Westward Expansion and Mexican-American War

James K. Polk’s belief that the U.S. should expand to the Pacific Ocean became known as:

• Manifest Destiny
• the Wilmot Proviso
• Polk’s Folly
• the Gold Rush of 1849

California and New Mexico became a part of the U.S. as a result of ___ that ended the Mexican-American War:

• Mexico City Peace Treaty
• Webster-Ashburton Treaty
• Treaty of Paris
• Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo

The goal of the Gadsden Purchase was to gain land to build a

• plank road
• railroad
• canal
• post office

How did the outcome of the Mexican-American War, which added new lands to America, increase sectional tensions throughout the 1850s?

• Southern farmers resented the wealth gained from California gold.
• Texas and California did not desire statehood, which angered New England politicians.
• Territorial expansion led to intense debates about the extension of slavery into the new areas.
• Agriculture became the dominant economic activity in the new areas, which threatened manufacturing interests.

Why did President Polk ask for a declaration of war against Mexico in 1846?

• Mexico made an alliance with Germany with a promise of returning Texas to Mexico.
• Rebel forces in Mexico took the U.S. Secretary of State hostage.
• The Mexican dictator overthrew the democratic government established in the 1830s.
• Mexican troops killed sixteen American soldiers in the Texas border dispute.

The Wilmot Proviso: 

• prevented the national government from fully funding the Mexican-American War
• proposed prohibiting slavery in any territory that might be acquired from Mexico.
• allowed slavery into newly acquired territories based up on popular sovereignty (people rule and decide).
• allowed for all former slaves to become official U.S. citizens.

A group of Mormons moved westward because

• they were searching for gold.
• they were promised 40 acres and a mule if they settled the area west of California.
• they were fleeing religious persecution and imprisonment
• they hoped to convert Native American tribes to Mormonism through the establishment of Missions.

As westward migration furthered the sectional divide between the two halves of the U.S., efforts to unify our country included:

• Webster’s work to create a distinctly American language.
• Iturbide’s work to achieve Mexican independence from Spain.
• Calhoun’s work to nullify federal law.
• Clay’s compromise that established which states would be “free” states and which would be “slave” states.

Which best explains the meaning of James Polk’s 1844 campaign slogan “Fifty-Four-Forty or Fight?”

• The U.S. government should refuse to make peace with the American Indians.
• The U.S. should refuse to make a treaty with Mexico.
• He promised to fight Canada.
• He was willing to fight Britain for Oregon County north to the 54 degree 40’ parallel.

Which best explains why the U.S. did not admit Texas as a state immediately after the defeat of the Mexican army?

• Congress could not agree on whether Texas should be a slave state or free state.
• Congress could not agree on what rights Mexican residents of Texas would have.
• Mexico refused to relinquish its claims to Texas.
• Texas was determined to remain an independent republic.