Question 1

In the 1820s and 1830s, the government of Mexico
A) consistently opposed American immigration into Texas.
B) consistently favored American immigration into Texas.
C) remained noncommittal about American immigration into Texas.
D) moved from opposing to favoring American immigration into Texas.
E) moved from favoring to opposing American immigration into Texas.

Accepted Answer

Initially, the Mexican government encouraged American immigration to Texas to promote economic development and stabilize the region. However, as American settlers began to outnumber the Mexican population and tensions grew over issues like slavery (which Mexico had abolished) and adherence to Mexican laws, the government shifted its stance, culminating in laws to curb further immigration and increase control over Texas, leading to conflicts that contributed to the Texas Revolution.

Question 2

The presidential election of 1844
A) was a contest between Henry Clay and Martin Van Buren.
B) was a contest between two solidly pro-expansionists.
C) was won by a Democrat.
D) saw a northerner win the presidency.
E) was primarily a referendum on the leadership of John Tyler.

Accepted Answer

The 1844 presidential election was won by James K. Polk, a Democrat, who defeated Henry Clay, the Whig candidate.

Question 3

Between 1840 and 1860, most migrants traveling west on the overland trails
A) experienced frequent Indian attacks, which was a leading cause of death.
B) usually faced trips that lasted between two to three months.
C) rode in wagons much more than they walked on foot.
D) found the journey to be a very collective experience.
E) saw men generally working harder during the trip than women.

Accepted Answer

D

Question 4

President James K. Polk
A) entered office with very few concrete plans about what he wanted to achieve.
B) helped his candidacy for office by expressing a desire to re-annex Texas.
C) had not held any significant electoral office before becoming president.
D) opposed the occupation of Oregon.
E) was generally a pacifist, but was ultimately pushed into faster occupation of the West.

Accepted Answer

James K. Polk's desire to re-annex Texas helped his candidacy for office, as it was a popular issue at the time.

Question 5

The key to victory for the United States in the Mexican War was
A) Zachary Taylor's taking of Monterrey.
B) the Bear Flag revolution in California.
C) Stephen Kearny's capture of Santa Fe.
D) Winfield Scott's seizure of Mexico City.
E) Nicholas Trist's diplomatic maneuvering.

Accepted Answer

Winfield Scott's seizure of Mexico City was the key to victory for the United States in the Mexican War. This allowed the US to occupy the heart of Mexico and negotiate a favorable peace treaty.

Question 6

Under the terms of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, the United States
A) officially acquired only Texas.
B) gave up rights to California (for a time) in exchange for New Mexico and Texas.
C) established an open border with Mexico.
D) established an American protectorate over Mexico.
E) agreed to pay millions to Mexico.

Accepted Answer

The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which ended the Mexican-American War in 1848, included provisions where the United States agreed to pay Mexico $15 million and assumed $3.25 million in debts owed by Mexico to American citizens. This payment was in exchange for the vast territories the U.S. acquired, including present-day California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, and Texas.

Question 7

In 1836, an attack by Mexican forces on the Alamo mission
A) saw the American garrison executed after it had surrendered.
B) saw the death of Davy Crockett.
C) began the Mexican War.
D) led Americans in Texas to proclaim their independence from Mexico.
E) was a surprising victory for American forces in Texas.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In 1836, an attack by Mexican forces...

Question 8

In the 1840s, critics of territorial expansion by the United States
A) enjoyed considerable political support.
B) found their greatest support in the "penny press."
C) warned it would increase the controversy over slavery.
D) warned that further expansion would cause rifts with Indian tribes.
E) All these answers are correct.

Accepted Answer

The critics of territorial expansion in the 1840s warned that it would increase controversy over slavery, as new territories would have to determine whether to allow or prohibit slavery, which would only intensify conflicts between the North and South. While they did not enjoy considerable political support, they did have some influential voices, and their warnings proved to be prescient as the expansion of the nation did indeed lead to the Civil War. The "penny press" was actually supportive of territorial expansion, and while there were concerns over relations with Native American tribes, this was not the primary focus of the critics.

Question 9

Before the early 1850s, Americans who traveled west on the overland trails were generally
A) relatively young people who traveled in family groups.
B) over the age of thirty.
C) from the eastern seaboard states.
D) wealthy.
E) domestic servants and prostitutes.

Accepted Answer

Before the early 1850s, Americans who traveled west on the overland trails were primarily families heading west in search of new opportunities, rather than individuals or wealthy individuals.

Question 10

In the mid-1840s, the Oregon country in the Pacific Northwest
A) remained the center of the French fur-trading empire.
B) was primarily occupied by Great Britain.
C) contained many more English settlers than Americans.
D) was of little interest to the American government.
E) included an Indian population that had been devastated by disease.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In the mid-1840s, the Oregon country in...

Question 11

As president, James K. Polk
A) sought war with Britain to resolve the Oregon dispute.
B) refused the Texas claim to territory that included much of modern New Mexico.
C) convinced the British government to divide Oregon at the 54°40? parallel.
D) won congressional approval for the annexation of Texas.
E) None of these answers is correct.

Accepted Answer

The answer of As president, James K. Polk
A) sought war...

Question 12

In 1836, the Battle of San Jacinto
A) was a victory for General Santa Anna.
B) saw British troops fight alongside Mexican troops.
C) resulted in victory for forces led by Stephen Austin.
D) led to independence for Texas.
E) saw Sam Houston briefly taken prisoner.

Accepted Answer

The Battle of San Jacinto resulted in victory for forces led by Sam Houston, and ultimately led to the independence of Texas from Mexico.

Question 13

In 1845, the immediate cause of war with Mexico was
A) a dispute over territory.
B) tariffs.
C) Mexico's debt to the United States.
D) the issue of slavery.
E) the Alamo.

Accepted Answer

The immediate cause of war with Mexico in 1845 was a dispute over territory. Specifically, the United States annexed Texas, which Mexico considered a part of its territory, leading to tensions and ultimately war between the two countries.

Question 14

In the 1820s, most of the settlers from the United States who migrated to Texas were
A) white southerners and their slaves.
B) white northerners.
C) free blacks.
D) Far West whites.
E) recently-arrived European immigrants.

Accepted Answer

In the 1820s, most of the settlers from the United States who migrated to Texas were white southerners and their slaves. This was part of a larger movement of people from the southern United States into Texas, which was then a part of Mexico. These migrants were attracted to Texas for a number of reasons, including the availability of land, the lack of government interference, and the opportunity to expand slavery in a territory where it was currently banned.

Question 15

The Mexican War resulted in large part from
A) the United States provoking Mexico to fight.
B) Mexico provoking the United States to fight.
C) Texas citizens attacking Mexican forces.
D) Mexican forces attacking Americans in California.
E) Texas citizens staging an attack by Mexican forces.

Accepted Answer

The Mexican War (1846-1848) largely resulted from the United States' expansionist policies and provocations towards Mexico, especially after the annexation of Texas, which Mexico still considered its territory. This led to disputes over the border and ultimately provoked the conflict.

Question 16

Within the ideology of Manifest Destiny were all the following beliefs EXCEPT that
A) the United States was destined by God and history to expand in size.
B) the United States should create a vast new "empire of liberty."
C) United States expansion was acceptable so long as it stayed out of Mexico and Canada.
D) the growth of the United States was not selfish but altruistic.
E) None of these answers is correct, as all of these were beliefs encompassed by the ideology of Manifest Destiny.

Accepted Answer

The belief that United States expansion was acceptable as long as it stayed out of Mexico and Canada was not a belief encompassed by the ideology of Manifest Destiny. In fact, the ideology promoted the idea of expansion throughout the entire continent, not just certain areas.

Question 17

In 1836, Texas did not immediately join the United States in part because
A) Congress feared that giving statehood to Texas might lead to war with Mexico.
B) the American leadership in Texas delayed in applying for statehood.
C) President Andrew Jackson thought that action would add to sectional tensions.
D) England had forged its own political ties to Texas.
E) Texas settlers overwhelmingly did not want to be part of the United States.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In 1836, Texas did not immediately join...

Question 18

During the Mexican War,
A) President Polk considered Zachary Taylor to be his closest ally in Mexico.
B) American settlers in California staged a revolt with the help of the United States navy.
C) victory came more easily than President Polk had anticipated.
D) the actual fighting was confined to Texas and Mexico.
E) President Polk tried to placate Whigs by minimizing military offensives.

Accepted Answer

American settlers in California staged a revolt with the help of the United States navy during the Mexican War. The main fighting took place in Mexico, but there were also significant military actions in California and other parts of the United States as well. President Polk did not have a particularly close relationship with Zachary Taylor during the war, and victory came at a significant cost in both human lives and financial resources. Polk did not try to minimize military offensives, but rather sought to aggressively prosecute the war in order to secure greater territorial gains for the United States.

Question 19

Which of the following towns served as a major departure point for migrants traveling west on the overland trails?
A) Independence, Missouri
B) Cedar Rapids, Iowa
C) Ames, Iowa
D) St. Louis, Missouri
E) Kansas City, Missouri

Accepted Answer

Independence, Missouri was a major departure point for migrants traveling west on the overland trails, including the Oregon Trail, California Trail, and Santa Fe Trail.

Question 20

In 1844, President James K. Polk supported the acquisition of
A) Oregon.
B) Texas.
C) Cuba.
D) Oregon and Texas.
E) Cuba and Texas.

Accepted Answer

President James K. Polk supported the acquisition of both Oregon and Texas, as he believed in the concept of Manifest Destiny and sought to expand US territory. The acquisition of Texas had been a controversial issue, with some advocates believing that it would lead to the expansion of slavery, but Polk remained committed to the idea. The acquisition of Oregon was also important to Polk in order for the US to gain access to a Pacific port and to expand westward. Therefore, the correct choice is D, as Polk supported the acquisition of both Oregon and Texas.

Quiz 13: The Impending Crisis

In the 1820s and 1830s, the government of Mexico

The presidential election of 1844

Between 1840 and 1860, most migrants traveling west on the overland trails

President James K. Polk

The key to victory for the United States in the Mexican War was

Under the terms of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, the United States

In 1836, an attack by Mexican forces on the Alamo mission

In the 1840s, critics of territorial expansion by the United States

Before the early 1850s, Americans who traveled west on the overland trails were generally

In the mid-1840s, the Oregon country in the Pacific Northwest

As president, James K. Polk

In 1836, the Battle of San Jacinto

In 1845, the immediate cause of war with Mexico was

In the 1820s, most of the settlers from the United States who migrated to Texas were

The Mexican War resulted in large part from

Within the ideology of Manifest Destiny were all the following beliefs EXCEPT that

In 1836, Texas did not immediately join the United States in part because

During the Mexican War,

Which of the following towns served as a major departure point for migrants traveling west on the overland trails?

In 1844, President James K. Polk supported the acquisition of