Westward Expansion and Manifest Destiny

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Oregon Trail

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Trail from independence Missouri to Oregon used by many pioneers during the 1840s. Difficult journey with dangerous mountain and river crossings, diseases, extreme weather, lack of food and supplies.

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Manifest Destiny

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1800s belief that God ordained America to spread across the North American continent.

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Mexican Cession 1848

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Land that Mexico ceded to the United States in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848. This territory included CA, NM, NV, AZ, UT, TX, and parts of Colorado and Wyoming.

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Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo 1848

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Ended US Mexican war, made the Rio Grande official boundary of Texas, paid Mexico $15 million in exchange for the Mexican Cession, Mexico recognized Texas part of the U.S.

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Northwest Ordinance 1787

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Established a series of steps for each of the Northwest territories to become new states.

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James K. Polk

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11th president of the US focused on Westward Expansion, Oregon territory, and war with Mexico.

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Mexican-American War

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Causes: Annexation of Texas to US, Border dispute (Rio Grande & Nueces River), & U.S. desire to purchase Mexico's land to California.

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Gadsden Purchase 1853

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Acquired additional land from Mexico for $10 million to facilitate the construction of a southern transcontinental railroad.

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California Gold Rush (1849)

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Hundreds of thousands of people from around the world, mostly young men, came to California in 1849 after gold was discovered in search of instant riches. Led to quick population of California, and new conflicts over slavery as California petitioned for admission as a free state. Led to Compromise of 1850.

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Louisiana Purchase 1803

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President Jefferson purchase of the Louisiana territory from France, doubled the size of the US.