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America Expands Westward Two Column Notes-Key
Please read pages 228-232 from the book “Mastering the Grade 8 Social Studies TEKS”
Main Event/Person/Group
The Northwest Ordinance of 1787
Details
What did the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 establish?
Established principles and procedures for the
admission of new states.
What started happening over the next few decades in
the US?
Expanded its territory
The Louisiana Purchase
In what year did the U.S buy the Louisiana territory?
1803
Which country sold the Louisiana territory to the U.S?
France
What are the two key factors of the Louisiana
purchase for the U.S?
Doubled the size of the U.S and gave it control of the
key port of New Orleans.
The Purchase of Florida
In what year did the U.S purchase Florida?
1819
Which country decided to sell the Florida territory?
Spain
Why did this European nation decide to sell this
territory?
Spain’s colonies had already risen to revolt
Manifest Destiny
What is Manifest Destiny?
Belief to extend borders to the shores of the Pacific.
What are the three elements of the divine mission that
Americans were chosen to spread?
Democracy, Christianity, and Western Culture.
Which two factors were important to the US for
occupying the entire continent of North America?
Strengthen the nation’s security and provide new
economic opportunities.
Details
The Oregon Territory
Which European nation did the US agree to have joint
control of the Oregon territory?
British
Who was moving into the Oregon territory in the
1840’s? What trail did they travel on?
The Pioneers. The Oregon Trail.
How long is the trail and what method of
transportation did most of these settlers use?
The trail crossed 2,000 miles. In covered wagons.
What mountain range did they cross? What other
geographic obstacles did these settlers have to cross?
The Rocky Mountains. Deserts and rivers.
How many people died along this trail?
More than 20,000.
The Mormons in Utah
Who, When and where were the Mormons founded?
Joseph Smith, 1830 in upstate New York
What other name is given for the time of the
foundation of the Mormon religion?
The Second Great Awakening
Which unique belief did Mormons have?
Marrying several wives
Who led the Mormons westward to Great Salt Lake,
Utah? How many Mormons would have settled by the
time of his death in 1877?
Brigham Young. 125,000.
The Annexation of Texas
Explain what happened in the 1820’s between
Americans and the Mexican government?
Reached an agreement to settle in the region of
Mexico known as “Texas”.
What effect did the law passed by the Mexican
government in 1830 have on American settlers?
Prohibited additional settlers from immigrating to
Texas
How did American settlers react to this Mexican law?
Ignored the law
The Annexation of Texas
Who was the Mexican General and dictator?
Santa Anna
What did Texans declare from Mexico?
Independence
What two major battles did Texas lose that inspired
many Texans?
Alamo and Goliad
Texas Wins Independence!
Who was the leader of the Texas army?
Sam Houston
What famous battle did Texans defeat Mexico? Who
did they capture?
Battle of San Jacinto. Santa Anna
How did Texas officially gain its independence?
Santa Anna signed a treaty recognizing Texas as an
independent republic.
Who became the first president of the Republic of
Texas?
Sam Houston
The Election of James K. Polk
What President Polk promised he would do to Texas?
Annex Texas.
What issue was still a problem for the U.S?
Slavery
In what year was Texas annexed?
1845
What did Americans fear that would occur if Texas is
annexed?
It would lead to war with Mexico
The U.S-Mexican War 1846-1848
What was the dispute over between the U.S and
Mexico? Name the two rivers that was part of the
dispute?
Southern border of Texas. Rio Grande and Nueces
river.
Who won the war and what was gained from it?
The U.S. It gained CA, NV, UT, AZ, parts of CO and
NM
The U.S-Mexican War 1846-1848
Name the treaty that would settle war?
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
What is the Mexican Cession?
The U.S agreed to pay Mexico $15 million for the
areas gained.
The Gadsden Purchase
When and how did the U.S complete its westward
expansion?
1853. Gadsden Purchase.
Why did President Pierce want to the U.S to have this
area?
Wanted land for a railroad for business purposes
The California Gold Rush
What was discovered in California in 1848?
Gold
What is the nickname given to the thousands of people
rushing to California?
Forty-Niners
Westward Expansion Poses a New Challenge
What political issue created problems for the U.S as
westward expansion continued?
Slavery
What concern did the Southern States have regarding
expansion?
Wanted slave states equal to free states
Why did Southerners fear if a new state from the west
was admitted as a free state?
Would upset the balance between free and slave
states.
Using the graph on page 232, by how many votes did
the North have over the South in 1810 and in 1850?
24 and 71
Using your knowledge of Social Studies, what word
best describes westward expansion?
Manifest Destiny