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WorksheetsManifest Destiny
Total questions: 23
Worksheet time: 2hrs 55mins
Mountain Men were the first Americans to extensively explore the Oregon Country. Where was the land known as the Oregon Country?
east of the Appalachian Mountains & near the Atlantic Coast
west of the Rocky Mountains & north of California
between the Mississippi River & the Appalachian Mountains
along the Pacific coast of present-day Mexico
Mountain Men roamed the Oregon Country for a specific purpose. What was the primary activity that Mountain Men were doing in the Oregon Country?
Removing Native American nations on behalf of the United States government.
Trapping beaver to profit from the sale of valuable fur pelts.
Searching for a Northwest Passage - a water route through the North American continent to the Pacific Ocean.
Collecting specimens of new species of plants and animals for President Jefferson.
Who do historians consider the greatest Mountain Man? He explored more of the West, and collected more beaver pelts, than anyone else in the 1820's & 1830's. He also is credited with finding South Pass, a 12-mile gap in the Rocky Mountains that wagons could get through. (a)
The decline of the beaver population and changes in fashion trends led to the end of the Mountain Man era. When was the height of Mountain Men exploration the Rockies & the Oregon Country to profit from the fur trade? (a)
How are Mountain Men important to the American story?
Mountain Men helped the United States win their independence from Britain.
Mountain Men gained expert knowledge of the American West that would be used to guide future settlers
Mountain Men helped relocate Native Americans to make more territory available for U.S. citizens.
Mountain Men were responsible for improvements in transportation that allowed the United States to expand rapidly.
In the mid-1800's, a powerful idea captured the imagination of Americans. What was the idea that the United States had a God-given right to expand west to the Pacific Ocean? (a)
When did "Oregon fever" & "Gold fever" strike America? This time period was the busiest time on the Oregon Trail. Hundreds of thousands of Americans hit the trail to migrate to the Oregon & California Territories. (a)
The South Pass was a significant location for America's westward expansion. What was the South Pass?
It was the preferred destination where families wanted to settle in the Oregon Country.
The location where Britain & the United States agreed to divide the Oregon territory.
A 12-mile break in the Rocky Mountains (discovered by Mountain Men) where wagons to easily pass through.
The first jumping-off place along the Missouri River where families started on the Oregon Trail.
Historians know a great deal about the Oregon Trail experience from extensive journal entries & letters. Which idea about the Oregon Trail do historians know is FALSE?
Families began the Oregon Trail at jumping-off towns along the Missouri River.
The journey on the Oregon Trail was approximately 2,000 miles long and took appromimately 6 months to complete.
Most families started their journey on the Oregon Trail in September, or October.
Families hauled thousands of pounds of food ans supplies along the Oregon Trail.
One out of ten people did not survive the Oregon Trail. What killed more people on the Oregon Trail than anything else?
Attacks from hostile Indians.
Cholera and other diseases.
River crossings & weather events.
Buffalo stampedes.
In the 1830's, who were known as Texans (Texians)?
Mexican immigrants who crossed the border into the United States illegally.
Americans who settled in Mexican territory to take advantage of cheap land offered by the Mexican government.
Soldiers who surrounded & slaughtered the defenders of the Alamo in 1836.
Americans who trapped beaver for their valuable fur pelts.
What happened on April 21, 1836 at the Battle of San Jacinto, near present-day Houston?
Texan forces surprised Mexican forces, captured Santa Anna and forced him to sign a treaty making Texas an independent nation.
Approximately 200 Texan fighters were slaughtered by the Mexican army at the Alamo.
The Mexican army killed 15 U.S. soldiers on disputed territory between the Nueces River and the Rio Grande.
The nation of Mexico won their independence from Spain.
The War with Mexico started over a border dispute between the U.S. and Mexico. Where did the U.S. government want the border between Texas & Mexico? (a)
Who became the ruler of Mexico in 1833? He quickly enforced harsh policies to punish and control Texans. (a)
What happened at the Alamo in 1836?
Texans were outnumbered, surrounded and slaughtered by thousands of Mexican soldiers.
Mexican forces won a decisive battle near present-day Houston to win their independence from Texas.
Texans won an important battle and captured Santa Anna.
Gold was discovered at Sutter's Fort. The discovery would set off the largest gold rush in history.
What United States President convinced Congress to declare war in 1846 when he said that Mexico had "invaded U.S. territory, and shed American blood on American soil"? (a)
Which statement about the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo is FALSE?
It officially ended the War with Mexico.
It gave the U.S. territory that includes the present-day states of Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada & California.
It decreased the size of Mexico's territory.
It made Texas an independent nation, called the Republic of Texas.
Which statement best describes the discovery that led to the California Gold Rush?
Jedediah Smith learned of a 12-mile gap in the Rocky Mountains that wagons could easily pass through.
James Polk first saw gold at the Rio Grande River near the present-day border between the U.S. & Mexico.
Levi Strauss kept finding gold in the pockets of his denim pants in San Francisco, California in 1849.
James Marshall found gold while building John Sutter's Mill in 1848 at the American River near present-day Sacramento, California.
Who made significant & lasting profits during the California Gold Rush years?
MOST miners (almost all miners found lots of gold)
MANY creative entrepreneurs (people who risk a new business venture)
John SUTTER (because gold was found on his property)
The government of MEXICO (because gold was found on their territory)
What city experienced the most growth due to the California Gold Rush?
San Francisco
San Antonio
St. Louis
Chicago
Why did Americans settle in the Mexican territory of Texas in the 1820's?
They wanted the cheap land (mainly to grow cotton) that was being offered by the Mexican government.
They were trapping beaver to profit from the sale of valuable fur pelts.
They rushed in to claim gold that had been recently discovered in the territory.
They were in search of a new home where they could practice their religion without being persecuted by others.
Why did the Mexican government become angry with Texans in the 1830's?
Even after immigration was restricted, Mexicans continued to cross the border to settle in the United States.
Texans refused to abide by Mexican government laws about taxes, slavery and other issues.
Texans surrounded and slaughtered Mexican fighters at the Alamo.
Texans helped a military officer (Santa Anna) seize power and nullify (get rid of) the Mexican constitution.
Which statement about the early years of the California Gold Rush is FALSE?
There were few laws and little government control in the gold-fields & the wild mining boomtowns.
The U.S. government carefully protected Chinese immigrant miners from discrimination.
The California Gold Rush was an event dominated by young men.
Food & supplies could be outrageously expensive for miners.
