Mexican American War_Gold Rush

 

In the early 1800s, New Mexico was the name of a vast region that included:

• present-day New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah

• present-day New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, and Kansas

• present-day New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, and Nebraska

William Becknell, the first American trader to reach Santa Fe:

• arrived in 1821 with his family in a schooner.

• arrived in 1821 with a pack of mules loaded with goods.

• arrived in 1821 with plans to open a mining business

 

Spanish explorers and missionaries from Mexico:

• had been the first Europeans to settle in California in the 1760s.

• had been the first Europeans to settle in California in the 1750s.

• had been the first Europeans to settle in California in the 1780s.

After Mexico gained its independence from Spain in 1821:

• California became a state in the New Mexican nation

• California became a free state in the union.

• California became a state in the new Mexican nation

Many Americans saw the advantage of extending United States territory to the Pacific. 

• That way the nation would be safely bordered by Texas instead of by a foreign power.

• That way the nation would be safely bordered by the sea instead of by a foreign power.

• That way the nation would be safely bordered by California instead of by a foreign power.

On May 11, 1846, the president told Congress that Mexico had:

• “invaded our states and shed American blood upon the American soil.”

• “invaded our territory and shed American blood upon the American soil.” 

• “invaded our territory and shed American blood upon the American flag.”

The Mexican government refused to discuss the offer to buy its land and:

• announced its intention to reclaim Texas.

• announced its intention to invade Texas.

• announced its intention to destroy Texas.

Abraham Lincoln demanded to know:

• the general area where the first attack against American troops had occurred.

• the longitude and latitude where the first attack against American troops had occurred.

• the exact spot where the first attack against American troops had occurred.

Part one of Polk's three-part plan for the war with Mexico was:

• First, American troops would drive Mexican forces out and make the border secure.

• First, American troops would drive Mexican forces out and outlaw the Missions.

• First, American troops would drive Mexican forces out and allow new settlers to move in.

They called the new country the Bear Flag Republic because:

• because their flag showed a bear and a redwood tree on a white background.

• because their flag showed a bear and a star on a white background.

• because their flag showed a bear and a crescent moon on a white background.