was the border dispute between the US and Mexico after Texas annexation?

Answer 12

US claimed the Rio Grande River; Mexico claimed the Nueces River.

Question 13

What was the primary goal of President Polk regarding Manifest Destiny?

Answer 13

To expand US territory from coast to coast.

Question 14

What happened during the Battle of Goliad?

Answer 14

Texans surrendered and were executed by Santa Anna.

This was part of the conflict for Texas independence.

Question 15

Who was Santa Anna?

Answer 15

Self-declared dictator of Mexico during the Texas Revolution.

Question 16

How many travelers went west during the expansion period?

Answer 16

More than 30,000 travelers.

Question 17

What was a key outcome of the Mexican-American War?

Answer 17

The US acquired significant territories including California and New Mexico.

Question 18

Fill in the blank: The Fugitive Slave Act allowed a slave owner to reclaim a runaway slave through a _______.

Answer 18

judge

Question 19

What was the significance of the 10 dollars and 5 dollars in the Fugitive Slave Act?

Answer 19

Judges received $10 for ruling a runaway as a slave and $5 for ruling otherwise.

Question 20

What did Americans believe about the land they were settling in Texas?

Answer 20

That it was Spanish/Mexican land that could be colonized and farmed.

Question 21

What was the California Trail roughly laid out by?

Answer 21

Mountain Men

The California Trail was laid out between the 1810s and 1840s.

Question 22

In what year did newspapers first report a trail to California?

Answer 22

1845

Question 23

How many settlers made their way to California in 1846?

Answer 23

1,500

Question 24

What was the Hastings Cutoff?

Answer 24

An alternate route claimed to cut time but actually added time.

Question 25

What happened to the Donner Party?

Answer 25

They arrived a week late and were trapped in the mountains.

Question 26

What significant event occurred on May 12, 1848, in California?

Answer 26

Gold was discovered in the water.

Question 27

What was the economic impact of the Gold Rush in California?

Answer 27

Many Californians gave up their lives to seek fortune in gold.

Question 28

Who was Sam Brannan?

Answer 28

A store owner for mining supplies who became a millionaire.

Question 29

What was the population increase in California due to the Gold Rush?

Answer 29

From about 20,000 to over 100,000.

Question 30

What was the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo?

Answer 30

The treaty that ceded California to the U.S. on February 2, 1848.

Question 31

Who discovered gold at Sutter's Mill?

Answer 31

James Marshall

Question 32

What were the two main routes taken by prospectors to California?

Answer 32

Oregon and California Trails

Question 33

What was the Cape Horn route?

Answer 33

An 18,000-mile journey taking 4-8 months.

Question 34

What was the Panama shortcut?

Answer 34

A 7,000-mile journey taking 2-3 months.

Question 35

What were the '49ers'?

Answer 35

Farmers and others who left to find gold in 1849.

Question 36

What was the average annual income of a successful farmer compared to potential mining earnings?

Answer 36

Farmers made $300 a year, while miners had a slim chance at $25 a day.

Question 37

What impact did the Gold Rush have on the population of San Francisco?

Answer 37

Population exploded from about 200 to over 36,000.

Question 38

When did California become a state?

Answer 38

1850

Question 39

What was the Compromise of 1850?

Answer 39

California entered as a free state, and New Mexico, Utah, and Nevada would vote on slavery.

Question 40

What was the Comstock Lode?

Answer 40

A 1859 discovery of silver in Nevada/Utah Territory that sparked a new silver rush.

Question 41

Fill in the blank: The first blue jeans were manufactured and sold by _______.

Answer 41

Levi Strauss

Question 42

True or False: Most immigrant prospectors faced discrimination during the Gold Rush.

Answer 42

True

Question 43

What was the initial public perception of the Gold Rush's success?

Answer 43

Wonder about how much money people were making.

Question 44

What was the population of non-natives in California before the Gold Rush?

Answer 44

Approximately 20,000

Question 45

What was a common outcome for miners after a few months of searching for gold?

Answer 45

Most gave up and found other work.

Question 46

What treaty allowed Mormons to legally settle in California, Texas, and New Mexico?

Answer 46

Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo ## Footnote This treaty enabled settlers to mine and farm without becoming Mexican citizens.

Question 47

When did Mormon pioneers begin to settle land near the Great Salt Lake?

Answer 47

1847 ## Footnote They sought refuge from discrimination for their religious beliefs.

Question 48

What did Mormons petition the U.S. Congress for?

Answer 48

To establish Utah as a U.S. territory

Question 49

Who was Joseph Smith?

Answer 49

Founder of the Mormon religion and author of the Book of Mormons

Question 50

What is the Book of Mormons?

Answer 50

The sacred text of the Mormon religion

Question 51

What church did Joseph Smith create?

Answer 51

The Church of Christ, known as the Latter Day Saints or Mormons

Question 52

Where did Smith build a community of Mormon followers?

Answer 52

New York

Question 53

What happened to Joseph Smith in 1844?

Answer 53

He was attacked and killed by a mob in Illinois

Question 54

Who succeeded Joseph Smith as the head of the Mormon Church?

Answer 54

Brigham Young

Question 55

What was Brigham Young's role in the Mormon migration?

Answer 55

He decided the Mormons should relocate to seek refuge

Question 56

What did Smith emphasize for the Mormon community?

Answer 56

Importance of self-sustenance

Question 57

What year did approximately 12,000 Mormons migrate west?

Answer 57

1846

Question 58

What was significant about the Mormon migration in 1846?

Answer 58

It was the largest single migration in U.S. history

Question 59

What territory was acquired by the U.S. in 1848?

Answer 59

The territory surrounding the Great Salt Lake

Question 60

What was established in 1850?

Answer 60

Utah Territory

Question 61

Who was the first governor of Utah Territory?

Answer 61

Brigham Young

Question 62

When was Utah admitted to the Union?

Answer 62

1896

Question 63

What number state was Utah upon its admission to the Union?

Answer 63

45th