Westward Expansion: Key Figures, Events, and Conflicts

Chapter 13

1. Manifest Destiny (Z): The belief that American expansion westward was divinely sanctioned.
2. John O’Sullivan (Q): Newspaper editor who coined the term "manifest destiny."
3. Mountain Men (K): American fur trappers who blazed western trails.
4. Donner Party (C, L): Group stranded on their way to California, resorting to cannibalism due to their own mistakes and poor decisions.
5. John Charles Fremont (B): Known as "The Pathfinder," he encouraged westward migration with reports of his explorations.
6. American Settlers (M): Settled in Texas for fertile, inexpensive land, causing concern for the Mexican government.
7. Anglo Texans (G): Rebelled against Mexico due to fears of slave emancipation.
8. Battle of the Alamo (D): A costly victory for the Mexicans.
9. Sam Houston (A): Texan leader, War of 1812 veteran, and first president of the Republic of Texas.
10. William Henry Harrison (F, I): Elected based on military record; died one month into his presidency.
11. Texas Annexation (N): Delayed until 1845 due to concerns about it entering as a slave state.
12. The Creole Incident (J): British freeing of American slaves after a mutiny.
13. John Tyler (Y): A president without a party; vice-presidential candidate in 1840.
14. Martin Van Buren (X): Failed to secure the 1844 Democratic nomination due to his stance on Texas.
15. James K. Polk (E): "Young Hickory," won the 1844 election, prioritizing geographic expansion.
16. Young Hickory (O): Polk's nickname, reflecting his association with Jacksonian policies.
17. Oregon (P): Boundary dispute with Britain resolved along the 49th parallel.
18. Daniel Webster (R): Opposed the Mexican-American War, deeming it unconstitutional.
19. Mexican-American War (T): America's first major military conflict outside the US, lasting two years.
20. Department of the Interior (U): Created in 1849 to manage land distribution, new territories, and Native American affairs.
21. Western Tribes (V): Faced pressure from white expansion and conquest.
22. David Crockett (S): A real person who fought at the Alamo.
23. Winfield Scott (H): Led American forces at Veracruz.
24. William B. Travis (W): Alamo defender who wrote a plea for reinforcements.

Key Figures Details

A. Sam Houston

This Texan leader served under General Andrew Jackson in the War of 1812 and became the first president of the republic of Texas.

B. John Charles Fremont

He was influential in encouraging the mass migration of Americans to Oregon and California. His widely circulated exploration reports earned him the nickname "The Pathfinder."

C. Donner Party

Members of this group engaged in cannibalism when stranded on their way to California.

D. Battle of the Alamo

At this, the Mexicans won a costly victory.

E. James K. Polk

He won the 1844 election without a majority of the popular vote. Known as "Young Hickory," his top priority was to secure geographic expansion, especially acquiring Texas, California, and New Mexico.

F. William Henry Harrison

He was elected more on his military record than for taking a stand on the issues.

G. Anglo Texans

They rebelled against the Mexican government out of fear that it intended to free their slaves.

H. Winfield Scott

He led American forces at Veracruz.

I. William Henry Harrison

He died one month after his inauguration as president.

J. The Creole Incident

This involved the British freeing American slaves after they mutinied and escaped.

K. Mountain Men

These Americans who blazed western trails were fur trappers.

L. Donner Party

They were stranded mainly because of a succession of their own mistakes and poor decisions.

M. American Settlers

They settled in Texas because of fertile, inexpensive lands. The Mexican government wanted to curtail American settlement due to concerns about their behavior and intentions.

N. Texas Annexation

The major factor that delayed this until 1845 was concern over this state entering as a slave state.

O. Young Hickory

This nickname of Polk’s most reflected his association with Jackson and support for Jacksonian policies.

P. Oregon

The boundary dispute with Britain over this territory was resolved by agreeing to a border along the 49^th parallel.

Q. John O’Sullivan

This newspaper editor coined the term "manifest destiny."

R. Daniel Webster

He was opposed to the Mexican-American War because he believed that the origins of the war were “unconstitutional.”

S. David Crockett

He was a real person who fought at the Alamo; Disney did not make him up.

T. Mexican-American War

This was America’s first majority military war outside of the US. Several prominent Americans opposed it, more Americans died of disease than in battles, and the fighting lasted two years.

U. Department of the Interior

In 1849, Congress created this to supervise the distribution of land, the creation of new territories and states, and the “protection” of Native Americans and their reservations.

V. Western Tribes

All of these eventually felt the unrelenting pressure of white expansion and conquest.

W. William B. Travis

He was a defender at the Alamo who wrote a very inspiring letter asking for reinforcements.

X. Martin Van Buren

He failed to win the Democratic party’s nomination in 1844 because of his position on Texas.

Y. John Tyler

He was described as a president without a party and was the vice-presidential candidate in 1840.

Z. Manifest Destiny

This is the idea that American expansion westward across the continent was sanctioned by God.