Westward Expansion
Louisiana Purchase
1803 purchase of the Louisiana territory from France. Made by Jefferson, this doubled the size of the US.
telegraph
A device that used electrical signals to send messages quickly over long distances
Westward Expansion
A movement westward for jobs, land, hope, the gold rush, adventure, a new beginning and the transcontinental railroad. It lasted from 1850-1890
steam boat
A steam engine connected to two huge paddle wheels mounted on a raft- created by Robert Fulton.
War of 1812
A war (1812-1814) between the United States and England which was trying to interfere with American trade with France.
steam locomotive
provided faster land transportation
Impressment
British practice of taking American sailors and forcing them into military service
mining
removing minerals and other important and valuable material from the Earth
Boom Towns
Communities that grew suddenly when a mine opened
Cause: The US wanted to expand it territory
Effect: Many people packed up wagons and traveled west to begin a new life.
Cause: Natives were forced to move and were treated poorly on their journey.
Effect: Over 4,000 Native Americans died on the Trail of Tears.
Cause: Over time, gold in boom towns became harder to find.
Effect: People abandoned these towns and they became ghost towns.
Cause: James Marshall, a carpenter in California, found gold in the American River
Effect: People rushed to California to find their fortune.
National Road
First national road building project funded by Congress. It made travel and transportation of goods much easier because it was one continuous road that was in good condition.
California Gold Rush
Mass migration to California following the discovery of gold in 1848
Texas Revolution
the 1836 rebellion in which Texas gained its independence from Mexico
Transcontinental Railroad
Railroad connecting the west and east coasts of the continental US
Trail of Tears
The Cherokee Indians were forced to leave their lands. They traveled from North Carolina and Georgia through Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, and Arkansas-more than 800 miles (1,287 km)-to the Indian Territory. More than 4, 00 Cherokees died of cold, disease, and lack of food during the 116-day journey.
Indian Removal Act
The act that forced natives from their homeland to land west of the Mississippi River
Manifest Destiny
the belief that the United States should expand west to the Pacific Ocean
frontier
the border between a settlement and unsettled land
Goals of Lewis and Clark's expedition
To explore unknown territory, map Louisiana Territory, establish trade with natives, reach pacific, relations with Indians, discover plants and animals
Ghost Town
Town that has been abandoned due to lack of economic activity
Oregon Trail
Trail from independence Missouri to Oregon used by many pioneers during the 1840s
Lewis and Clark
Two explorers sent by the president to explore the Louisiana Purchase
Mexico
Which state originally owned Texas before it became part of the United States?
strained
Which word best describes the relationship between Native Americans and the US government during the westward expansion era?
prospector
a person who searches for important and valuable materials from the Earth
expedition
a trip or voyage taken by a group of people with a specific purpose
Erie Canal
an artificial waterway connecting the Hudson river at Albany with Lake Erie at Buffalo
Pony Express
delivery system that used horses and riders to deliver mail and communication quickly from east to west
pioneer
early settlers traveling west
