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Manifest Destiny and Westward Expansion
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1
Question
What was Manifest Destiny?
Page 1
Answer
19th-century belief that the U.S. had a God-given right to expand across North America.
2
Question
How did Manifest Destiny influence U.S. expansion into western territories?
Page 1
Answer
Justified U.S. expansion into Texas, Oregon, and the Mexican Cession; encouraged war and treaties displacing Mexicans.
3
Question
What were railroads in the context of 19th-century U.S. expansion?
Page 1
Answer
Network of transcontinental lines, especially built with federal land grants in the 1850s-60s.
4
Question
What was the significance of railroads for the U.S. economy and Civil War?
Page 1
Answer
Tied regional markets together, sped migration to the West, strengthened North's economy and war effort, helped integrate new territories.
5
Question
What was the Panic of 1857?
Page 1
Answer
Sharp economic downturn that hit the North harder than the South.
6
Question
How did the Panic of 1857 affect Southern confidence before secession?
Page 1
Answer
Convinced many Southerners their cotton-based economy was superior and deepened sectional distrust.
7
Question
Who were the Mountain Men?
Page 1
Answer
Fur trappers and explorers in the Rockies and Far West.
8
Question
What was the role of Mountain Men in U.S. settlement?
Page 1
Answer
Mapped trails and passes, guided later migrants, opened trans-Mississippi West to U.S. settlement and economic exploitation.
9
Question
What characterized the Mining Frontier?
Page 1
Answer
Boomtown mining in CA, CO, NV, etc., after discoveries of precious metals.
10
Question
How did the Mining Frontier impact western development?
Page 1
Answer
Drew hundreds of thousands west, accelerated statehood (especially California), raised demand for railroads, fueled economic and political change.
11
Question
What was the Gold Rush?
Page 1
Answer
Influx of '49ers' to California after 1848 discovery at Sutter's Mill.
12
Question
What was the political impact of the Gold Rush?
Page 1
Answer
Led to population explosion, push for California statehood as free state, disputes that intensified sectional Compromise of 1850.
13
Question
What was the Silver Rush?
Page 1
Answer
Rushes such as Nevada's Comstock Lode in the 1850s-60s.
14
Question
How did the Silver Rush affect the West and Civil War?
Page 1
Answer
Brought settlers and capital to interior West, helped finance Union war needs, encouraged creation of new mountain states.
15
Question
What was the Farming Frontier?
Page 1
Answer
Settlement of Great Plains and western lands by small farmers, especially after 1862.
16
Question
What economic changes resulted from the Farming Frontier?
Page 1
Answer
Created region of commercial agriculture tied to national markets, promoted by federal land policies.
17
Question
What defined the Urban Frontier?
Page 2
Answer
Rapid growth of western cities like San Francisco and Denver.
18
Question
How did the Urban Frontier shift U.S. power dynamics?
Page 2
Answer
Turned West into more urban-industrial region, provided centers for trade, finance, drew immigrants and internal migrants, shifted political power westward.
19
Question
What were Federal Land Grants?
Page 2
Answer
Public land given to railroad companies and others.
20
Question
What was the significance of Federal Land Grants?
Page 2
Answer
Encouraged rapid railroad sales and settlement along rail corridors; represented major use of federal power to shape economic development.
21
Question
Who was John Tyler?
Page 2
Answer
Whig president (1841-45) who favored expansion and pushed for Texas annexation.
22
Question
How did John Tyler advance Texas annexation?
Page 2
Answer
Advanced cause of annexing Texas despite party opposition, setting slavery vs. conflict in new territory debates.
23
Question
What was the Oregon Territory?
Page 2
Answer
Pacific Northwest region once jointly occupied by Britain and the U.S.
24
Question
What was the outcome of U.S. claims to the Oregon Territory?
Page 2
Answer
U.S. claim and eventual division at 49th parallel satisfied expansionists; avoided war with Britain while attention shifted toward Mexico.
25
Question
What was 'Fifty-Four Forty or Fight!'?
Page 2
Answer
Polk's campaign slogan demanding all of Oregon up to latitude 54°40'.
26
Question
How did 'Fifty-Four Forty or Fight!' reflect expansionism?
Page 2
Answer
Aggressive expansionist sentiment; though border compromised, slogan symbolized will to gain territory.
27
Question
Who was James K. Polk?
Page 2
Answer
Democratic president (1845-49), ardent expansionist.
28
Question
What achievements defined Polk's presidency?
Page 2
Answer
Oversaw annexation of Texas, settlement of Oregon, victory in Mexican-American War; achieved Manifest Destiny goals, dramatically expanded map.
29
Question
What was the Wilmot Proviso?
Page 2
Answer
Proposed ban on slavery in territory taken from Mexico.
30
Question
How did the Wilmot Proviso impact sectional tensions?
Page 2
Answer
Though never became law, forced Congress to confront whether slavery would expand west, hardened Free-Soil and helped Republican coalitions.