American History 9-1 / 9-2
What happened at the Alamo?
180 rebels held up in a abandoned Spanish Catholic Mission.
How long did the typical trip west take?
5 to 6 months.
Who first spread the word to Easterners about Oregon?
American missionaries.
What were the names of several east-to-west passages that played a vital role in western settlement?
Kit Carson and Jim Bridger.
What were the causes of the problems with the Mexican army?
Mexico City denied the army sound leadership, training and support.
What were the elements of the National Colonization Act?
Mexico gave 26 large grants of Texas land.
Why did many Nothern members of Congress oppose admitting Texas to the Union?
President Andrew Jackson did not want to increase North-South tensions or risk a costly war with Mexico.
Who denounced Mexico's Constitution of 1824 and made himself dictator?
President Santa Anna.
By 1821 where had the Spanish-speaking inhabitants of Texas aleady established settlements?
San Antonio de Baxer and South Hidalgo.
Where did the Texan army enjoy its first taste of victory?
The Alamo
What was the result for the Americans of the battle of Goliad?
a firing squad executed more than 300.
Why did latecomers to the Midwest set their sights on California and Oregon?
because emigrants assumed that the Great Plains contained poor land for farming.
Why did the local California government rely on foreign settlers?
because it could not attract enough emigrants from Mexico.
Why did many Mexicans distrust the new settlers?
because of their American lifestyle and dismissal of Mexican ways.
Why did Mexico decide to invite Americans and other foreigners to settle in the Texas region?
because they were unable to persuade its own citizens to move closer to the Native American groups.
What is annexation?
becoming part of the United States.
Why did Americans head west?
for religous reasons or a chance to own their own farms.
Why did Benjamin Edwards lead a rebellion agaisnt Mexican authority?
he was angry about whether the Mexican government of the empresario controlled the region.
When did Santa Anna make his critical mistake?
in April 21, when both armies were encamped along the Jacinto River.
What were the results, for both sides, on the Battle of San Jacinto?
members of Santa Anna's force were taken captive. Texans suffered only 9 killed and 34 wounded.
Who were Kit Carson and Jim Bridger?
mountain men who made their living by traping beaver and selling fur to traders.
Who were squatters?
pioneers that settled on lands they did not own.
What were the elements of the Treaty of Fort Laramie?
that eight Native American groups agreed to specific geographic boundaries.
What is Manifest Destiny?
the idea that god had given the continent to Americans.
What was the Preemption Act of 1830?
the law that protected squatters by guaranteeing them the right to claim land.
How did Cyrus McCormick change American farming?
the mechanical reaper.
How did Mexico respond to Edwards call for revolution?
they closed its borders to Americans and banned enslaved labor.
How did Native Americans usually treat the emigrants?
they usually gave give gifts of food as well as helpful information about routes, edible pants, and sources of water.
What did Brigham Young do after the murder of Joseph Smith?
took his people west to escape further persecution.
By the time the civil war began, where did more Americans live?
west of the Appalacians.
What problems did the American settlers see with Mexico's response to Edward's action?
without immigration their settlements could not grow and higher prices for goods.