The Westward Movement History Test Part 1

What percentage was the first increase in population for the gold rush in California?

500%

Why was the Gadsden Purchase important to the United States?

A direct line across the American territory for the railroad to the Pacific was ensured.

annexation

A joining to something.

immigrant

A person from one country who comes to live in another.

armistice

A temporary peace or truce.

siesta

An afternoon rest or nap.

What was George Bancroft's advice about Mexico?

Be the defender and not the aggressor.

Why would a provisional government be needed in Oregon?

Because the settlers wanted to have an organized system of laws.

Which of the following states is known as the Bear Flag Republic?

California

Select the two territories that President Polk was willing to purchase from Mexico.

California New Mexico

Select the three factors that describe the journey west to the new territories of Oregon, California, and New Mexico.

Discipline problems often arose among the settlers. Bad weather forced delays. Many died from diseases before reaching their destination.

Who was responsible for leading an expedition across the Rockies that included women?

Dr. Marcus Whitman

What did Texas, California, and New Mexico have in common?

Each was obtained from Mexico.

Who was responsible for the building of missions throughout California?

Father Junipero Serra

What was the popular Democratic slogan about Oregon?

Fifty-four forty or fight

Which American general captured two cities in northeastern Mexico before war was officially declared?

General Zachary Taylor

Whose efforts gave the British claims in Oregon?

George Vancouver

territorial

Having to do with territory.

Why did President Andrew Jackson not want to admit Texas into the Union?

He feared it would cause trouble with Mexico.

What role did Sam Brannan play in the California Gold Rush?

He spread the news of gold in San Francisco.

How did Sloat take control of California?

He used the armed forces and took control.

Why was President Polk so adamant about war with Mexico?

He wanted the rich lands of the southwest.

Select the three events that Great Britain used as a claim to the Oregon Territory.

Hundreds of fur traders lived there. Sir Francis Drake claimed the coast. George Vancouver explored and mapped the coast.

Which of the following statements is true of the California Gold Rush?

Independent miners were being replaced by large corporations.

Why was the discovery of gold seen as a negative event?

It encouraged workers to leave their occupations.

How did the Gadsden Purchase benefit travel in the United States?

It held a mountain pass to the west.

What is significant about the slogan, "All Oregon or None! Fifty-four forty or fight?"

It was the Democratic slogan for the presidential election of 1844.

What best defines Manifest Destiny?

It was the belief that America was to extend from the Atlantic to Pacific.

Why were the gold prospectors called 49ers?

It was the year of the great gold rush.

Gold was discovered on the land of John Sutter by

James Marshall

Which figure was the biggest catalyst in the California gold rush?

James Polk

Who instigated the Mexican War?

James Polk

Who discovered the South Pass to the Oregon Territory?

Jedediah Smith

A revolt of Californians in the Sacramento valley was led by:

John Fremont

Whose efforts gave the United States claims in Oregon?

John Jacob Astor

Who was sent as a special diplomat to negotiate an end to the conflict between Mexico and the United States?

John Slidell

Why did John Sutter want to keep the news of the discovery of gold quiet?

John Sutter had a few reasons to keep the news of gold quiet. One reason was that John feared that if the news got out, that his mill would never be finished. The other reasons were that he thought with all the people, cattle would stampede and crops would be trampled.

Select the three events that the United States used as a claim to the Oregon Territory.

Methodist and Presbyterian missionaries established settlements. Lewis and Clark explored and mapped the interior. John Jacob Astor made one of the first settlements.

The land for the Gadsden Purchase was bought from:

Mexico

Why did the Mexican government allow U.S. citizens to immigrate into Texas?

Mexico wanted the industries brought by the immigrants.

Which group sparked a mass exodus to Oregon?

Missionaries

Select the reasons that Texas was considered a desirable place in the West.

Most of the Louisiana Territory had been set aside for the Native Americans.'Other western land was considered barren waste.

On which of the following trails would pioneers use to reach the Northwest?

Oregon Trail

How did the greatest gold rush in history begin?

President Polk announced that gold was discovered in California.

What country gave up its claim to the Oregon Territory in the 1820s when the Monroe Doctrine closed the American continents to further colonization?

Russia

The Texas Revolt began when Texan-Americans attacked and defeated a group of Mexican soldiers in

San Antonio

Who was responsible for the massacres at the Alamo and Goliad?

Santa Anna

On which of the following trails would pioneers use to reach the Southwest?

Santa Fe Trail

What country gave up its claim to the Oregon Territory in the same treaty in which it gave Florida to the United States?

Spain

Select the four countries that made claims on parts of the Oregon Territory.

Spain Russia Great Britain United States

The American colonel who established a provincial government in New Mexico and later marched to California was:

Stephen Kearney

Why did Jackson's successor, President Van Buren, not want to admit Texas into the Union?

Texas would be a slave state if admitted.

Select the terms of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.

The United States paid $15,000,000 for California and New Mexico. Mexico recognized the Rio Grande as the Texas border. The United States paid Mexican debts to Americans totaling $3,500,000.

What action regarding Texas did President Tyler take on his last day in office?

The action that Tyler took on his last day in office was that he signed a resolution passed by congress that brought Texas into the Union.

What event created the most anger among the citizens of Mexico?

The annexation of Texas

What was most monumental decision in making a trip to Oregon?

The season for leaving on the journey

How did the United States and Great Britain settle the Oregon question?

They established a boundary at the 49th parallel.

Why did the Mexicans attack Taylor's troops?

They had been provoked by the presence of troops.

diplomatic

Treating others with skill or tact.

The attack against Mexico City was led by General

Winfield Scott

Who captured Mexico City during the Mexican War?

Winfield Scott

Who began the mass movement to Oregon?

missionaries

Who was responsible for beginning the mass movement to Oregon?

missionaries

Which of the following charts and graphs shows the percentage of something based on a whole?

pie chart

Select the steps that Mexico took to prevent losing control of Texas that angered the Americans there.

prohibited freedom of worship stopped American immigration to Texas placed import taxes on American goods tried to free the slaves in Texas

How did the defeats at the Alamo and Goliad affect support for the Texas revolt?

support increased

The lives of pioneers crossing the continent were ruled by the need for

water