Westward Expansion Quiz

Which of the following best explains the economic motivations behind Westward Expansion?

• The desire to establish new trade partnerships with European nations

• The availability of cheap land, agricultural opportunities, and potential resource exploitation

• The need to build defensive military outposts along the Pacific coast

• A reaction to industrialization, where Americans sought to escape urbanization

The annexation of Texas was controversial because:

• Texas was previously a British colony, making the U.S. susceptible to war with Britain

• Mexico still claimed Texas, considering its independence illegitimate

• The U.S. had signed a treaty promising not to expand beyond the Mississippi River

• Spain had granted the land to Mexico in 1821, making the U.S. annexation a violation of international law

How did the ideology of Manifest Destiny contribute to Westward Expansion?

• It justified expansion as a divine right and duty to spread American values and institutions

• It led to immediate conflicts with European nations over trade and land rights

• It resulted in a rapid shift from an agrarian economy to an industrial economy

• It discouraged conflict with Native American groups in the newly acquired territories

The Louisiana Purchase was significant because:

• It doubled the size of the U.S. and removed the last Spanish presence from North America

• It gave the U.S. control over the Mississippi River and opened western lands for settlement

• It provided the U.S. with immediate access to the Pacific Ocean for trade

• It was the first acquisition in U.S. history that required military force to secure

Which of the following best explains why Spain agreed to cede Florida to the United States in 1819?

• Spain lacked the military resources to defend it and feared U.S. military action

• The U.S. purchased it outright for $25 million in the Adams-Onís Treaty

• The Spanish government was overthrown, and the new regime abandoned Florida

• Spain sought to strengthen its alliance with Britain by withdrawing from North America

The Oregon Treaty of 1846 was significant because:

• It avoided war with Britain by establishing the 49th parallel as the northern U.S. border

• It resulted in the forced removal of British settlers from the Oregon Territory

• It marked the first time the U.S. used military force to acquire land from a European power

• It expanded U.S. influence in Latin America by securing trade rights with Mexico

What was Mexico’s primary argument against Texas’ annexation?

• Mexico claimed the U.S. had violated the Treaty of Paris

• Mexico never recognized Texas’ independence and considered it a rebellious province

• Texas had a significant Mexican population that opposed U.S. rule

• The U.S. had agreed in an earlier treaty not to expand beyond the Mississippi River

Which event directly provoked the Mexican-American War?

• The refusal of Mexico to negotiate the sale of California and New Mexico

• The discovery of gold in California, which increased U.S. interest in the region

• The U.S. sending troops into the disputed Rio Grande-Nueces River territory, leading to a Mexican attack

• The signing of a secret alliance between Mexico and Britain against U.S. expansion

The “Spot Resolutions” introduced by Abraham Lincoln:

• Called for a justification of the war by demanding proof of where American troops were attacked

• Supported President Polk’s expansionist policies and urged war against Mexico

• Advocated for an immediate withdrawal of U.S. forces from Mexican territory

• Proposed dividing the newly acquired lands between free and slave states

Why was General Zachary Taylor’s campaign along the Rio Grande significant?

• His victories at Palo Alto and Buena Vista weakened Mexican resistance in northern Mexico

• He negotiated the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, securing peace with Mexico

• He launched the invasion of Mexico City, leading to the war’s conclusion

• His forces relied heavily on naval support rather than land-based strategies