2. Who was John A. Sutter?

A Californian agent who would buy hides and store them until a company ship would arrive and transport it. He tried the Santa Fe, then found his way to Sacramento, where he built an enormous enclosure that guarded an entire village of settlers and shops.

3. Why did so many American settle in Texas?

Americans had a lust for land, which was also fueled by cheap land and Mexican encouragement to settle.

4. What was the importance of the Webster-Ashburton treaty?

The negotiations settled the Maine boundary as well as other border disputes by accepting the existing line between the Connecticut and St. Lawrence Rivers, and by compromising on the line between Lake Superior and Lake of the Woods. It also provided for joint naval patrols off Arfrica to suppress the slave trade.

5. In which presidential election did James K. Polk win the nomination?

1844

6. When, and from which country, did Mexico obtain its independence?

Spain, 1821

7. Why was William Henry Harrison a successful presidential candidate?

William Henry Harrison had a strong military background and avoided major public stands on issues.

  
8. Know about the Republic of California’s organization and government.

The Republic of California had an unstable government, established to evade the many people rushing to settle its lands. As such, it was unorganized and the Spanish officials would come and go quickly. After Polk incites rebellion against the Spanish, an unsteady BEARFLAGGERS government was quickly replaced (gratefully) by the more stable American government.

9. In New York, in 1844, the Liberty party supported which candidate?

Although Clay's stand was against the annexation of Texas and, indirectly, against slavery, this position was better fulfilled by the Liberty party, who drew votes away from Clay and helped Polk win the election.

10. What was Henry Clay’s position on the annexation of Texas?

Henry Clay did not support the annexation because it would cause a further rift and possibly lead to war. Texas was a slave state and would have offset the balance.

11. Who was described as the president without a party?

John Tyler

12. At what point did congress vote for war with Mexico?

After the Mexicans attacked the American Soldiers north of the Rio Grande- the declaration was signed May 13, 1846.

13. From where did support for the Mexican war come?

Support came from the expansionists, including the slave states of the South.

14. Who lead the American capture of Mexico City?

Winfield Scott

15. What were the provisions of the Treaty Of Guadalupe Hidalgo?

Mexico gave up all claims to Texas above the Rio Grande and ceded California and New Mexico to the United States. In return, the U.S. agreed to pay Mexico $15 million and assume the claim of American citizens against Mexico up to $3.25 million dollars.

16. Who or what were rancheros?

The Rancheros were granted land by the Mexican government- they exploited the Indian labor and employed them as slaves. They produced cowhide and beef tallow in large quantity and both products enjoyed a brisk demand.  Cowhides mainly for shoes and the tallow chiefly for candles

17. Who coined the term “Manifest Destiny”?

In 1845, an eastern magazine editor labeled this bumptious spirit of expansion.

18. To what does the phrase “fifty-four forty or fight” refer?

This was an ultimatum, with the intent of disregarding the joint occupation rule and kicking Britain out of the territory completely.

19. What are the particulars of the presidential election of 1844?

Neither Van Buren nor Clay supported the annexation of Texas, and while the Whig party put up Clay easily, the Democratic party did not support Van Buren and put up Polk instead. Polk won because Clay lost his votes to the Liberty party, who were anti-slavery as well.

20. Who was George Donner?

George Donner led a group to Oregon; however, they made a plethora of mistakes and were soon isolated in a blizzard. The group started to eat the dead as a means of sustenance.

21. What was the Creole incident?

British relations were strained late in 1841 when American slaves on the Creole, bound from Hampton Roads, Virginia, to New Orleans, mutinied and sailed to the Bahamas, where the British set them free. Secretary of State Webster demanded that the slaves be returned as American property, but the British refused.

22. When did large-scale American emigration to the Oregon country begin?

Word of Oregon’s fertile soil, plentiful rain, and magnificent forests gradually spread, largely through the efforts of Methodist missionaries recently settled there. This enticed adventurous Americans, and by the late 1830’s a trickle of emigrants began flowing along the Oregon Trail.

23. What was unique about the Republic of Texas?

The Republic of Texas though of themselves as a nation to rival the United States, and had blossoming trade relations with Britain and France, who recognized it as an independent nation before the United States did.

24. What was the significance of the Battle of the Alamo?

The Battle of the Alamo, involving Mexico vs. a group of American and Texan volunteers (including Davy Crockett) incited patriotism in the Texans, which led them to repel the Mexican government until they were finally defeated in a whopping 15 minutes afterwards. It served as a reminder and as encouragement.

25. In what way did the Mexican General Santa Anna regain his freedom after he was captured?

He offered to resolve the war issue through monetary means, peacefully, and was returned from being exiled in Cuba. However, he regained his position and led Mexico in the war.