Westward Expansion

• Manifest Destiny


  The belief that the United States had the God-given right to expand westward
• Louisiana Purchase


  A purchase of a large area of land made by the United States under Thomas Jefferson, where the U.S. acquired the Louisiana Territory from France for approximately four cents an acre, essentially doubling the size of the United States
• Impressment


  The abduction of American sailors by Great Britain, where Great Britain would seize American ships and then force the sailors on board to join their navy
• Dolley Madison


  The wife of James Madison who saved many important documents and paintings, such as the painting of George Washington, during the burning of the White House during the War of 1812
• Monroe Doctrine


  A doctrine by James Monroe that warned European nations against further colonizing the Americas, stating that if they did colonize further, it would be a threat to the United States
• Indian Removal Act


  An act passed by Andrew Jackson that forced Native Americans out of the land they lived in and further out west into Indian reservations
• Expansion


  The expansion of the territory of the United States, where the United States expanded westward and believed they had the God-given right to do so
• Trail of Tears


  The forced relocation of Native Americans westward and into Indian reservations, in accordance with the Indian Removal Act, during which many Natives died due to the poor conditions they faced
• Annexation


  When a new territory becomes a part of a country, such as when Texas was annexed by the United States once it had become independent
• Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo


  The treaty that ended the Mexican-American war, forcing Mexico to cede a large portion of its territory to the United States and restoring good relations between the two countries
• Oregon Trail


  A route westward to the Oregon Country that helped to bring more settlers westward who were searching for opportunities
• Industrialization


  The creation and use of new machines to do various tasks, such as separating cotton seeds and fiber, transporting goods, etc.
• Child Labor


  The use of children in the workforce, where children worked in poor conditions, were not paid much, and were mistreated
• Gold Fever


  The excitement of people during Gold Rushes, where people often traveled for these Gold Rushes because of the Gold Fever and were often disappointed
• Thomas Jefferson


  • He was the 3rd president of the United States, an anti-federalist, purchased the Louisiana Territory, and sent Lewis and Clark on their expedition
• Federalists


  • A political party that supported a strong federal government, with notable members including Alexander Hamilton and John Adams
• Lewis & Clark


  • Explorers who explored the Louisiana Territory, creating maps of the territory for future settlers and discovering new animal species
• Sacagawea


  • A Native translator who translated Native languages for Lewis and Clark, and helped them survive with her survival skills such as hunting or foraging
• Francis Scott Key


  • The creator of the Star Spangled Banner, the national anthem of the United States
• James Monroe


  • The 5th president of the United States who created the Monroe Doctrine, which prevented further European colonization in the Americas
• Andrew Jackson


  • The 7th president of the United States who created the Indian Removal Act, which forcibly removed Natives from their land and forced them to move westward
• President Polk


  • The 11th president of the United States who was president during the Mexican-American war and declared war on Mexico
• Forty-Niners


  • People who rushed to California during the Gold Rush in 1849
• Irish Immigrants


  • Immigrants from Ireland who immigrated to escape famine and poverty due to the Irish potato famine in Ireland, and also helped to build the Erie Canal
• Nativism


  • The belief that Native citizens were better than immigrants, and the opposition to immigration and advocacy for policies that supported the Native people of a country
• Why Thomas Jefferson bought the Louisiana Territory

  For access to the Mississippi River to benefit trade, to get rid of France, control New Orleans, and get resources in the territory, and it was very cheap
• How the U.S. benefited from the Louisiana Purchase

  Doubled its territory, gained more resources, gained access to the Mississippi for trade, and got rid of a European power near them
• Why Federalists opposed the Louisiana Purchase

  Believed it would create an imbalance within Congress and that the Constitution did not give the President the power to do that, and many were biased as Jefferson was an anti-federalist
• Why Lewis & Clark's journey to the West was significant

  Explored the Louisiana Territory, mapped out the territory, and discovered new species, which would encourage settlers to settle in the territory and aid them while settling
• How Sacagawea was helpful to Lewis and Clark

  Translated Native languages for them, allowing them to get aid from Native tribes, and helped them survive by getting food, making clothes, and foraging
• What caused the War of 1812


  Impressment of American sailors by Great Britain, border disputes between Great Britain and the United States, and Great Britain aiding Native tribes that fought against the United States
• What were the results of the War of 1812

  The Treaty of Ghent ended the war in 1814 creating peace between the two nations, with neither side having won and the war ending in a draw
• What Dolley Madison saved from the White House fire and why it is symbolic

  She saved important documents and a painting of George Washington, which is symbolic as it represents how important the nation was to Madison and how she respected Washington
• How the Star Spangled Banner was created


  It was created by Francis Key Scott as a poem when he saw an American flag flying after an intense battle with the British during the War of 1812, which inspired him to write a poem that then became the national anthem of the United States
• Why the Monroe Doctrine was created

  To deter European nations from further colonization in the United States as it would be a threat, and because the United States had many tensions between European nations such as France and Great Britain after the War of 1812
• Why Andrew Jackson created the Indian Removal Policy

  He saw Natives as uncivilized and did not think they could be changed, and the Natives were in the way of westward expansion so they were removed to create space for American settlers in the new territories
• How the Trail of Tears can be described

  An inhumane removal of Native Americans, where they were forced out of their home with no warning and subjected to terrible conditions which led to many of them dying
• What the result of the Trail of Tears was

  Natives were forced to live in Indian reservations in the west and away from the land they lived in, and many Natives died along the journey because of the terrible conditions they lived in
• Why Americans moved westward in the 1840s

  The idea of Manifest Destiny, the Oregon Trail making it easier, abundant land and opportunities in the West, and Gold Rushes such as the California Gold Rush enticing people
• What the conditions were like along the Oregon Trail

  Varied from person to person, with some having a perilous and extremely difficult journey, while others had an easy journey devoid of obstacles, depending on the time of year they decided to move westward