Aice US history Western Expansion and the Civil War

Matthew Perry Opens Japan

Important Facts: Commodore Matthew Perry was sent to Japan as an ambassador in order to establish diplomatic relations between America and Japan. When Perry arrived in Tokyo Bay, he aimed his cannons at the city and threatened to fire if the shogun did not send delegates to come receive a letter from Millard Fillmore. The shogun acquiesced and Perry said he would return in a week. When he returned, Perry was surprised to find that the Japanese had agreed to nearly all of the American demands. The result for Perry was a $2,000 dollar bonus from the American government. The result for America was a diplomatic relationship with Japan that would last about 75 years. Relation to the Theme: The opening of Japan by Matthew Perry relates to Westward Expansion because it allowed America to have access to easy trade with Asia instead of just with Europe and Africa. Similar Concept: The Chinese "Open Door" policy which gave equal trading rights with China to all other nations.

"fifty-four fortyism" (resolved 1846)

Important Facts: Fifty-Four Fortyism was the political movement among Expansionistic minded Americans that said that if Britain did not cede all of the Oregon Territory to America, the Americans would go to war. Though this movement was popular in the territories, particularly Oregon, it gained enough momentum to become significant. The actual decision was that Oregon was divided in half at the 49th parallel, with the southern half belonging to America. The phrase "Fifty-four Forty or Fight" was very popular among the fifty-four fortyists. This phrase shows that, had the movement gained enough political momentum, there may have actually been another war with Great Britain. Relation to the theme: This concept relates to the theme of Westward Expansion because it was a push for territorial gains in the North West. Similar Concept: Manifest Destiny

Frederick Douglass, b: February 1818 d: February 1895

Important Facts: Frederick Douglass was a slave who escaped his owner in 1838. He was a skilled speaker and vital to the abolitionist movement. He was the only African American to attend the Seneca Falls conference, which met to discuss women's right to vote. There he spoke eloquently for women's suffrage. He wrote multiple autobiographies about his time in slavery and was influential during the reconstruction era. He openly supported the campaign of Ulysses S. Grant for president and encouraged him to combat the Ku Klux Klan. Relation to the Theme: Frederick Douglass was important to Westward Expansion because of his anti-slavery views for the territories as well as the states. Similar Concept: John Brown

Geronimo b: June 16, 1830 d: February 17,1909

Important Facts: Geronimo was an Apache Indian who sought vengeance for the massacre of his wife and children by some Mexican soldiers. He joined a band of renegades who were attacking Mexican settlements. Later, they started moving further north and attacking American troops and citizens. He was pursued by troops and finally surrendered. He was imprisoned in multiple places and got to participate in many events outside of prison until his death in 1909. He was praised by other Native Americans as a hero for the strife he raised in the Pacific Southwest. Relation to the Theme: Geronimo was important to Westward Expansion because he forced American troops to come out and capture him, even though that was not his purpose. Similar Concept: Crazy Horse

John Brown

Important Facts: John Brown was a radical abolitionist who went to the Kansas territory with the purpose of helping overcome slavery in the election. He and his band of Border Ruffians wreaked havoc at the polls that were to decide whether or not Kansas would be a slave state or a free state. His final score was when he led a raid against Harpers Ferry, an armory in Kansas, so that he could supply a slave rebellion he thought was going to occur soon. Though this revolt did not actually ever start, he was convicted of murder, treason, and inciting a slave insurrection. He was hung about a month after his trial. His final words were that the "The crimes of this guilty land: will never be purged away; But with blood." Relation to the Theme: John Brown was important to Westward Expansion because he was trying to decide the debate of whether or not slavery would exist in the territories. Similar Concept: Bloody Kansas

Manifest Destiny 1814-1861

Important Facts: Manifest Destiny was the major political and social movement in the USA that steered much of the politics in the beginning of the 1800s. It was the ideology that America should control all of the land from the East coast to the West coast. It was championed by President James K. Polk, who saw the most growth under his administration than most other presidents. This ideology caused the annexation of Louisiana and the Mexican territory. This is important because it gave America the shape that it currently has. Other territories acquired in this time were Florida, Texas, and other Mexican territories. Relation to the Theme: Manifest Destiny relates to Westward Expansion because it was a movement for the expansion of American territory to the west of its borders. Similar Concept: Annexation of Texas

President James Polk (His motives for expansionism)

Important Facts: President James K. Polk was a firm believer in Manifest Destiny. Under his administration, America's land mass increased by one third. Polk was the President who connected the two coasts of America. He is known as a firm President who did what he set out to do. At the end of his administration, he made an offer of $100 million dollars to Spain for Cuba so that America would control most of the trade from Europe into Central America. Polk was one of the most productive Presidents that America has ever had. Relation to the Theme: Polk relates to the theme of Westward Expansion because he caused most of Americas western territory to be obtained. Similar Concept: Manifest Destiny

President Ulysses Grant (His treatment of Native Americans)

Important Facts: President Ulysses S. Grant was a staunch supporter of improved living for Native Americans. He created the Indian Peace Commission and appointed a Native to his staff to oversee the representation of the Native Americans. He was known to want completely humane treatment of the Native Americans. He wanted the Indians to stay on reservations and educated in the European way of life. His Indian Peace Policy would later lead to the Dawes Severalty act, which divided up Native American lands and gave the plots to Indian families. Though Grant wanted to help the Native Americans, the Dawes Act actually hurt the Native Americans in the long run. Relation to the Theme: Ulysses S. Grant's support of the Native Americans and their rights was important to Westward Expansion of Anglo-Saxon Americans because it contested the population of whites that was growing there. It did this because it limited the land that whites could occupy. Similar Concept: Dawes Severalty Act

The Cowboy (In myth and history)

Important Facts: The American cowboy was a herder of cattle in the late 1800s. The cowboy in legend was a gun-slinging, bank-robbing, card sharp who did not take anything from anybody. In reality, they were usually young boys or men who were former criminals escaping justice out west, or people expressing the new American ideal of individualism. To some extent, the cowboy mentality still exists today. To leave ones home and strike out on your own to seek ones fortune is a very American and cowboyish thing to do. What cowboys did on the job does not really deviate from legend until the widespread use of barbed wire. Relation to the theme: Cowboys related to Westward Expansion because they paved the way for other settlers to come into the west and established long trails from the south to railroad towns. Similar Concept: The Exodusters

North Dakota Gold Rush (Black Hills Episode)

Important Facts: The Black Hills Episode was a series of attacks made by General Custer's cavalry, the most famous of which being the Battle of Little Bighorn. These battles occurred so that settlers could invade the Native American land and mine it for its gold. Though there were originally laws in place to protect Native American land, the government turned a blind eye because of its lust for gold. The first settlers to come for gold were actually attacked and killed by the Indians for invading their territory. With all this gold needing transportation, there came robbers who would steal the gold from the coaches. The Homestake discovery would lead to a lode that would provide ten percent of the world's gold for 125 years. Relation to the Theme: The Black Hills Gold Rush caused a mass migration of gold miners to move west and many of them to stay in the territory that they prospected in, thus inflating the population of western territories. Similar Concept: The Gold Rush of 1849

California Gold Rush, 1849-1855

Important Facts: The California Gold Rush had a major impact on the amount of occupied American land. The 49ers, as they were called, quickly filled small towns such as San Francisco and Las Angeles. They also displaced thousands of Native Americans living in and west of the Rocky Mountain Range. Though the Gold Rush occurred because people hoped to gain great fortune, most of the gold miners were very unsuccessful in this venture, and many came back with less money than they first set out with. Relation to the Theme: The California Gold Rush relates to the theme of Westward Expansion because it greatly expanded the population of the comparatively empty pre-Gold Rush West. Similar Concept: Comstock Lode

Comstock Lode

Important Facts: The Comstock lode was a major vein of silver ore discovered in Nevada. This discovery led to a mini gold rush into the hills of Nevada. Very similar to the Gold Rush of 1948-1950, the very first arrivals were the only ones that made any major profit. Relation to the Theme: This discovery relates to the theme of Westward Expansion because it caused permanent settlements to be established in areas where townships would not usually develop. Similar Concept: The Gold Rush

Crittenden Compromise, December 18, 1860

Important Facts: The Crittenden Compromise was a proposition by Senator Crittenden as a last attempt to prevent the secession of the Southern states. He proposed to make slavery prohibited north of the 36 degrees and 30 minutes North and guaranteed south of said line. Also included in the prospective compromise was a more powerful Fugitive Slave Law. It would raise the penalty for assisting an escaped slave. A problem with this bill was that it included a bill that made any amendment or repeal impossible. This document was supported mainly by Southerners and democrats. Lincoln was the leader of the opposition to this bill. Though this bill would possibly have prevented the Civil War, which was America's bloodiest conflict, and still is today, it fell through in both the Senate and House vote. Relation to the Theme: This concept relates to the theme of Westward Expansion because it was going to decide the future of slavery in current and new territories of the USA. Similar Concept: The Compromise of 1850

Dawes Severalty Act, 1887

Important Facts: The Dawes Act was an attempt to further divide the Native Americans. It did this by dividing up the reservation land and giving individual ownership to native families. This was different than what the Native Americans were used to, because they believed that no one had the right to own the land. This act was put in place after the end of the Tecumseh Confederacy, and the government probably put it into place to prevent another like Tecumseh from rising up. It was also an attempt to assimilate the Indians. This, like many other attempts, was unsuccessful. Relation to the Theme: The Dawes Severalty Act relates to the theme of Westward Expansion because it decreased the amount of land held by the Native Americans and sold it to settlers moving west. Similar Concept: An Act for the Government and the Native American

Dred Scott Decision, 1857

Important Facts: The Dred Scott decision was important because it created more controversy over the decision of slavery. The Dred Scott Decision was a Supreme Court ruling of the suit of a black man for his freedom, on the argument that he had lived in a free state for an extended period of time. The final verdict was that as a slave, Scott could not bring a suit to court, and also that, because he had been bought in a slave state, and was in a free territory at the time of the Missouri Compromise, he was still a slave because the compromise did not emancipate the slaves held in territories. This decision happened just days after the inauguration of Democratic President James Buchanan, which led to some criticism from the north toward the new president-elect because of his support of slavery. The effect of this decision was that the Supreme Court basically declared the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional because it denied certain rights without the due process of the law. This decision would eventually be a leading cause of the American Civil War. Relation to the Theme: This concept relates to the theme of Westward Expansion because it helped decide the future of slavery in the Western territories. The decision did this by basically declaring the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional. This enraged the Anti-slavery North, but it did not stop the secesion of the Southern states. Similar Concept: The Crittenden Compromise

Edmunds Act 1882

Important Facts: The Edmunds Act was a law specifically targeting the Mormon Practice of polygamy. This Act revoked the right to vote from any known polygamist. It also made it a felony to practice polygamy. So that the court did not have to prove that the marriages actually existed, the act made bigamous or unlawful cohabitation a misdemeanor. Cohabitation is the act of having intercourse and living with more than one woman. The act of bigamy is having two wives or husbands at the same time. Relation to the Theme: The Edmunds Act relates to the theme of Westward Expansion because the American government made a deal with the Mormons that if the Americans banned polygamy, then Utah could enter the Union as a state. The Mormons accepted this, and another state was added to the Union in the West. Similar Concept: The Morrill Anti-Bigamous Act of 1862

Exodusters 1879

Important Facts: The Exodusters were a group of African Americans who moved from the South to Kansas in 1879. They used the name because in the book of Exodus the Jewish slaves left their masters Egypt when they were led by Moses. This exodus occurred because the former slaves wanted to escape the attacks of the Ku Klux Klan and other violently racist groups. The black slaves moved from their southern homes to western places such as Colorado. They also moved to places where they could work as ranch hands, such as Oklahoma and Kansas. This was the first post-Civil War Westward migration by the black population. Relation to the Theme: The Exodusters were important to Westward Expansion because they helped populate the west. There, they could express more freedom than they could in the racist filled states. Similar Concept: The Mormon Trail

Free Soilers

Important Facts: The Free Soil Party, or the Free Soilers, was a political movement advocating the ban of slavery in all the territories. This radical position may not have been so radical as it seemed. It reflected the feelings of most of the northerners, but it went against all the southern view points. The Free Soil Party later became the basis for the new Republican Party platform. This party was only active during two presidential elections, but it still caused a good amount of anxiety among Southern Democrats. Though the Free Soilers wanted all territories to be free soil, they did not specifically attack the borders of the south, meaning that they only wanted to contain slavery, not abolish it. Relation to the Theme: The Free Soilers were crucial to Westward Expansion because they tried to decide the debate over slavery in the territories. Though resolution was their goal, the only thing they achieved was causing more debate. Similar Theme: The Republican Party

Freeport Doctrine, August 1858

Important Facts: The Freeport Doctrine was a statement made by Stephen Douglas, a political opponent of Abraham Lincoln, in the 1864 election. Lincoln was trying to make Douglas contradict himself in a debate in Freeport, Illinois. He did this by asking him about the Dred Scott decision, which he supported, but it contradicted his Kansas-Nebraska act. The proposed Kansas-Nebraska Act supported popular sovereignty on the issue of slavery for any new state added to the Union; the Dred Scott decision stated that the government could not limit the places in which a citizen could own property (including slaves). Douglas was not tripped up by this and he made a statement saying that he supported popular sovereignty in the territories. This rebuttal caused him to be reelected to the Illinois senate position. Relation to the Theme: The Freeport Doctrine relates to Westward Expansion because it added controversy to the already volatile debate of whether or not slavery would be allowed to exist in the territories. Similar Concept: Kansas-Nebraska Act

Fugitive Slave Law, 1850

Important Facts: The Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 was an agreed upon enforcement of the old Fugitive Slave Act as a part of the Compromise of 1850. It raised the penalty for harboring escaped slaves, but the people who were determined to harbor slaves before this law were not shaken by higher penalties, so this law had no great effect as a deterrent. An effect it did have though was convince the northerners that a mysterious "Slave Power" was controlling all branches of the government. They thought this because even though the north had a majority in the House of Representatives, the south seemed to always get the better deal. This may have actually happened because the Northern Representatives were frightened by the thought of the south seceding, and tried to placate them by giving them what they wanted. Relation to the Theme: The Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 relates to the theme of Westward Expansion because it showed that slavery would be a major issue in the decision of whether or not a state would be admitted into the Union. Similar Concept: Fugitive Slave Law of 1793

Gadsden Purchase (What was it and what were the motives for purchasing it)

Important Facts: The Gadsden purchase was an investment made by James Gadsden. This purchase was of a large chunk of northern Mexico that was ideal for the building of a railroad. When Gadsden approached the Mexican government with his offer, they jumped on it because it would allow them to pay 10 million of their 15 million dollar debt to America which resulted from the Mexican War. The South wanted this land because it would help them become economically independent from the North. It would do this by allowing the South to gain and transport raw materials through a railroad system that was being planned by the Southern Pacific Railroad Company. The South was specifically dependent upon the North for textiles, metals, tools, manufactured goods, and for money lent by the Northern banks. Relation to the Theme: The Gadsden Purchase was relevant to Western Expansion because it was a push by the South to gain more western territory in which slavery was allowed. The ultimate goal of this land grab was economic independence from the North. Similar Concept: The Kansas-Nebraska Act because it was made to support a certain plan for the railroads, though it was a different plan than Gadsden's.

Homestead Act of 1862

Important Facts: The Homestead Act of 1862 was created as incentive for settlers to move out past the Appalachian Mountain Range. What the government did was they allowed settlers buy property for free if they lived on it for at least five years, or if they did not, then they could buy it at a dollar and twenty-five cents per acre. Though this seemed like a good idea, it was very simple for a company to submit an application as an individual, and then for the company to sell its newly acquired property at a higher rate than they paid for it. These fraudulent applications led to multiple revisions such as the Morrill act, Timber and Stone Act, and the Desert Land Act. These various Acts accounted for fraudulent applications to barren land. though these changes were made, most of them did not occur until ten years after the original act. Relation to the Theme: The Homestead Act relates to Westward Expansion because it encouraged the settlers to leave their homes and settle out west. This helped "tame" the west for the settlers who would come after them. Similar Concept: The Morrill Act

Homestead Improvement Acts (Desert Land Act of 1877/The Timber and Stone Act of 1878/Morrill Act of 1862)

Important Facts: The Homestead Act was flawed because it made it easy for large surveying companies to buy land through a bogus application. It was also flawed because it did not account for arid lands west of the Appalachian Mountains, such as the Great Plains, the Mojave desert, and the Rocky Mountain Range. These places were accounted for by the Timber and Stone Act and the Desert Land Act. These acts made settlers able to buy up to 640 acres of land if it was west of the 100th meridian, which splits the Dakotas, Kansas, Nebraska, and Texas in half. The Morrill Act of 1862 established agricultural colleges in places where farming was the principal occupation. Examples of this are Texas A&M and Florida A&M. Relation to the Theme: Homestead Improvement Acts were important to Westward Expansion because they allowed settlers to purchase enough land for subsistence. Similar Concept: The Homestead Act was similar to these acts because they both were designed to provoke settlers to move out west.

Indian Peace Commission, 1867

Important Facts: The Indian Peace Commission was established to determine the best way to keep peace with the Native Americans. Their decision was that they would have to separate the bellicose Indians from the peaceful ones. Though this seemed like a perfect option, its actual manifestation was devastating to the Indians. The government began to sell reservation land as "surplus" to make profit for themselves. This greatly shrank the amount of territory a large number of Indians were living on, which made crowding on reservations begin to become a problem. Finally, the Indians deemed bellicose were treated with shocking brutality, which only helped to anger them more. Relation to the Theme: The Indian Peace Commission was important to Westward Expansion because the committee made room for incoming settlers by displacing Native Americans. Similar Concept: An Act for the Gov't and the Native American

Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854

Important Facts: The Kansas-Nebraska Act was proposed by Stephen Douglas as a resolution to the debate over the Kansas territory. This act made popular sovereignty ruling over slavery at the admittance of Kansas and Nebraska as states. Though this may seem like a good thing, this bill was created mostly to the satiate the greed of Douglas. He planned this bill so that the south would support a plan for a transcontinental railroad that ran through Chicago. This would be beneficial to Douglas because he owned real estate in Chicago that would most likely rise in value. He made a deal with the south that if they supported the railroad plan, he would ensure slavery in the new Kansas territory. Relation to the Theme: The Kansas-Nebraska Act was important to Westward Expansion because it caused the event called Bloody Kansas, which was a violent series of battles between southern pro-slave democrats and anti-slave Free Soilers. Similar Concept: Bloody Kansas

Lecompton Constitution, 1855

Important Facts: The Lecompton Constitution was one of four documents written in Kansas as a means of deciding the issue of whether or not slavery would exist in this territory. It was pro-slavery and greatly contested by the north because of the fraud behind the people elected to write the document. It was quickly matched by the anti-slavery Leavenworth Constitution. Later investigation revealed the fraud behind the election. A new election was proposed and the Lecompton compromise received ten times less votes than another antislavery constitution. Kansas was soon admitted to the Union as a free state. Relation to the Theme: The Lecompton Compromise relates to the theme of Westward Expansion because the opposition to it was key to establishing Kansas as a state. Similar Concept: Leavenworth Compromise

Lincoln-Douglas Debates, 1858

Important Facts: The Lincoln-Douglas debates were a series of debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas in the prelude to the Illinois senatorial election of 1858. It was in one of these debates that Lincoln nearly forced Douglas to contradict himself, and Douglas lost favor in the north because of his answer, which was manifested in the Freeport Doctrine. In these debates was where Lincoln gained his fame. This was the result of Douglas's popularity and newspaper coverage. Lincoln's debate with such a well known person naturally brought up his popularity. The Freeport doctrine also later caused Lincoln to beat out Stephen Douglas in the later presidential election. Relation to the Theme: The Lincoln Douglas debates relate to the theme of Westward Expansion because the subject of slavery in the territories was a main topic in these debates. Similar Concept: The Wilmot Proviso

Mormon Trail 1814-1861

Important Facts: The Mormon Trail was a forced migration made by the Mormons from multiple places across the US, ending up in Salt Lake City, Utah. They made this journey because the places they had previously settled had rejected them and become violently opposed to them. They also moved because the government had begun to ban polygamy, which was a mainly Mormon practice. On the Trail, there were many obstacles for pilgrims to face. There were very few places for a traveler to stop and rest, so many were forced to make camp in wet of cold clearings. The territory that was necessary to cross was full of swamp, semi-tundra, and very dry areas. Relation to the Theme: The Mormon Trail relates to Westward Expansion because it was a quick explosion of population in the west, which America was trying to populate. Similar Concept: The Trail of Tears

Annexation of Oregon Territory (Motives and Reasons) June 18, 1846

Important Facts: The Oregon Territory was obtained through a treaty with the British, who also occupied the area. This treaty divided this territory in half at the 49 parallel. To the north was British Columbia, to the south was the Oregon Territory. The acquisition this territory fulfilled the Americans view of Manifest Destiny. Relation to the theme: The Annexation of the Oregon Territory relates to the theme of American Westward Expansion because it accomplished the American dream of Manifest destiny. Similar Concept: The Annexation of Texas

Ostend Manifesto

Important Facts: The Ostend Manifesto was the document which was proposed for the Annexation of Cuba, which was currently owned by Spain. When American delegate approached the Spanish government with the proposition, the Spanish said that they would rather see Cuba sink into the ocean than fall into the hands of another power. Though the document implied that using force was allowable, the proposition fell through and wouldn't come up again until after the Civil War. More important than what actually happened was the chaos created between the north and the south. the Southerners were greatly in favor of this, but the Northerners raised up an outcry against the addition of another slave state. They did so because the addition of another slave state would imbalance the senate at a crucial time. Relation to the Theme: The Ostend Manifesto relates to Westward Expansion because it was the addition of a new territory in America. This concept may also be categorized under American Imperialism. This is true because this event is as close as the Americans got towards colonialism the 1800s. Synonymous Concept: Gadsden Purchase

Republican Party (What types of people comprised it and what motivated its establishment)

Important Facts: The Republican Party was formed from the parties that had crumbled immediately before it's formation. Among these parties were the Whigs, Free Soilers, and the northern Democrats. The republicans were originally an anti- democrat party. They believed that slavery should be limited to southern states, like the Free Soilers did, but it was mainly against the Kansas-Nebraska Act. The Republicans were beginning to come a force to contend with before the 1860 election and actual won with Abraham Lincoln on the ticket. Relation to the Theme: The Republican Party relates to Westward Expansion because the Republicans elected a president who ended slavery in al territories. This was a result of the Civil War but it ceased the debate in Congress over whether or not Slavery would continue to exist. Similar Concept: The Free Soil Party

Transcontinental Railroad (What was it and what were the historical reasons motivating its construction)

Important Facts: The Trans-Continental Railroad was became controversy when the south proposed a plan for a southern Railroad. The Trans-Continental Railroad was the proposal that the gov't has a railroad connecting the West Coast and East Coast. If this was built in the South, then the south could become economically independent. They would do this by gaining resources and building factories in areas where plantations could not be built. These areas were hard to access and even harder to ship to and from, but a railroad in these locations would greatly reduce labor and cost in reaching these areas. The other plan involved a start in Chicago and ending near the coast. Because Stephen Douglas had real estate in Chicago, he proposed the Kansas-Nebraska Act so that the South would support the Northern plan. Relation to the Theme: The Transcontinental Railroad relates to Westward Expansion because it would connect the East Coast and the West Coast, making travel quicker and cheaper. this in turn made it easy for prospective settlers to leave the East Coast fro the "Wild West." Similar Concept: The Invention of the Steamboat

Treaty of Fort Laramie of 1868 (Outcome and Significance)

Important Facts: The Treaty of Fort Laramie attempted to end the tensions between the Lakota Sioux and the US gov't. The treaty gave the Lakota Sioux the rights to a large amount of hunting grounds. These grounds were invaded during the Black Hills Gold Rush and the gov't sent general Custer to take their lands and protect prospectors. Custer and his forces removed over half of the Natives land from their possession and caused many deaths. General Custer was killed in the Battle of Little Bighorn which occurred during the Black Hills Episode. Their land was reduced two more times by the federal gov't until it reached the shape it has today. Relation to the Theme: The Treaty of Fort Laramie was relevant to Westward Expansion because it gave the Native Americans land that was later invaded, which led to the Black Hills Episode. Similar Concept: Indian Peace Commission

Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, 1848

Important Facts: The Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo signified the end of the Mexican War. In this treaty, Mexico was required to make massive land cessations to America, including New Mexico and Arizona. They were also required to pay fifteen million dollars in indemnities for the casualties in the war. These harsh terms embittered Mexicans for many years to come. Even during the World War I, Germany tried to make Mexico attack the US by referring to this treaty. The Mexicans Paid most of their reparations through the money they made in the Gadsden Purchase. Relation to the Theme: The Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo relates to Westward Expansion because it received vast amounts of land from Mexico that would later become New Mexico and Arizona. Similar Concept: The Gadsden Purchase

Utah War

Important Facts: The Utah War was fought between the American Gov't and the Mormons living in Utah. Calling it a war though would be a misnomer because there were never actually any battles. The purpose of this war was to establish the control of the American Government in Utah. There were multiple cases of murders of American citizens killing Americans that had absolutely nothing to do with the war. In the end, there were about a total of 120 casualties in this "war." This could be compared to the fighting in Bloody Kansas which had a similar casualty count. Relation to the Theme: The Utah War relates to Westward Expansion because it helped establish Utah as a state. Similar Concept: Bloody Kansas

Battle of Little Big Horn June 25-26, 1876

Important Facts: The battle was fought by Native Americans from the Cherokee, Lakota, and Arapaho tribes, against the Seventh American Cavalry. At the head of the American Forces was General George Custer. At the head of the Native American forces were Sitting Bull, Lame White Man, Chief Gall, and Crazy Horse. The battle, which was expected to be an easy victory for the American forces, was a massive victory for the Native Americans and the deaths of four out of the six American commanding officers, including Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer, which is why the battle is nicknamed "Custer's Last Stand." Relation to the Theme: The Battle of Little Bighorn related to the theme of Westward Expansion because it helped further the extent of the Gold Rush, which, in turn, left semi-established cities in its wake. These then connected and made rest stops between the Appalachian Range and the West Coast. Similar Concept: The Battle of Wounded Knee

Ghost Dance

Important Facts: The belief behind the Ghost Dance was that those who performed it would be indwelled with the spirit of a dead warrior and become immune to the bullets of the white man. Though this was false, many believed in it and were killed because of it. It was a last ditch effort by the Native Americans to gain a victory over the whites. Because this endeavor failed, the Indians were subjected to a number of laws and acts with the goals of "civilizing" them. Though the actual dance did not continue, the Indians continued to look to their ancestors for help during the hard times ahead caused by the various anti-Native American acts. The main leaders of this movement were Kicking Bear, Flying Hawk, and Crazy Horse. These three men were all related by blood. Relation to the Theme: The Ghost Dance was relevant to Westward Expansion because it was a religious movement in western Native Americans an attempt to resist the spread of white Americans. Similar Concept: Battle of Wounded Knee

Battle of Wounded Knee, December 29, 1890

Important Facts: The so called "battle" was a result of an attempt made by the US Seventh Cavalry to disarm the Lakota Indians. In the process, shots were fired and the US troops opened fire indiscriminately, killing women, children, men, and even their comrades. Estimates placed Lakota casualties around 300 and American casualties around 50. This massacre may have been revenge for the American disaster of the Battle of Little Bighorn a few years previous. Relation to the Theme: This incident Relates to the theme of Westward Expansion because it gave more space for settlers to move west because it helped the Americans steal land from the Native Americans in the Montana area. Similar Concept: Bleeding Kansas

Compromise of 1850

Important Facts: This Compromise resulted in the formation of California as a free state, the reduction of the territory controlled by Texas, and the denial of statehood to Deseret and New Mexico. Because Texas reduced its land size, they received some relief from their debts. Slavery was both given stronger support, and weakened by this Compromise. The fact that The Fugitive Slave Act was strengthened gave stronger holdings to the Southerners. What weakened them was that Slavery was banned in Washington D.C. Relation to the Theme: This concept relates to the theme of Westward Expansion because it gives a method to the madness of Westward Expansion. It shows that the expansion or contraction of the Slave Trade was a leading cause of the mayhem of the 1840s to the 1890s. Similar Concept: The Crittenden Compromise

Bleeding Kansas, 1854-1861

Important Facts: This series of battles was fought over whether or not Kansas would enter the Union as a free state or a slave state. This miniature war foreshadowed the American Civil War because it was a violent occurrence debating whether or not Slavery would exist in a certain place. Relation to the Theme: This set of events relate to the theme of Westward Expansion because it foreshadowed the Civil War in that it was an extremely violent militial outburst between pro-slave Southerners against the anti-slave Northerners. Similar Occurrence: The American Civil War

Turner's Frontier Thesis

Important Facts: Turners Frontier Thesis said that the taming of the West essentially created the Democratic National Character of America. The Democratic National Character consisted of Individualism, Economic Independence, Freedom, Democracy, and Self-Sufficiency. Though some of these were certainly created in the taming of the west, Individualism and Economic Independence were not created at this time. Individualism was not prevalent because most people moving west were subsistence farmers, bringing their families with them. Economic Dependence did not exist because many of the people had to take out loans to pay for the tools and plots of land. Relation to the Theme: Turners Frontier Thesis relates to Westward Expansion because it shows how the taming of the west created the American ideals. Similar Concept: The cowboys are similar to Turners Frontier Thesis because they characterized individualism and self-sufficiency.

Uncle Tom's Cabin

Important Facts: Uncle Tom's Cabin was a novel by Harriet Beecher Stowe. It was published in 1852. Stowe was an active abolitionist and this shows in her writing. Her portrayal of the horrors of slavery stirred up the anger of the northern abolitionists. This book has been said multiple times to have been one of the main causes of the Civil War. When Lincoln met the author, he is recorded to have said "So here's the woman who started the Civil War." Relation to the Theme: Uncle Tom's Cabin was relevant to Western Expansion because it helped start the American Civil War. The Civil War caused America to come together as a whole and to finally start to slow down expansion. Synonymous Concept: The "Slave Power' that supposedly ruled American Gov't

Annexation of Texas (Motives and Reasons) December 29, 1845

Important facts: The Annexation of Texas occurred because Texas wanted protection from Mexico as the Texans had just seceded from Mexico. When the US annexed Texas into the Union, they also adopted Texas's border dispute with Mexico. When Texas asked to be annexed into the United States, the proposal was at first denied, but the annexation was made final through a joint-resolution. Relation to the Theme: The Annexation of Texas relates to the theme of Westward Expansion because there were many American settlers living in Texas at the time of it's annexation. Also, the Homestead Acts (particularly the Desert Act) made Texas a prime place to settle down because of the cheap land. Similar concept: the Annexation of the Oregon Territory.

Wilmot Proviso

Importent Facts: The Wilmot Proviso was a was a proposed ban on slavery in the new territory from Mexico. It was made to be a solution to the debate of whether or not slavery would be allowed in the territories. Instead of creating peace like it was intended to do, this document actually enraged the Southerners. They soon had published their own rival document that even threatened to secede if their demands were not met. Both the motions failed to pass the House of Representatives. The Calhoun doctrine (the southern Wilmot Proviso) was quickly brought up whenever a debate was not going the direction that the south intended. Relation to the Theme: The Wilmot Proviso relates to Westward Expansion because it caused deliberation over whether or not slavery would be allowed to exist in the territories. Similar Concept: Calhoun Doctrine

Chinese Exclusion Act, 1882

Relation to theme: Important Facts: This Act was created to completely stop the immigration of Chinese workers who were unqualified for the work that they came to do. It required all prospective immigrants to obtain a paper from the Chinese government saying that the individual was qualified for the work that they were coming to do. This document relates to the theme of Westward Expansion because it shows how the Americans pushed out anyone that was in their way in their quest to gain control of all the land that they could, and also to drive out anything that threatened their complete control of the area. Similar Concept: An act for the Government and the Native American