westward expansion Flashcards
What was the significance of the Louisiana Purchase (1803)?
The U.S. acquired 828,000 square miles of land for $15 million, nearly doubling the size of the country.
How many settlers used the Oregon Trail and what percentage died?
Over 400,000 settlers used the Oregon Trail, with 10-20% dying on the journey.
What did the Homestead Act (1862) grant to settlers?
The Homestead Act gave 160 acres of land for free to settlers who would improve it. By 1900, 80 million acres had been granted.
What was the impact of the California Gold Rush (1848)?
Over 300,000 people flocked to California, leading to its admission to the Union as a free state in 1850.
How did the Transcontinental Railroad impact westward expansion?
The railroad reduced travel time from 6 months to 7 days, connecting the East and West.
What did John O’Sullivan mean by ‘Manifest Destiny’?
‘It is our manifest destiny to overspread the continent allotted by Providence for the free development of our yearly multiplying millions.’ – John O’Sullivan – 1845 – Democratic Review
How much land did the U.S. gain through the Mexican-American War (1846-1848)?
The U.S. gained 500,000 square miles of land, including California, Nevada, Utah, and parts of Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico.
What was the Oregon Boundary Dispute and how was it settled?
The U.S. and Britain settled the Oregon boundary at the 49th parallel, securing the Pacific Northwest.
What was the Indian Removal Act of 1830?
It forced the relocation of 60,000 Native Americans to reservations in the West, opening lands in the Southeast for settlement.
How did James K. Polk support expansion in his inaugural address?
‘The acquisition of Oregon and California, and the establishment of a free government in those territories, will add greatly to the wealth and power of the United States.’ – James K. Polk – 1845 – Inaugural Address
What did the Pacific Railway Act (1862) achieve?
It provided land grants to build the Transcontinental Railroad, facilitating the transport of goods and people.
How did the Homestead Act (1862) contribute to westward expansion?
It distributed 80 million acres of land to settlers, significantly altering the Western U.S. landscape.
What did the Morrill Land-Grant Acts do?
They granted land to states to establish agricultural colleges, helping train people for farming in the West.
How did Andrew Jackson justify Indian removal?
‘The removal of the Indians is a measure of great importance to the United States.’ – Andrew Jackson – 1830 – Speech in Congress
What was the economic impact of Westward Expansion by 1860?
By 1860, U.S. wheat production had reached over 1 billion bushels annually, thanks to farming in the Great Plains and the West.
How did the expansion of U.S. territory affect political debates?
It intensified debates over slavery, leading to the Compromise of 1850 and the Kansas-Nebraska Act.
What cultural impact did westward expansion have on Native Americans?
It led to the destruction of Native American cultures and practices as settlers brought American culture, legal systems, and education to the West.
What was the significance of the Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804-1806)?
They mapped the Louisiana Territory and Pacific Northwest, providing invaluable knowledge about the geography and resources of the West.
What role did John C. Frémont play in westward expansion?
His exploration routes through the Rockies and California encouraged migration and settlement in these regions.
What did Pike’s Expedition (1806) contribute to U.S. territorial expansion?
It mapped southern parts of the Louisiana Territory and strengthened U.S. claims to the Southwest.
What did Meriwether Lewis write about the landscape during the expedition?
‘We were in view of a high mountain, on the opposite side of the river, and could see that it was covered with snow.’ – Meriwether Lewis – November 1805 – Lewis’s Journal Entry
What was the result of the Louisiana Purchase (1803)?
The U.S. bought 828,000 square miles for $15 million, acquiring much of the western U.S.
What land did the U.S. acquire in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848)?
The U.S. gained 500,000 square miles, including California, Nevada, and other southwestern territories for $15 million.
What was the Gadsden Purchase (1854)?
The U.S. acquired 29,670 square miles from Mexico for $10 million, securing land for a southern transcontinental railroad.
