Ch. 11 Expanding West

The U.S. government helped traders traveling on the Santa Fe Trail by

• sending troops to protect against Native American attacks.

• issuing travel insurance to protect the traders' belongings.

• granting an allowance to cover basic travel expenses.

The transcontinental railroad played an important role in California's development because

• it gave California's economy the means to grow by connecting the state to the rest of the country.

• it slowed down California's economy and it took two decades and thousands of dollars to complete.

• it contributed to California's population explosion by bringing settlers to the West in the mid-1850s.

The lesson a western traveler might have learned from the story of the Donner party would be

• don't look for shortcuts.

• travel with a compass.

• don't drink the water.

The practice that caused Mormons to be persecuted in the 1850s was

• the men being married to more than one wife.

• violence against non-Mormons.

• not allowing people to attend their church services.

The American expansionists' slogan "Fifty-four-forty or fight!" referred to the

• line to which they wanted their northern territory to extend.

• line that marked the northern border of what is now California.

• number of prisoners they wanted Santa Anna to release.

Empresarios were

• agents who brought settlers to Texas.

• Mexicans who opposed the revolution.

• soldiers in the Texas army.

The U.S. army was ________________ at the beginning of the Mexican-American War.

• better equipped than the Mexican army

• greatly outnumbered by the Mexican army

• more experienced and better organized

Nevada became eligible for statehood as a result of the population explosion of the "gold fever" years.

• True

• False

One way in which Americans made life difficult for Chinese immigrants was by prohibiting them from opening their own businesses.

• True

• False

Mexican officials did not want many Americans to settle in California.

• True

• False