American History: Chapter 13 Quiz Questions

True or False: The outbreak of the Mexican-American War was caused by the dispute over Oregon.

False

Who was the first president of the Republic of Texas?

Sam Houston

All of the following resulted from the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, EXCEPT that:

U.S. troops continued to occupy Mexico.

When Mexico gained its independence from Spain in 1821, Texas was:

a part of Mexico.

As president, James Polk's top priority was to:

secure geographic expansion of the United States, especially through the acquisition of Texas, California, and New Mexico.

At the Battle of the Alamo:

the Mexicans won a costly victory.

Most of those who traveled westward in wagon trains:

traveled in groups.

William Henry Harrison:

was elected more on his military record than for taking a stand on the issues.

California's Bear Flag Republic:

was established when American settlers captured Sonoma in northern California.

What was a main reason the Mexican government attempted to curtail American settlement of Texas?

worry about the behavior and intentions of the Americans living there

True or False: Mexico's winning of independence from Spain slowed American expansion westward.

False

Which of the following statements about the Mexican-American War is FALSE?

In terms of the percentage of combatants killed, it had the lowest death rate of any war in American history.

Which leader is described as a president without a party?

John Tyler

The decisive victory in the war came with Winfield Scott's capture of:

Mexico City.

True or False: In 1849, Congress created the Department of the Interior to supervise the distribution of land, the creation of new territories and states, and the "protection" of the Indians and their reservations.

True

True or False: William Henry Harrison died one month after his inauguration as president.

True

Polk's nickname of "Young Hickory" most reflected his:

association with Jackson and support for Jacksonian policies.

Most of the American settlers in Texas went there because of:

fertile, inexpensive lands.

The Americans known as "mountain men" who blazed western trails were:

fur trappers.

Who coined the term "manifest destiny"?

newspaper editor John O'Sullivan