All Flashcards
What happened at the Alamo?
A 13-day siege where Texan defenders were defeated by Mexican forces; it became a symbol of Texan resistance.
What was the Goliad Massacre?
The execution of over 400 Texan prisoners by Mexican forces, fueling Texan rage.
What was the Battle of San Jacinto?
Sam Houston led the Texan army to a decisive victory, securing Texas's independence.
What was the Texas War of Independence?
Texan settlers declared independence from Mexico, leading to battles like the Alamo, Goliad, and San Jacinto.
What was the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo?
The treaty that officially ended the Mexican-American War in 1848.
What was the Mexican-American War?
A war fought between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848, resulting in a US victory and significant territorial gains for the US.
What was the annexation of Texas?
The incorporation of the Republic of Texas into the United States in 1845, which Mexico viewed as an act of aggression.
What was the California Gold Rush?
A period of mass migration to California starting in 1848 after gold was discovered, leading to rapid population growth and economic changes.
What was the Compromise of 1850?
A series of laws passed by the United States Congress in September 1850 that dealt with the issue of slavery and territorial expansion.
What was the Kansas-Nebraska Act?
A law passed in 1854 that allowed residents of Kansas and Nebraska to decide whether to allow slavery, leading to violence and political turmoil.
Define Manifest Destiny.
The 19th-century doctrine or belief that the expansion of the US throughout the American continents was both justified and inevitable.
What is annexation?
The formal act of acquiring something (especially territory) by conquest or occupation.
Define the Mexican Cession.
The region ceded to the U.S. by Mexico in 1848 under the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo after the Mexican-American War.
What is the Wilmot Proviso?
A proposal to ban slavery in any territory acquired from Mexico; it failed to pass the Senate.
Define popular sovereignty.
The principle that the authority of a state and its government is created and sustained by the consent of its people, through their elected representatives (Rule by the People), who are the source of all political power.
What is sectionalism?
Loyalty to the interests of one's own region or section of the country, rather than to the country as a whole.
Define expansionism.
A policy or practice of expansion and especially of territorial expansion by a nation.
What is a border dispute?
A disagreement over the location of a boundary line between two or more entities.
Define treaty.
A formally concluded and ratified agreement between countries.
What is ceded territory?
Territory that is formally handed over to another country or entity by treaty or agreement.
Compare the US motivations for the War of 1812 and the Mexican-American War.
War of 1812: Focused on maritime rights and impressment. Mexican-American War: Focused on territorial expansion and Manifest Destiny.
Compare the impacts of the Louisiana Purchase and the Mexican Cession.
Both significantly expanded US territory. Louisiana Purchase: Primarily agricultural land. Mexican Cession: Included valuable resources and access to the Pacific.
Compare the views of the North and South regarding the expansion of slavery in the 1840s.
North: Generally opposed the expansion of slavery. South: Strongly supported the expansion of slavery to maintain political and economic power.
Compare the strategies used by the US to acquire territory in the early 19th century.
Louisiana Purchase: Negotiation and purchase. Texas and Mexican Cession: War and conquest.
Compare the long-term effects of the Mexican-American War on the US and Mexico.
US: Territorial expansion, economic growth, and increased sectional tensions. Mexico: Loss of territory, economic instability, and political turmoil.
Compare the goals of President James K. Polk and President John Tyler regarding Texas.
Both supported the annexation of Texas, but Polk was more aggressive in pursuing expansionist policies.
Compare the Wilmot Proviso and the Missouri Compromise.
Both dealt with the issue of slavery in new territories. Wilmot Proviso: Proposed banning slavery. Missouri Compromise: Established a geographic line for slavery.
Compare the views of expansionists and anti-expansionists in the US during the 1840s.
Expansionists: Supported territorial expansion for economic and strategic reasons. Anti-expansionists: Opposed expansion due to concerns about slavery and Native American rights.
Compare the Battle of the Alamo and the Battle of San Jacinto.
Alamo: A defeat for the Texans, but became a symbol of resistance. San Jacinto: A decisive victory for the Texans, securing their independence.
Compare the roles of Sam Houston and Antonio López de Santa Anna in the Texas Revolution.
Sam Houston: Led the Texan army to victory. Antonio López de Santa Anna: Led the Mexican forces and was eventually captured.