Question 1

Manifest Destiny was the belief that
A) the territorial expansion of the United States was inevitable, divinely ordained, and just.
B) the United States should fulfill its mission as expressed in the Declaration of Independence.
C) the United States should pledge its support to oppressed people everywhere.
D) war with Canada and Mexico was necessary and desirable.

Accepted Answer

Manifest Destiny was the belief that it was the United States' destiny to expand its territory, and that expansion was not only inevitable but also divinely ordained and just. This idea fueled territorial expansion, particularly in the 19th century, leading to the annexation of Texas, the Mexican-American War, and the acquisition of territory including California, Arizona, and New Mexico.

Question 2

One of the main issues in James K. Polk's 1844 presidential campaign was the Democratic party's commitment to
A) increasing the tariff.
B) reducing the sales price of western lands.
C) territorial acquisition and expansion.
D) rechartering the Bank of the United States.

Accepted Answer

James K. Polk's 1844 presidential campaign focused on the Democratic party's commitment to territorial acquisition and expansion, particularly the annexation of Texas and the pursuit of Oregon Territory, which was encapsulated in the slogan "Fifty-Four Forty or Fight!"

Question 3

Members of the Whig party
A) believed in a weak central government.
B) were suspicious of rapid Western expansion and, instead, supported industrial and commercial expansion within the current boundaries of the United States.
C) favored the expansion of slavery into the Western territories.
D) favored free trade.

Accepted Answer

The Whig party was generally supportive of industrial and commercial expansion and was cautious about rapid Western expansion, preferring to focus on development within existing boundaries.

Question 4

Which of the following is true of the presidential campaign of 1844?
A) The Liberty Party candidate drew enough votes away from Henry Clay in New York to deny Clay the state and the election.
B) Although James K. Polk lost all of the southern states, he won the election by carrying the Northeast and Northwest.
C) Henry Clay campaigned in favor of the immediate annexation of Texas.
D) James K. Polk appealed to the electorate as a man who would pursue expansion through negotiation rather than force.

Accepted Answer

The Liberty Party candidate, James G. Birney, drew enough votes away from Henry Clay in New York, which contributed to Clay losing the state and ultimately the election to James K. Polk.

Question 5

By the 1850s, San Francisco
A) had lost its pre-eminence to new metropolitan centers in California.
B) was merely a small rural settlement.
C) enjoyed prosperity almost exclusively due to the cotton trade.
D) had become the West Coast gateway to the interior.

Accepted Answer

By the 1850s, San Francisco had become the West Coast gateway to the interior as gold was discovered in California and people flocked to the region to find their fortune. This led to a significant increase in trade and commerce, making San Francisco a prosperous city.

Quiz 13: The Contested West, 1815-1860

Manifest Destiny was the belief that

One of the main issues in James K. Polk's 1844 presidential campaign was the Democratic party's commitment to

Members of the Whig party

Which of the following is true of the presidential campaign of 1844?

By the 1850s, San Francisco