Westward Expansion and Manifest Destiny

Mormons

• Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who moved west to escape religious persecution.

• A group of people who practice Buddhism and meditate in the mountains.

• A sect of Christianity that believes in the teachings of Martin Luther.

• A community of atheists who advocate for secularism.

Missionaries

• Religious individuals who traveled west to convert Native Americans to Christianity, often playing a role in settlement and cultural exchange.

• Individuals who opposed the spread of Christianity among Native Americans.

• Traders who exchanged goods with Native Americans without any religious intent.

• Explorers who mapped the western territories for the government.

John Tyler

• The 10th U.S. president (1841–1845), who pushed for the annexation of Texas, contributing to tensions with Mexico.

• The 16th U.S. president known for the Emancipation Proclamation.

• The first U.S. president to resign from office.

• The 3rd U.S. president who authored the Declaration of Independence.

Brigham Young

• The first president of the United States

• The leader of the Mormons after Joseph Smith’s death, who led them west to Utah to establish a religious settlement.

• A famous American author known for his novels

• A prominent figure in the American Civil War

Mountain men

• Fur trappers and traders who explored the western frontier, often acting as guides for settlers moving west.

• Farmers who settled in the eastern United States during the 19th century.

• Soldiers who fought in the American Civil War.

• Explorers who mapped the eastern coast of the United States.

John O’Sullivan

• A journalist who coined the term Manifest Destiny in 1845, arguing that it was America’s divine right to expand westward.

• A famous painter known for his landscapes of the American West.

• A politician who advocated for the abolition of slavery in the 19th century.

• A military leader during the American Civil War.

John C. Frémont

• An explorer and military officer who helped map the West and played a role in the U.S. acquisition of California.

• A famous painter known for his landscapes of the American West.

• A politician who served as the first Republican presidential candidate.

• A scientist who studied the flora and fauna of North America.

Reasons for westward movement

• To find gold and riches

• To escape from the East Coast

• For land, economic opportunities, religious freedom, adventure, and to escape persecution

• To join the military

Oregon Territory dispute resolution

• The Oregon Territory dispute was resolved with the Oregon Treaty of 1846, setting the U.S.-British boundary at the 49th parallel.

• The Oregon Territory dispute was resolved through military conflict between the U.S. and Britain.

• The Oregon Territory dispute was settled by a joint occupation agreement that lasted indefinitely.

• The Oregon Territory dispute was resolved by a referendum held in Oregon in 1845.

Dark Horse

• A term for a political candidate who unexpectedly rises to prominence, such as James K. Polk in the 1844 presidential election.

• A candidate who is well-known and favored to win an election.

• A term used for a candidate who has no chance of winning.

• A candidate who is supported by a major political party.