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Questions and Answers
What year did Santa Anna lay siege to the Alamo?
What year did Santa Anna lay siege to the Alamo?
Davy Crockett was among the defenders who survived the siege of the Alamo.
Davy Crockett was among the defenders who survived the siege of the Alamo.
False
Who led the Texan army to victory at the Battle of San Jacinto?
Who led the Texan army to victory at the Battle of San Jacinto?
Sam Houston
The term ___________ describes the belief that it was America's destiny to expand its territory to the Pacific Ocean.
The term ___________ describes the belief that it was America's destiny to expand its territory to the Pacific Ocean.
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What was the approximate number of Mexican soldiers killed at the Battle of San Jacinto?
What was the approximate number of Mexican soldiers killed at the Battle of San Jacinto?
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The Mexican-American War started in 1847.
The Mexican-American War started in 1847.
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What significant action did Texas take in 1845?
What significant action did Texas take in 1845?
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Match the following events with their outcomes:
Match the following events with their outcomes:
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What was the main objective for people traveling west in wagon trains during the 1840s?
What was the main objective for people traveling west in wagon trains during the 1840s?
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The Donner Party successfully reached California without any significant delays.
The Donner Party successfully reached California without any significant delays.
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What was the fatal mistake made by the Donner Party during their journey?
What was the fatal mistake made by the Donner Party during their journey?
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The ________ was the location where the Mexican forces attacked Americans in February 1836.
The ________ was the location where the Mexican forces attacked Americans in February 1836.
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Match the following terms with their descriptions:
Match the following terms with their descriptions:
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How far did wagon trains typically travel in a day?
How far did wagon trains typically travel in a day?
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The population of Americans in Texas outnumbered Mexicans by 5 to 1 by 1835.
The population of Americans in Texas outnumbered Mexicans by 5 to 1 by 1835.
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What resource did the Conestoga Wagons use to provide drinking water?
What resource did the Conestoga Wagons use to provide drinking water?
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What prompted the California Gold Rush?
What prompted the California Gold Rush?
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Less than 1 in 100 prospectors struck it rich during the Gold Rush.
Less than 1 in 100 prospectors struck it rich during the Gold Rush.
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Name one hardship faced by pioneers during westward expansion.
Name one hardship faced by pioneers during westward expansion.
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The Mississippi River stretches approximately ____ miles from Minnesota to New Orleans.
The Mississippi River stretches approximately ____ miles from Minnesota to New Orleans.
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Match the following tribes with their fate during Indian relocation:
Match the following tribes with their fate during Indian relocation:
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What was the primary reason the United States paid Mexico $15 million?
What was the primary reason the United States paid Mexico $15 million?
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Abraham Lincoln's family lived in a multi-room log cabin.
Abraham Lincoln's family lived in a multi-room log cabin.
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During the Gold Rush, San Francisco became a ____ town.
During the Gold Rush, San Francisco became a ____ town.
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Who was the American general who defeated the Mexican army in Texas and captured Monterrey?
Who was the American general who defeated the Mexican army in Texas and captured Monterrey?
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Polk's primary goal in the Mexican-American War was to expand U.S. territory according to the principles of Manifest Destiny.
Polk's primary goal in the Mexican-American War was to expand U.S. territory according to the principles of Manifest Destiny.
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What was the name of the proclamation made by Captain John C. Fremont in California?
What was the name of the proclamation made by Captain John C. Fremont in California?
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The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed in _____ and resulted in the U.S. acquiring Texas, New Mexico, and California.
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed in _____ and resulted in the U.S. acquiring Texas, New Mexico, and California.
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Match the following individuals with their roles in the Mexican-American War:
Match the following individuals with their roles in the Mexican-American War:
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Which battle did General Taylor win that helped him pursue the Mexican army into Mexico?
Which battle did General Taylor win that helped him pursue the Mexican army into Mexico?
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General Winfield Scott's army consisted of 20,000 soldiers during the attack on Mexico City.
General Winfield Scott's army consisted of 20,000 soldiers during the attack on Mexico City.
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In which month and year did the Mexican-American War effectively end with the capture of Mexico City?
In which month and year did the Mexican-American War effectively end with the capture of Mexico City?
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What year did Daniel Boone travel through Cumberland Gap to open up the west?
What year did Daniel Boone travel through Cumberland Gap to open up the west?
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The Louisiana Territory was purchased from Britain in 1803.
The Louisiana Territory was purchased from Britain in 1803.
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Who were the two leaders of the expedition that mapped the Louisiana Territory?
Who were the two leaders of the expedition that mapped the Louisiana Territory?
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The Rocky Mountains posed a significant challenge for the Lewis and Clark Expedition, and they were almost saved by a ______ girl.
The Rocky Mountains posed a significant challenge for the Lewis and Clark Expedition, and they were almost saved by a ______ girl.
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What was the primary purpose of the beaver traps used by the trappers in the Rockies?
What was the primary purpose of the beaver traps used by the trappers in the Rockies?
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Match the following individuals with their contributions:
Match the following individuals with their contributions:
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By 1795, fewer than 50,000 people had followed Boone's footsteps across the Appalachians.
By 1795, fewer than 50,000 people had followed Boone's footsteps across the Appalachians.
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What was the cost per acre when Thomas Jefferson purchased the Louisiana Territory?
What was the cost per acre when Thomas Jefferson purchased the Louisiana Territory?
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Study Notes
First Stage: Across the Appalachians
- Cumberland Gap formed 300 million years ago, providing access through the Appalachians for settlers to head west.
- In 1775, land west of Cumberland Gap belonged to European countries (Britain, France, and Spain) and was inhabited by hundreds of Native American tribes.
- Daniel Boone, in March 1775, led a group through Cumberland Gap to Kentucky, establishing the Wilderness Road.
- Boone defied orders to halt westward expansion, relying on the land for supplies.
- His journey sparked a movement of 200,000 people by 1795 who followed Boone's footsteps across the Appalachians.
Second Stage: Across the Mississippi - The Louisiana Purchase
- In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson purchased the Louisiana Territory (500 million acres) from Napoleon at 3 cents an acre.
- The Lewis and Clark Expedition began in May 1804 to map the Louisiana Territory.
- Lewis and Clark faced an unknown frontier, encountering the Rocky Mountains and near-starvation.
- They were helped by Sacagawea, a 16-year-old Shoshone girl.
- The expedition was the first to reach the Pacific Ocean by land, documenting 300 species of wildlife.
Third Stage: Wagon Trains West (1840s) - Mass Migration
- The 2,000-mile journey to California and Oregon involved travel at 10 miles a day.
- Settlers sold their eastern homes and farms to seek opportunities.
- Conestoga wagons, carrying people and supplies, like water (captured rainwater), and fuel (oxen dung), were used.
- The Donner Party (1846) experienced significant hardship in the Sierra Nevada Mountains when they took a shortcut.
- Severe winter weather resulted in delays and shortages of resources, leading them to desperation measures, such as cannibalism.
- The Donner Pass was named after this tragedy.
War of Texas Independence (February-April 1836)
- A rebellion started in 1835 due to restrictive Mexican policies led by President Antonio López de Santa Anna.
- The Alamo, defended by 200 Texans, was besieged and taken by Santa Anna's forces by March 6, 1836.
- The Battle of San Jacinto, in April 1836, marked a Texan victory over Santa Anna, leading to Texas's independence.
Mexican-American War (1846-1847)
- Manifest Destiny fueled the desire for westward expansion, leading to conflict with Mexico.
- The conflict was triggered by the annexation of Texas by the United States.
- American forces, under General Zachary Taylor, engaged Mexican troops along the Rio Grande, resulting in battles.
- General Scott and troops took Mexico City in Sept of 1847 ending the war.
California Gold Rush (1848)
- James Marshall discovered gold in the California River in 1848.
- News of the discovery sparked a mass migration of 100,000 people to California seeking wealth.
- San Francisco rapidly grew into a boom town.
- The gold rush lasted for about 5 years, drastically transforming California.
Downside to Westward Expansion- Native American Treatment
- Native American relocation to reservations became a government policy in 1830 under President Andrew Jackson's presidency.
- Tribes like the Cherokee, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole were severely affected, many dying in the relocation.
- Short life expectancies for Native Americans were a negative result of the westward expansion.
Key Transportation Method
- The Mississippi River was a crucial transportation route and "lifeline" for settlers west from the 1800s onward and was integral to the success of this period.
- The development of the steamship revolutionized travel, making upstream transport much quicker and allowing the Midwest to flourish economically.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the early stages of American westward expansion, including key events like Daniel Boone's journey through Cumberland Gap and the Louisiana Purchase. Explore significant figures and impacts of these movements in shaping America. Ideal for students of American history.
