Western Expansion Study Guide

The video discusses the Westward Expansion of the United States, driven by the belief in Manifest Destiny. It covers the acquisition of territories from 1783 to 1853, including the Louisiana Purchase, Texas annexation, and the Mexican Cession. Key trails like the Oregon and Mormon Trails facilitated westward movement, while the Gold Rush attracted many to California. The Northwest Ordinance established a process for creating new states, and President James K. Polk played a significant role in expanding U.S. territory.

What was the belief that the United States was destined to expand from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean called?

• Manifest Destiny

• The Great Expansion

• The Westward Vision

• The American Dream

Which trail was primarily used by settlers moving from Missouri to Oregon?

• Santa Fe Trail

• Mormon Trail

• Oregon Trail

• California Trail

What was the main reason Mormons moved westward to Utah?

• To find gold

• To escape religious persecution

• To claim free land

• To establish trade routes

What event in 1849 led thousands of people to rush to California?

• The Mormon Migration

• The Oregon Trail

• The Gold Rush

• The Homestead Act

What was the purpose of the Northwest Ordinance?

• To establish trade routes

• To create a process for making new states

• To purchase land from France

• To annex Texas

Which U.S. president was a strong advocate of Manifest Destiny and promised to acquire the Oregon Territory?

• John Quincy Adams

• Andrew Jackson

• James K. Polk

• Thomas Jefferson

From which country did the United States acquire Texas in 1845?

• Spain

• Mexico

• France

• The Republic of Texas

What was the result of the Mexican-American War in terms of territorial acquisition?

• The Louisiana Purchase

• The Gadsden Purchase

• The Mexican Cession

• The Oregon Treaty

Why was the Gadsden Purchase important for the United States?

• It was the last piece of land acquired from Spain

• It provided land for the Gold Rush

• It allowed for the construction of a southern railroad

• It resolved a border dispute with Canada

Which treaty ended the Mexican-American War and resulted in the Mexican Cession?

• Oregon Treaty

• Treaty of Paris

• Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

• Adams-Onís Treaty