War with Mexico and Texas Independence

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Questions and Answers

What significant political change happened following the death of William Henry Harrison?

The Missouri Compromise was immediately revised.

John Tyler, a former Democrat, became president. (correct)

The Whig party became more unified.

The vetoing of the Bank of the United States bill was successful.

What action did John Tyler take to address his political isolation?

He joined the Democratic Party.

He resigned prior to the 1844 election.

He stepped down from the presidency.

He focused on foreign affairs. (correct)

Why was the initial treaty for the annexation of Texas rejected?

There was a lack of support from Great Britain.

Both Whigs and Democrats opposed it due to slavery concerns. (correct)

Tyler's negotiation strategies were viewed as ineffective.

The Mexican government approved the annexation.

What method did Tyler ultimately use to achieve the annexation of Texas?

A joint resolution of Congress. Signup and view all the answers

What issue did Henry Clay and Martin Van Buren agree to avoid during the 1844 presidential campaign?

Expansion and slavery. Signup and view all the answers

Which political party did John Tyler align with during his presidency?

Whigs. Signup and view all the answers

What characterized the election of 1844 in terms of party strategy?

Candidates avoided key issues like expansion and slavery. Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary route taken by the pioneer families traveling to the Oregon Country?

Along the Platte River and through the Rocky Mountains Signup and view all the answers

What prompted the beginning of the war with Mexico under President Polk?

Disputed boundaries after the annexation of Texas Signup and view all the answers

Which event directly followed the failure of John Slidell's mission to Mexico City?

Fighting commenced around Matamoros Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of the Bear Flag Revolt?

It represented a failed attempt at California's independence Signup and view all the answers

Which major U.S. city was noted for having the finest natural harbor on the Pacific coast during the period leading up to the war with Mexico?

San Francisco Signup and view all the answers

Who was the U.S. general that commanded troops into the newly annexed Texas?

Zachary Taylor Signup and view all the answers

What year did President Polk declare war against Mexico?

1846 Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary motivation behind the U.S. interest in California during this period?

The quality of its natural harbor Signup and view all the answers

What action did President Polk take after the outbreak of hostilities with Mexico?

He sent a war message to Congress Signup and view all the answers

Which year marked the beginning of American settlement in the Oregon Country?

1841 Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary goal of President Polk regarding the Mexican War?

To acquire new territories for the United States Signup and view all the answers

Which American military leader became a national hero due to victories in northern Mexico?

Zachary Taylor Signup and view all the answers

What was the outcome of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo?

Mexico ceded lands that included New Mexico and California Signup and view all the answers

What strategy did Colonel Stephen Kearny employ in New Mexico during the war?

He proclaimed New Mexico as American territory with little resistance Signup and view all the answers

What financial compensation did the United States agree to pay under the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo?

$15 million for the new territory and $3 million for debts Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of the Battle of Buena Vista?

It was a crucial win for American forces under Taylor Signup and view all the answers

How did President Polk utilize Santa Anna during the war?

He allowed Santa Anna to return to Mexico to negotiate peace Signup and view all the answers

What prompted the shift in the main theater of war to Mexico City?

General Winfield Scott's strategic directive Signup and view all the answers

Which area was NOT included in the lands ceded by Mexico according to the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo?

Florida Signup and view all the answers

What key event marked the end of the fighting between the United States and Mexico?

The fall of Mexico City Signup and view all the answers

What notion underpins the expansionist doctrine of manifest destiny?

Racial superiority of the Anglo-Saxon race Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following benefits was NOT claimed by proponents of manifest destiny?

Increased tariffs on imports Signup and view all the answers

How did the idea of manifest destiny appeal to both supporters and opponents of slavery?

Both groups sought to increase territory for different reasons Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the major philosophical underpinnings of manifest destiny according to O'Sullivan?

The idea of divine providence Signup and view all the answers

Which geographic areas did antislavery advocates primarily support adding to the Union under manifest destiny?

California and Oregon Signup and view all the answers

What did O'Sullivan suggest was the ultimate goal of manifest destiny?

To expand American democracy and governance Signup and view all the answers

What term describes the belief that it was America's divine right to expand its territory?

Manifest destiny Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the economic advantages cited by manifest destiny proponents for expansion?

Establishment of new trade routes Signup and view all the answers

What primary issue did Mexico face after gaining independence from Spain in 1821?

Deciding on a form of government structure Signup and view all the answers

Which provision was required of American settlers moving to Texas under Mexican policy?

They must convert to Catholicism. Signup and view all the answers

What contributed to the growth of the American population in Texas by 1830?

Governments grants and land incentives. Signup and view all the answers

What action did the Mexican Congress take in response to the growing American presence in Texas?

They banned slavery and prohibited further American immigration. Signup and view all the answers

Who seized power in Mexico in 1834 and aimed to enforce greater control over Texas?

Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna Signup and view all the answers

What was the immediate consequence of General Santa Anna's policies in Texas?

A successful rebellion against Mexican authority. Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary motivation for American settlers to migrate to the Oregon Country in the early 1840s?

The promise of rich farmland. Signup and view all the answers

What effect did the influx of American settlers have on the population dynamics in Texas?

It overwhelmed the Spanish-speaking population, leading to tensions. Signup and view all the answers

What was the nature of the relationship between American settlers and Mexican authorities in Texas by the 1830s?

An escalating conflict over cultural and political differences. Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the significant impacts of the opening of the Oregon Trail?

It initiated a major wave of migration to the Pacific Northwest. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Mexican Borderlands and Oregon, War with Mexico, Politics of Expansion

Mexico's independence (1821) caused internal conflict between centralist and federalist governments
Northern Mexican provinces (Texas to California) were sparsely populated and difficult to defend
Mexico encouraged American settlement and trade in these areas, attracted by rich farmland in Oregon Country
American settlement in Texas grew rapidly in the 1830s, with entrepreneurs (empresarios) like Stephen F. Austin encouraging immigration, predominantly by southern farmers attracted by cheap land for cotton cultivation
By 1830, over 20,000 Americans plus thousands of slaves lived in Texas

Texas's Independence

General Antonio López de Santa Anna seized power in Mexico (1834) and attempted to exert control over Texas, leading to conflict
Texans declared independence (March 2, 1836) but suffered a devastating defeat at the Alamo
Texans continued fighting for independence, with a pivotal victory at the Battle of San Jacinto (April 21, 1836), leading to Santa Anna's surrender and Texas's recognition as an independent republic
Mexico initially refused to accept Texas's independence, continuing border disputes (Nueces River vs. Rio Grande)

New Mexico and California

Mexico opened Santa Fe (1821) to US trade, fostering the Santa Fe Trail
American traders and settlers ventured into California, initially attracted to trade, with hide and tallow as major commercial ties
American settlers in California encountered disagreements with Mexican government
The opening of the California Trail (the expansion of routes through the Sierra Nevada and into the Sacramento Valley) facilitated American settlement, particularly in the 1840s

War with Mexico

Texas annexation by the US caused diplomatic strain with Mexico
Polk attempted to purchase New Mexico and California from Mexico, with proposals rejected
Fighting began in April 1846 near the Rio Grande, leading to formal declaration of war in May 1846
War in California was initiated by the Bear Flag Revolt (June 1846)
The capture of Mexico City ended the Mexican-American War in 1847

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

Treaty signed in 1848 that ended the war, with Mexico ceding vast territories including present-day California, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and parts of Colorado and Wyoming to the US
The US paid $15 million to Mexico plus assumed Mexican debt

Politics of Expansion

American domestic issues (especially bank policies and tariffs) dominated politics during the 1820s-1830s
Foreign policy issues like expansion emerged as a central theme in the 1840s, driven by factors including manifest destiny
Tyler (Harrison's VP) pursued an expansionist agenda in his brief presidency, including Texas annexation efforts

The Election of 1844

The election of Polk signaled a shift towards expansionist politics

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Description

This quiz covers the historical events surrounding the Mexican Borderlands, the war with Mexico, and the struggle for Texas's independence. It highlights key figures such as Santa Anna and the impact of American settlers in Texas and Oregon. Test your knowledge on this crucial period of expansion in the United States.