Texas Independence and US-Mexico Relations

Why did the British Empire draw a line in North America?

• To make it easier to collect taxes.

• To prevent settlers from fighting with Native American groups.

• To create new states.

• To build a new road.

Why did Mexico want American settlers to move to Tejas?

• To help them fight against the British.

• To make the land more useful and help Mexico's economy.

• To find new types of gold.

• To build new cities for their own people.

What was one reason American settlers in Texas started to fight against Mexico?

• Mexico wanted to buy land from the United States.

• Mexico allowed slavery, which the settlers did not like.

• Mexico outlawed slavery, which the settlers did not like.

• Mexico asked them to pay very high taxes.

What happened after American settlers won a major battle against Mexico in Texas?

• Texas became a state in the United States right away.

• Texas became a new, independent country.

• Mexico gave all of its land to the United States.

• The settlers moved back to the United States.

What was a main goal of President James K. Polk when he became president?

• To buy land from Great Britain.

• To get California from Mexico.

• To build a new capital city.

• To make peace with Native American tribes.

What was a main reason the United States declared war on Mexico?

• Mexico attacked a US military base in California.

• Mexico refused to sell California to the US.

• There was a disagreement over land that both countries claimed.

• The US wanted to help Texas become independent from Mexico.

How did Texas become independent before joining the United States?

• The US military helped Texas fight Mexico.

• Settlers in Texas formed a militia and fought Mexico on their own.

• Mexico peacefully agreed to let Texas become independent.

• Great Britain helped Texas negotiate its independence.

What was President Polk's main goal when he provoked a war with Mexico?

• To get Mexico to pay back its debts to the US.

• To stop Mexico from invading US territory.

• To gain control of California and other western lands.

• To establish a new trade route to Asia through Mexico.

What was a major result of the war between the United States and Mexico?

• Mexico gained control of Texas.

• The US gained a large amount of land, including California.

• Both countries agreed to share the disputed territory.

• The US paid Mexico for all of its land.

What happened to many Native Americans and Mexicans living in the lands the US took from Mexico?

• They were given full US citizenship and voting rights.

• They were allowed to keep their land and traditions.

• They were forced off their land and lost many rights.

• They were moved to new territories in Canada.