Topic 6 Lesson 2

The Mexican government hoped that if they allowed Americans to settle in Texas, the Americans would

• stabilize their government.

• encourage economic growth.

• weaken U.S. influence in the region.

• defend the region against Indian raids.

Why were southern Democrats overwhelmingly in favor of going to war with Mexico?

• They hoped the war would politically damage the rival Whig Party.

• They expected conquered territory would enter the Union as slave states.

• They believed Mexico had deliberately provoked the war by engaging U.S. troops.

• They wanted an end to the long-standing border dispute between Texas and Mexico.

What prevented President Jackson from approving Sam Houston's request to annex Texas?

• He faced staunch opposition in Congress.

• He wanted to avoid another costly war with Mexico.

• He was more concerned with the British in the Oregon Territory.

• He feared it would harm the Democrats in the upcoming elections.

Why were the Whigs unwilling to block the declaration of war with Mexico?

• They hoped that Texas would enter the Union as a slave state.

• They believed that the war was justified on grounds of self-defense.

• They knew that the annexation of New Mexico and California depended on war.

• They felt that opposing a popular war was a political risk.

How did President Polk gain Northern support for the annexation of Texas?

• He gave American citizens permission to settle in British Columbia.

• He agreed to split the territory between the United States and Mexico.

• He threatened to go to war with Britain if it did not concede all of Oregon.

• He promised that newly acquired Mexican territories would not allow slavery.

Which of the following was a rallying cry for Anglo-Texans and Tejanos fighting for Texas independence?

• "Autonomy for All"

• "Down with Santa Anna"

• "Remember the Alamo"

• "Liberty for Texas"

According to President Polk, why did he compromise with the British on splitting the Oregon Territory?

• He had made an agreement with Canadians who were plotting to revolt against British rule.

• He did not want to risk a costly war with Britain when he was eager to go to war with Mexico.

• He thought the United States should not expand into the Oregon Territory.

• He wanted to undermine any power northern politicians in Congress might be able to use.

What incident pushed President Polk to issue a declaration of war against Mexico?

• Mexican forces invaded and brought all of California under Mexican control.

• Santa Anna issued a declaration of war against the United States.

• Mexico claimed and sent troops to occupy the contested borderland between the Nueces River and the Rio Grande.

• A Mexican patrol killed eleven American soldiers in the borderland.

Which acquisition was a contributing factor in the start of the Mexican-American war?

• Texas

• Florida

• Louisiana

• Alaska

Mexican general who led his army in to north Texas and attacked a fortified mission at the Alamo.

• Father Juniper

• Santa Anna

• Sam Houston

• Stephen Austin