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CHAPTER 13
Western Expansion, 1830–1848
TRUE/FALSE
1. There were hundreds of different Indian tribes west of the Mississippi River in 1840, each
with its own language, religion, cultural practices, and forms of governance.
2. The western Plains Indian tribes initially experienced little concern regarding white expansion
and conquest, as settlers were only passing through the Great Plains.
3. Mexico’s winning independence from Spain slowed American expansion westward.
4. Members of the Donner party engaged in cannibalism when stranded on their way to California.
5. Prior to the Mexican-American War, Frémont and a band of American settlers had captured
Sonoma in northern California from Mexico and proclaimed the Republic of California.
6. Mexico was concerned with Anglo-American immigration because the immigrants brought
slaves, and Mexico was a free nation.
7. David Crockett had lost his bid for reelection to Congress and declared he would go to Texas
to make his fortune.
8. The events at Goliad increased Texian support of Santa Anna as a leader.
9. William Henry Harrison was a significant president because he was the first president of
the newly created Whig party and served one of the shortest terms in American history.
10. On a platform that called for the annexation of Texas, Henry Clay ran as the Democratic
presidential candidate against James Polk.
11. The dispute over Oregon caused the outbreak of the Mexican-American War.
12. Support for the Mexican-American War was strongest among New England abolitionists.
13. John C. Calhoun was against taking more than the northernmost territories of Mexico because
that would mean incorporating “colored races” into the Union.
14. In 1849, Congress created the Department of the Interior to supervise the distribution of
land, the creation of new territories and states, and the “protection” of the Indians and their
reservations.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. What was the primary reason for pioneers’ movement West?
a.
to settle an uninhabited expanse of land, introducing its first cultural traditions
b.
to lead an isolated lifestyle devoid of capitalistic influences
c.
to seek to improve their lot economically, such as by farming, mining, and hunting
d.
to prevent the expansion of slavery because cotton was impossible to grow in new territories
e.
to adopt and preserve Hispanic traditions that offered an alluring contrast to the eastern states
2. The idea of “manifest destiny” claimed that
a.
joint British-American occupation of North America would “civilize” the continent.
b.
immediate war against the British would revitalize the American state.
c.
God sanctioned American expansion westward across the continent.
d.
slavery was the result of divine intervention.
e.
men were destined to travel the high seas.
3. Who coined the term “manifest destiny”?
a.
President Martin Van Buren
d.
Mexican leader Santa Anna
b.
Texas leader Stephen Austin
e.
Swiss immigrant John A. Sutter
c.
newspaper editor John O’Sullivan
4. Which of the following statements is true of the Plains Indian societies in the 1840s?
a.
Most exhibited remarkable similarities to New England society, especially in terms of religion and
governance.
b.
They had not known warfare until white men arrived there and refused to engage in any open
conflict.
c.
They were largely homogeneous and devoid of any substantive differences among them, forming
one nation.
d.
Some were nomadic hunters who relied on the abundance of buffalo, which was threatened by the
arrival of white hunters.
e.
They had already become deeply rooted in Christianity during the colonial era and, thus, quickly
assimilated to white settlements.
5. What sort of racial tensions, if any, emerged as white Americans first settled in Mexico and
the Spanish West during the first half of the nineteenth century?
a.
Even more than the acquisition of land, white expansionists were eager to incorporate
the people of Mexico as citizens to grow the population of their settlements.
b.
Minimal racial tensions developed because white Americans had formed agreements with Native
Americans to venture across their lands.
c.
White Americans brought enslaved African Americans with them to Mexico and the West, and they
treated Hispanics essentially the same as whites.
d.
English colonizers had settled parts of the region long ago, which made the English language more
widespread and helped whites assimilate.
e.
Many white Americans were as prejudiced toward Hispanics as they were toward Native
Americans and African Americans.
6. What effect did Mexico’s winning its independence from Spain have on American settlement
in the Southwest?
a.
The establishment of the new Mexican state made settlement in its territories more difficult.
b.
Patterns of American settlement of the former Spanish, now Mexican, territories remained
unchanged.
c.
American settlers were immediately and forcibly removed from all Mexican territories.
d.
American settlement and expansion into the former Spanish territories increased after Mexico
gained independence.
e.
Americans began to flee the former Spanish territories once Mexico gained independence.
7. Prior to Mexico becoming an independent nation in 1821, Texas was
a.
an independent republic.
b.
one of the American states.
c.
a French territory.
d.
a commonwealth of the British Empire.
e.
a part of Mexico and owned by Spain.
8. The solitary American fur trappers that blazed trails westward were known as
a.
army scouts.
d.
horse traders.
b.
Fremonters.
e.
mountain men.
c.
mountain climbers.
9. What was the result of the Convention of 1818?
a.
Britain gave up its claim on the Oregon Country because the soil there was too rocky.
b.
Russia ceded California to the Americans because Tyler offered a great sum of money.
c.
Britain and the United States agreed to establish a joint occupation of the Oregon Country.
d.
Spain and the United States agreed to divide Texas evenly to stave off further conflict.
e.
Spain and Mexico joined to condemn Napoléon’s designs on New World expansion.
10. What was “Oregon fever,” and how did it come about?
a.
It referred to the sense of idealism Americans had toward the West due to its portrayal
in popular culture, although very few Americans actually made the journey as the government
outlawed it.
b.
It referred to a terrible outbreak of cholera that spread all the way east due to the cramped living
conditions of groups of pioneers traveling to Oregon and other western territories.
c.
It referred to the warmongering directed toward the Oregon area and the recruitment of American
soldiers, as the French were the last obstacle standing in the way of American western settlement.
d.
It referred to the panic the general American public felt at the prospect of further western
expansion, due to widespread economic decline caused by the relocation of workers and industry.
e.
It referred to the large migration of many settlers to Oregon, drawn there by the fertile land and
eventually the federal government’s promise of free land in exchange for four years of work.
11. Most of those who traveled westward in wagon trains
a.
made it from Missouri to California in a month.
b.
actually walked and used the wagon to transport supplies.
c.
did so without entering any Native American lands.
d.
turned back due to the hardships of the trek.
e.
were headed for California’s gold fields.
12. Which of the following statements accurately describes experiences of women pioneers who
made the journey west?
a.
The divorce rate was far lower in the West because women tended to find satisfaction in the more
intellectual work required by starting new towns.
b.
Women generally remained strictly within the domestic sphere throughout the duration of their
journeys, sticking to cooking, cleaning, and caring for children.
c.
Women were rarely anything but elated at the prospect of leaving their old lives behind and starting
a new adventure in the West.
d.
Though initially men and women tended to maintain traditional roles, the demands of
the western trails dissolved such neat distinctions.
e.
Women and children rarely joined men in the journey west until after large cities had been built
because it was considered far too dangerous for them.
13. Why did the Spanish establish missions in California?
a.
They were intended to serve as places of religious conversion and economic productivity.
b.
They were vehicles that could preserve Native American language and culture.
c.
They were institutions where the Spanish studied Native American religions.
d.
They were outposts to help attract Native American emigration to Spain.
e.
They were churches that only the Spanish were allowed to use.
14. How did the Spanish missions in California differ from those in Texas and New Mexico?
a.
There were not nearly as many missions in California.
b.
The missions in California tended to quickly become secular communities.
c.
The missions in California took on more of a role in society and lasted much longer.
d.
Native Americans frequently attacked and burned them in a series of raids.
e.
The missions in California were unconcerned with converting Native Americans.
15. Which of the following did the Donner party come to represent?
a.
the immense desperation some pioneers faced on the trail, placing survival before all else
b.
the dangers of becoming caught in the crossfire of the Mexican war for independence
c.
the unwavering value pioneers placed on social convention and morality
d.
the intense preparation efforts most pioneers engaged in before they set foot west
e.
the annihilation of many pioneers by the Native Americans
16. Why was John Charles Frémont so influential in encouraging the mass migration of Americans?
a.
He commanded an army of volunteers in the Alamo during the Texas Revolution.
b.
He was the leading promoter of American settlement in Texas.
c.
He had led the first and largest wagon train along the Oregon Trail.
d.
He established the first sizable American settlement in California.
e.
His reports of his western explorations gained wide circulation and became very popular.
17. Most of the American settlers in Texas went there because of
a.
the prominence of the fur trade.
b.
gold and other mineral deposits.
c.
fertile, inexpensive lands.
d.
trading opportunities with the Indians and the Mexicans.
e.
legal problems in the United States.
18. Which of the following statements accurately describes the actions of Stephen F. Austin?
a.
He was a prominent Mexican official who encouraged the emigration of Americans to Texas
because they would help grow industry there.
b.
His decision to bring a group of Anglo settlers to Texas without the permission of the Mexicans
sparked a major war.
c.
He became the leading proponent of American settlement in California and helped trigger what
became known as the Gold Rush.
d.
He obtained a grant to start a slaveless Anglo “colony” in Texas meant to serve as a so-called buffer
between Native Americans and Mexicans.
e.
He actively urged Texans to revolt against the United States because he believed the state should
not have to pay taxes.
19. Why did the Mexican government attempt to curtail the American settlement of Texas?
a.
The Mexican government feared it would spark a war with Napoléon, who continued to have a
stake in the South and held control of most of Louisiana.
b.
The Mexican government worried about the intentions of the Americans living there, namely the
possibility of their conspiring with the United States to take Texas.
c.
The Americans had adopted the Mexican identity as their own to such a degree that the Mexican
government feared Mexico would not reap the benefits of Americanization.
d.
Food resources in the region were already scarce, which the Mexican government feared would
result in intense competition with the Americans for basic resources.
e.
The Mexican government wished to honor the British claim to the territory that had been in place
since the end of the French and Indian War.
20. Why did the Anglo Texans rebel against the Mexican government of Santa Anna?
a.
out of worry that the Mexicans planned to attack U.S. territories east of Texas
b.
due to their alliance with the Comanche Native Americans
c.
out of fear that he was becoming dictatorial and might use that power to free their slaves
d.
at the request of Spain, which was trying to regain control of Mexico
e.
due to their opposition to taxation without representation
21. What was the significance of the Battle of the Alamo?
a.
Santa Anna lost and was forced to offer Texas independence from Mexico due to the terms of the
treaty offered by the Americans.
b.
The battle highlighted the commitment of Santa Anna to the ideals of liberty and the Texans’ turn
toward despotism under Austin.
c.
The violence lost the Texans the support of prominent Americans such as Davy Crockett and, thus,
caused the American government to withdraw its support of the Texans.
d.
The battle had proven relatively bloodless and, thus, marked a turn toward diplomacy between the
Mexicans, Americans, and Native Americans.
e.
Santa Anna won a costly victory, but the intense fighting had turned the rebellion into a war for
Texan independence.
22. What had a major influence on Texas commander in chief Sam Houston?
a.
He was half Mexican.
b.
He was the first Texas-born leader of the territory.
c.
He had been a pacifist before moving to Texas.
d.
He was the only college-educated rebel.
e.
He served under General Andrew Jackson in the War of 1812.
23. Which of the following statements accurately describes the relationship between Sam
Houston and Native Americans after he journeyed west?
a.
His primary objective during the Texas War for Independence was to drive all Native American
tribes out of Texas to make way for additional white American settlers.
b.
He committed suicide after having been captured by Native American forces during the Mexican-
American War rather than dying by their hand.
c.
He married a Cherokee woman, was formally “adopted” by the Cherokee nation, and helped rival
Native American tribes negotiate among themselves and the federal government.
d.
As a prominent figure in Texas, he prohibited the adoption of all Native American customs by
white settlers so as to help the new state develop its own new identity.
e.
He negotiated treaties with Native American tribes that successfully prevented the relocation of
Native Americans from Oregon to reservations far from the Oregon Trail.
24. Who was the first president of the Republic of Texas?
a.
Stephen Austin
d.
Santa Anna
b.
Andrew Jackson
e.
Sam Houston
c.
James Polk
25. Why was the annexation of Texas popular in the South?
a.
It would be entering the Union as a slave state.
b.
It would cause a Mexican attack on the United States and war.
c.
It would prove Calhoun’s incompetence as secretary of state.
d.
It would provide an untouched market for the sale of southern cotton.
e.
It would lead to closer ties with Britain and France.
26. Which of the following statements sums up William Henry Harrison’s presidency?
a.
He was criticized for merely following the orders of Henry Clay in much of his policy.
b.
He actively tried to slow American migration to the West in order to build industry in the East.
c.
He was lauded for having been able to fulfill most of the Whig economic platform.
d.
He brought a completely different background to office than Andrew Jackson.
e.
He had won primarily based on his status as a military hero but died after only a month in office.
27. John Tyler broke with the Democrats and joined with the Whigs because he
a.
morally opposed slavery and refused to allow it to enter the West.
b.
disagreed with Andrew Jackson’s position on nullification.
c.
opposed the succession of South Carolina from the nation.
d.
believed all property owners should have the vote.
e.
supported Clay’s program of economic nationalism.
28. President Tyler infuriated Henry Clay by vetoing his bill in support of
a.
Texas annexation.
d.
pensions for veterans.
b.
higher tariffs.
e.
a new national bank.
c.
Indian removal.
29. Which leader was described as a president without a party because his actions alienated him
from both Democrats and Whigs?
a.
William Henry Harrison
d.
John Tyler
b.
Sam Houston
e.
Henry Clay
c.
James K. Polk
30. What was the significance of the Creole incident?
a.
Because American abolitionists attempted to free French slaves without the approval of the French
government, it strained relations between the United States and France and ultimately resulted in a
short war that depleted American resources.
b.
With the help of the British, it proved the most successful slave revolt in American history and
created an international crisis in which the Americans ultimately acquiesced to the British to avoid
war and harm to the American economy.
c.
With the strength and number of enslaved African Americans at an all-time low, it inspired the
American government to turn to other means of labor on farms, including that of indentured
servants and Native Americans in the West.
d.
Due to the evenhandedness of Henry Clay, it proved one of the most successful acts of diplomacy
in American history, and its quick settlement ushered in an era of close alliances between the
United States and western Europe.
e.
Because the expansion of the West had offered new opportunities to expand slavery, it involved
Congress reopening the African slave trade and promised a revival in economic activity between
the United States and Europe unlike anything seen since the eighteenth century.
31. What was an effect of the Webster-Ashburton Treaty of 1842?
a.
It called for the annexation of Texas by the United States.
b.
It placed the Oregon territory under sole U.S. control.
c.
It provided for U.S.-British cooperation to police the outlawed slave trade.
d.
It promised Native Americans that the pioneers would not encroach on their land.
e.
It returned the slaves freed from the mutiny on the Creole to France.
32. Because of its lack of infrastructure, Sam Houston said that the Lone Star Republic had two choices: either to be
annexed by the United States or to
a.
dissolve and return the land entirely to the Native American tribes who had previously controlled it.
b.
build official housing for the incoming white Americans who far outnumbered African Americans.
c.
stop the arrival of more Americans because no more land or resources were available in the region.
d.
develop closer trade relations with Britain, which had begun buying cotton from Texas planters.
e.
decline the offer to join the United States, as Texas had already become a world power.
33. Martin Van Buren’s stance against annexing Texas
a.
soon became the focus of his presidency at his own urging.
b.
won him the influential support of former president Andrew Jackson.
c.
secured his nomination as the Whig candidate for president.
d.
cost him his party’s nomination in the election of 1844.
e.
was motivated by his primary desire to expand slavery.
34. During the 1844 campaign, Henry Clay changed his position on the annexation of Texas to one of
a.
support as long as it proceeded honorably and without war.
b.
adamant opposition to it.
c.
indifference to the status of the region.
d.
insistence that the territory be returned to Mexico.
e.
support at all costs.
35. Which of the following transpired during the presidential election of 1844?
a.
Both Clay and Polk enthusiastically supported Texas annexation.
b.
Liberty party votes in New York cost Clay the White House.
c.
Polk won a popular vote landslide.
d.
Jackson supported his old rival, Henry Clay.
e.
Polk’s greater experience in national office gave him a huge advantage over Clay.
36. Polk’s nickname of “Young Hickory” MOST reflected his
a.
association with Jackson and support for Jacksonian policies.
b.
identity as a northerner.
c.
lack of a work ethic.
d.
actual elderliness as a presidential candidate.
e.
hesitation toward territorial expansion.
37. Congress ultimately voted to annex the Republic of Texas via a(n)
a.
treaty of annexation signed by Mexico.
b.
resolution by the House of Representatives.
c.
joint resolution of Congress requested by President Tyler.
d.
voice vote in the Senate.
e.
executive order.
38. As president, which of the following did Polk support?
a.
handing parts of the Oregon territory over to Britain to ensure peaceful relations
b.
major increases in tariffs on imports to raise consumer prices
c.
Mexican rule in California in return for control over Texas
d.
fewer foreign goods competing in the American marketplace
e.
the federal government’s management of government funds through a National Treasury
39. James Polk’s plan to acquire California and New Mexico primarily entailed
a.
his willingness to purchase them at whatever price Mexico demanded.
b.
a war big enough to acquire the land, but small enough to avoid creating a political rival.
c.
the exchange of territory still held by the United States in Canada for the Southwest.
d.
constant migration until the land was American simply by virtue of population and settlement.
e.
the initial threat of war but intention to stick to purchase or diplomacy during his second term.
40. Polk settled the Oregon boundary dispute with the British by
a.
agreeing to a border along the 49th parallel.
b.
paying the British $10 million to give up their claim.
c.
sending the navy to back up the U.S. claim.
d.
agreeing to a permanent joint occupation of the Pacific Northwest.
e.
promising not to go to war with Mexico.
41. Polk’s order that Zachary Taylor move his troops to the disputed territory north of the Rio Grande
a.
protected American settlers along the border in such a way that they regained their trust in the
United States government and left the West behind.
b.
provoked a Mexican attack as part of a scheme to justify the beginning of a war with Mexico and,
ultimately, to gain New Mexico and California.
c.
persuaded Mexico to sell California to the United States to avoid a costly war that would be sure to
hurt Mexican resources and infrastructure.
d.
caused an uproar among German and Irish immigrants that resulted in increased anti-war sentiment
and a lack of immigrant groups joining in the American army.
e.
won him political support in the North and, thus, helped to secure his victory in the next
presidential election.
42. Among the opponents of the Mexican-American War was
a.
Thomas O. Larkin.
d.
John Tyler.
b.
John Slidell.
e.
John L. O’Sullivan.
c.
Abraham Lincoln.
43. Why was Whig leader Daniel Webster opposed to the Mexican-American War?
a.
He was a staunch pacifist throughout his career.
b.
He preferred to go to war with Britain over Oregon.
c.
He was known for his adamant support of pro-Mexican policies.
d.
He believed Texas could be acquired without a war.
e.
He believed that the origins of the war were “unconstitutional.”
44. What was the result of Winfield Scott’s assault on Veracruz, which was considered the
strongest fortress in North America?
a.
Scott and most American soldiers were killed in the opening moments of the attack.
b.
Santa Fe became an official part of the United States.
c.
The large amphibian operation was carried out without a loss and opened the way to Mexico City.
d.
The battle was a major Mexican victory and almost resulted in an American surrender.
e.
The Spanish joined the war on the side of the Americans to protect their interests in Veracruz.
45. The decisive victory in the Mexican-American War came with Winfield Scott’s capture of
a.
Monterrey.
d.
Puebla.
b.
the Alamo.
e.
Mexico City.
c.
Cerro Gordo.
46. What was St. Patrick’s Battalion?
a.
It was a group of American Protestants who sought to convert Catholic Mexican soldiers and
prisoners of war by force in the name of peace.
b.
It was a group of northern senators that had steadfast support for the Union and refused to entertain
the idea of allowing slavery to enter the West following the Mexican-American War.
c.
It was an American army unit that saw little combat and came to be highly involved in American
journalism, including through undercover missions during the Texan Revolution.
d.
It was a Mexican army unit made up entirely of Irish and German immigrants that deserted from
the American army for reasons such as higher wages and mistreatment for their religion.
e.
It was a group of pioneers who courageously formed search parties to recover wayward travelers,
served as guides, and charted maps of undiscovered territory at great personal risk.
47. What was an effect of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo?
a.
The United States gained territories including California and New Mexico.
b.
Santa Anna was restored to power in Mexico.
c.
U.S. troops immediately withdrew from Mexico.
d.
Mexico was given areas of Texas to compensate for its many casualties.
e.
The nation of Mexico kept far more than half of its land.
48. What was one way the Mexican-American War proved unique in American history?
a.
It was America’s first major military defeat on foreign soil and led Americans to adopt a wholly
new approach to war in terms of both weapons and military strategy.
b.
It was a war in which nearly all Americans consistently supported the conflict and continued to
believe it to have been justified even after its conclusion.
c.
It was at odds with the idea of manifest destiny that had long influenced other American wars and
was driven mainly by religious factors.
d.
It was America’s first major military intervention outside the United States and the first time
that U.S. military forces had conquered and occupied another country.
e.
In terms of the percentage of combatants killed, it had the lowest death rate of any war in American
history and, thus, made more Americans likely to join the military in the next war.
49. Which of the following was partly an effect of the Mexican-American War?
a.
the taking of all of Mexico by the United States
b.
the United States’ becoming a transcontinental nation
c.
the start of a prolonged depression
d.
Polk’s rising unpopularity among American expansionists
e.
a dramatic weakening of the federal government
50. How did the Mexican-American War ultimately deepen sectional divisions in the United States?
a.
All the territories acquired were immediately opened to slavery.
b.
Slavery was prohibited in all the territories acquired.
c.
Slaves who fought in the war began rebelling for their freedom in the South.
d.
The new territories acquired fueled a violent debate over the extension of slavery into them.
e.
Southern states refused to recognize the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
1. In what way did John Tyler become a “president without a party”? Use examples to make an
argument regarding how much of this was his own doing.
2. Explain the phrase “manifest destiny.” What factors were most important in drawing Americans
to the West, both mentally and physically?
3. In which territory—Texas, California, or Oregon—was America’s claim best? In which was it worst? Explain the
reasoning behind your conclusions.
4. Discuss the American movement to annex Texas between 1820 and 1845. Why did it take so
long for annexation to succeed?
5. Why were many Americans opposed to the Mexican-American War? How significant was their opposition?
6. Discuss the ways in which the settlement of the West affected Native American cultures.
7. Trace the development of the Oregon Country prior to the Mexican-American War.
8. What were the various roles of the California missions? Describe life at these missions and
the impact they had throughout the territory.
9. Discuss the causes and consequences of the Mexican-American War.
10. Assess the presidency of James K. Polk. What were his successes and failures, and what impact
did his administration have on the future of the United States?
MATCHING
Match each description with the item below.
a.
was the young congressman who argued that Polk had maneuvered the Mexicans into attacking
b.
was the general-in-chief of the American army during the Mexican-American War and was called
the “greatest living soldier” by the Duke of Wellington
c.
was elected vice president in 1840 but took over the presidency without having been elected to the
office
d.
was one of the defenders at the Alamo who led the “regular army” soldiers, partly as a means to
leave behind a checkered past in Alabama
e.
was the American who captured San Diego and Los Angeles after quarreling with General Stephen
Kearny over who was in command of the army
f.
was the secretary of state who negotiated the treaty resolving the boundary between the
northeastern United States and British Canada
g.
was known as “the Pathfinder” and became the most enthusiastic champion of American settlement
in Mexican California and the Far West
h.
called himself the “Napoleon of the West” and suspended the Mexican national congress in the face
of Texan rebelliousness
i.
founded a colony of European emigrants in California and sought to create a wilderness empire by
putting Native Americans to work
j.
was a Franciscan friar who led the creation of a Catholic mission in San Diego, California
1. John Charles Frémont
2. Antonio López de Santa Anna
3. John A. Sutter
4. Abraham Lincoln
5. Junípero Serra
6. Winfield Scott
7. Robert F. Stockton
8. William B. Travis
9. John Tyler
10. Daniel Webster
