U.S. History Chapter 9

Why was the concept of manifest destiny of particular appeal to Americans in the 1840s?

American's used the Manifest Destiny as justification for expansion. Because it expressed their belief that the United States' destiny was to expand to the Pacific Ocean and into Mexican territory. People are taking opportunity to move Indians and Mexicans out of the way.

What made Americans want to settle in Texas?

Fertile soil, cheap land to grow cotton.

What effect did the gold rush have on the growth of California?

People going to discover gold, People going to claim free or cheap land, Chinese emigrants are going to be free (coming in from the San Francisco port). (Population growth, emigrant growth, people stayed and found cheap or free land)

What were the factors that drew settlers west during the first half of the 19th century?

People going west for free land, escape religious persecution, economic opportunity (lost everything in the Panic), go West to start over (optimism = westward expansion), and to find gold and silver.

What developments caused the United States to go to war with Mexico?

Slidell goes to Mexico City and is turned away (goes to purchase land and they turn him away), Border dispute (Nueces River and Rio Grande, James K. Polk occupied the space between the two rivers with american soldiers, the Mexicans would shoot and Polk could say that they needed war), Manifest destiny in the form of the annexation of Texas (US convinced themselves they would conquer entire continent), The debts that were owed to American citizens from Mexican government.

How did the inventions and innovations of the mid-19th century encourage various regions to specialize in certain industries?

Steel plow, Mechanical reaper would have caused people in mid-west to grow corn or wheat crops. The steamboats would have given southerners opportunity to ship their cotton or sugar up-river, the cotton gin, and steel plow. The north east would have used sewing machines, textile mills and interchangeable parts would have lead people to promote factory work.

What were the major events that led to Texas joining the Union?

The Texas Revolution, the Alamo, and the annexation of Texas.

What inventions and technological advancements changed lives as part of the market revolution?

The sewing machine, the telegraph, the steamboat, the railroad, canal, the steel plow, and the mechanical reaper.