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Questions and Answers
What concept was at the heart of Manifest Destiny?
Who famously encouraged people to 'Go West, young man'?
Which trail was NOT a major route used by settlers moving west?
What event led to the secession of Texas from Mexico?
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What was the main motivation for settlers using the western trails?
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What event resulted in a significant population increase in California?
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Which issue primarily divided the North and South regions of America?
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What was the purpose of the series of compromises, such as the Missouri Compromise and the Compromise of 1850?
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Which act increased national tensions over slavery, leading to the Civil War?
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What event ended the Mexican-American War in 1848?
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Study Notes
Manifest Destiny
- 19th-century Americans believed they were destined to expand across the continent from the Atlantic to Pacific.
- By 1820, the United States had more than doubled in area, becoming one of the largest nations in the world.
Western Expansion
- The desire for more land brought aspiring homesteaders to the western frontier, driven by the idea of Manifest Destiny.
- Fur traders and trappers developed the first trails to the west, including the Oregon Trail, California Trail, Mormon Trail, and Bozeman Trail.
- About 400,000 settlers, farmers, miners, ranchers, and business owners and their families used these trails before the first transcontinental railroad was completed in 1869.
Slavery and the Republic of Texas
- Empresarios from the southern US spread slavery into Texas when it was part of Mexico.
- When Mexico refused to legalize slavery, the settlers seceded from Mexico, leading to the Battle of the Alamo and the Republic of Texas declaring independence in 1836.
- Texas was annexed and admitted to the Union as the 28th state in 1845.
Mexican-American War and Gold Rush
- The Mexican–American War began over border disputes, ending with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848.
- Gold was discovered in California in 1848, sparking the famous Gold Rush, which led to a rapid population increase.
- California joined the Union with the Compromise of 1850.
Sectionalism and Compromises
- Divisions grew between regions, primarily between the agricultural, slave-holding South and the industrial North.
- A series of compromises, including the Missouri Compromise in 1820, maintained a balance between regions.
- The Kansas–Nebraska Act of 1854 increased national tensions over slavery, ultimately leading to the Civil War.
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Description
Explore the widely-held belief in America during the 19th century that its settlers were destined to expand across the continent from the Atlantic to Pacific. Learn about the expansion of the United States and the pursuit of more land by aspiring homesteaders.
