HIST 1301 - Chapter 14 Quiz: An Empire in the West

By 1835, Americans were a powerful minority in Texas.

False

In 1848, before the gold rush, Americans were only one tenth of the non-Indian population of California.

False

John Tyler served the shortest term of any president.

False

Mexico, a former French colony, became an independent nation in 1821.

False

Sam Houston died at the Alamo.

False

The "Bear Flag Republic" was the popular name given to the Republic of Texas in its early months.

False

Western Indians always responded to the pioneers' wagon trains with brutal assaults on the white settlers.

False

The Overland Trail ran from: St. Louis to Santa Fe. Chicago to San Francisco. Missouri to Oregon. Texas to Santa Fe.

Missouri to Oregon.

Opponents of the war with Mexico included: New England Whigs. a majority of the U.S. Congress. residents of Texas and California. proslavery leaders of the South.

New England Whigs.

After the Mexican War, Congress created the Department of the Interior to manage the western lands and the Indians.

True

As president, James K. Polk achieved all of his major objectives.

True

Oregon fever had swept the nation by the 1840s.

True

President John Tyler asked Congress to annex Texas through a joint resolution, which only needed a simple majority in each house, as opposed to the two-thirds majority needed in the Senate to pass a treaty.

True

The Mexican dictator, General Antonio López de Santa Anna, personally led the action against the Texan "rebels" at the Alamo.

True

The dispute with Britain over the boundary of Oregon was finally settled in 1846.

True

The greatest publicist for the Far West was John C. Frémont.

True

The slave trade was a major issue between the United States and Britain in the 1840s.

True

In the 1820s and 1830s, trade in the Northwest emphasized: buffalo meat. gold. fur. Indian slaves.

fur.

According to the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, the United States: forfeited all claims above the 54° 40' line. received $15 million from Mexico. gained California and New Mexico. prohibited slavery in Texas.

gained California and New Mexico.

The last major battle in the Mexican War was won by General Winfield Scott's troops: in an assault on Mexico City. at Monterey, California. in a revenge battle at the Alamo. against Santa Anna at Buena Vista.

in an assault on Mexico City.

Annexation of Texas was made difficult by the: issue of slavery dominance of the Spanish in Texas. small population of the Lone Star Republic. all of the above

issue of slavery

John Tyler of Virginia was a Whig who: opposed a protective tariff, a national bank, and internal improvements. advocated Henry Clay's American System program. supported nationalism and objected to states' rights. pushed for the abolition of slavery.

opposed a protective tariff, a national bank, and internal improvements.

President Jackson delayed consideration of and Van Buren shied away from, but Polk achieved: the annexation of Texas. the destruction of the Bank of the United States. war with Mexico over California. the extension of slavery into the Northwest.

the annexation of Texas.

In California, the Franciscans' labor force consisted of: black slaves. Chinese servants. immigrants from France. Indians.

Indians.

Among Americans who fought in the Mexican War were all the following except: Zachary Taylor. Winfield Scott. Jefferson Davis. James K. Polk.

James K. Polk.

In the 1844 presidential election: Henry Clay remained fully opposed to the annexation of Texas. Polk's expansionism attracted support from the South and West. Polk won a decisive mandate from both the popular and electoral votes. the Liberty party won a majority of the votes in New York state.

Polk's expansionism attracted support from the South and West.

The commander of Texan forces seeking independence was: James K. Polk. Sam Houston. Stephen F. Austin. Zachary Taylor.

Sam Houston.

In the elections of 1844, James K. Polk became the first "dark horse" candidate nominated for president because: Henry Clay was too old and bowed out of the race. John C. Calhoun and other southerners supported James Buchanan. Van Buren opposed the annexation of Texas. He endorsed Clay's American system.

Van Buren opposed the annexation of Texas.

The migrations west affected the environment because: millions of cattle, horses, and sheep ate the prairie grass. wagon wheels damaged the land. pioneer food needs depleted the buffalo herds. all of the above

all of the above

In 1846-1847, the Donner party: amassed a fortune in California's "hide and tallow'' trade. promoted, with Stephen F. Austin, the settlement of Texas. led the Methodist settlement of Oregon. experienced the death of many of its members from starvation in the snows of the Sierras.

experienced the death of many of its members from starvation in the snows of the Sierras.