used pans or other devices to wash gold nuggets out of loose rock and gravel

People who went to California looking for Gold (They left in 1849)

Owner of the mill where gold was discovered that helped start the California Gold Rush

a group of western travelers who went to California but were stranded in the Sierra Nevada Mountains during winter

American fur trader and financier, he founded the fur-trading post of Astoria and the American fur company

Agreement w/ Mexico that gave the US parts of present-day New Mexico & Arizona in exchange for $10 million

American adventurers and fur trappers who spent most of their time in the Rocky Mountains

A revolt of American settlers in California against Mexican rule. It ignited the Mexican War and ultimately made California a state.

Trail from independence Missouri to Oregon used by many pioneers during the 1840s

Santa Fe Trail

Treaty that ended the Mexican War, granting the U.S. control of Texas, New Mexico, and California in exchange for $15 million

Descendents of Spanish and Mexican conquerors; Spanish speaking inhabitants of California

president in March 1845. wanted to settle the Oregon boundary dispute with Britain. wanted to acquire California. wanted to incorporate Texas into the union.

Church founded by Joseph Smith in 1830 with headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah,

United States religious leader of the Mormon Church after the assassination of Joseph Smith

A notion held by nineteenth-century Americans that the United States was destined to rule the continent, from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

Led Mestizos and Native Americans to revolt against Spain in Mexico; leader of Mexico's Revolution

Final battle of the Texas Revolution;

the Spanish word for a land agent whose job it was to bring in new settlers to an area

A Spanish mission converted into a fort, it was besieged by Mexican troops in 1836.

American who settled in Texas, one of the leaders for Texan independence from Mexico

Military dictator of Mexico during War for Texan independence and Mexican American War