American History Quiz

What does the term "Manifest destiny" refer to in the context of American history?

• The belief that Americans were to overspread and possess the whole continent

• The departure of a large group of people from the United States

• A military settlement that surrounded the missions in Tejas

• A rebellion against the government

What was the purpose of the "Presidios" as mentioned in the study guide?

• Military settlements that surrounded the missions in Tejas

• Temporary markets for fur trappers and fur traders

• The amount by which something is won or lost

• People who search for valuable resources in the earth

Who was James K. Polk and what did he believe in?

• A general who invaded Mexico by sea

• A representative from Pennsylvania who called for Slavery to be banned in any territory gained from the Mexican-American war

• The President of Mexico at the start of the Texas War for Independence

• The US president that believed in Manifest Destiny

What was the significance of the "Bear Flag Revolt"?

• It was a rebellion where American settlers took over Sonoma, California, claiming their land was the Republic of California

• It was a document that ended the Mexican-American war

• It was a building in Texas that was protected by the Texans against a Mexican siege

• It was a term used to describe self-reliant independence

The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo is best described as:

• A treaty that ended the Mexican-American war

• A legal document attached to a law or legislation

• A condition that the US bought a sliver of land on the southern edges of New Mexico and Arizona from Mexico

• A siege that surrounded an area so that no one can leave or enter

What was the "Alamo"?

• A siege that surrounded an area so that no one can leave or enter

• A building in Texas that was protected by the Texans against a Mexican siege

• A term used to describe self-reliant independence

• A mass departure of people

How did the gold rush lead to California's statehood?

• A constitution was created to combat the lawlessness found in California

• Over 80 thousand people migrated to California

• The discovery of gold had no impact on California's statehood

• California's statehood was a result of a treaty with Mexico

Why did the acquisition of new territory renew conflicts over slavery?

• It led to economic competition between slave states and free states

• When new territories are acquired, questions of slavery came up to maintain balance between slave states and free states

• New territories were all free states

• The acquisition of new territory had no impact on slavery conflicts

What are the causes of the Mexican-American War?

• Disagreements between the borders between Mexico and the USA

• Skirmishes between Mexican troops and the American troops who were to secure the land between the Rio Grande and Nueces rivers

• A trade dispute between Mexico and the USA

• Mexico's refusal to sell land to the USA

What were some of Polk's political ambitions?

• Manifest Destiny

• Reducing the size of the United States

• Establishing a monarchy

• Eliminating the concept of states' rights