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- The 900-mile trail opened by American merchants for trading purposes following Mexico’s liberalization of the formerly restrictive trading policies of Spain
- Historical Significance - Large numbers of people traveled in trading caravans because of the huge profit they could make. Congress voted to federally protect travelers using the trail from Indians who did not tolerate trespassers. Settlements and trading posts grew along the Sante Fe Trail
- Connection - Travel
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- Doctrine, first expressed in 1845, that the expansion of white Americans across the continent was inevitable and ordained by God.
- Historical Significance - John O’Sullivan believed Americans had a god-given right to expand democracy even if it meant doing it by force.
- Connection - Ideals
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- Overland trail of more than two thousand miles that carried American settlers from the Midwest to new settlements in Oregon, California, and Utah
- Historical Significance - By 1860 nearly 300,000 pioneers had traveled the Overland trail to get out west. They traveled the trail in hopes of economic and health opportunities or for the adventure.
- Connection - Travel
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- Persons of Spanish or Mexican descent born in Texas
- Historical Significance - Tejanos played a key role in the Texas Revolution. They joined the Americans to fight against Mexico for their freedom.
- Connection - Alamo
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- Agents who received a land grant from the Spanish or Mexican government in return for organizing settlements
- Historical Significance - Empresarios received land based on an agreement with the Mexican government that they would become Mexican and Catholic. Many settlers did not become Mexican or Catholic. These settlers were mostly southerners who viewed Texas as a natural extension of the cotton frontier in Mississippi and Louisiana
- Connection - Alamo
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- Franciscan mission at San Antonio, Texas that was the site in 1836 of a siege and massacre of Texans by Mexican troops.
- Historical Significance - Americans fought the Mexican military, over 1500 people were killed during the battle. Two months later they were able to force Mexico to grant Texas independence from Mexico.
- Connection - Alamo
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- Californians of Spanish descent
- Historical Significance -
- Connection -
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- The amendment offered by Pennsylvania Democrat David Wilmot in 1846 which stipulated that “as an express and fundamental condition to the acquisition of any territory from the Republic of Mexico . . . neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall ever exist in any part of said territory.” Wobblies Popular name for the members of the Industrial Workers
- Historical Significance - Wilmot's Proviso caused a breakdown between national parties and generated debates about slavery. Northern antislavery advocates and Southern proslavery advocates caused heated debates and fistfights on the Congress floor. It was foretelling how the country would be split on the issue of slavery and lead the US to Civil War.
- Connection - Slavery
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- A solution to the slavery crisis suggested by Michigan senator Lewis Cass by which territorial residents, not Congress, would decide slavery’s fate
- Historical Significance - Popular sovereignty shifted decision making on the issue of slavery expansion from national politicians to members of territorial and state legislatures who were in different parties. It created disagreements which Congress was unable to resolve.
- Connection - Slavery
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- War fought between Mexico and the United States between 1846 and 1848 over control of territory in southwest North America.
- Historical Significance - When the war ended the United States received new territories (CA, NV, UT, AZ, NM, CO and WY) which lead to the Compromise of 1850. Some states became slaves states others did not, this lead sates in the North and South being upset which set the stage for the Civil War.
- Connection - War/Battle
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- California thousands of miners travel to Northern California after news reports of the discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill in January of 1848 had spread around the world. This caused Californians to apply for statehood in 1849
- Historical Significance - California was changed by the large number of people coming from all over the United States and other parts of the world looking for gold. California developed a mining industry, it became more cultured and sophisticated and more multicultural with immigrants from China, Mexico and Europe.
- Connection -
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- Antislavery party in the 1848 and 1852 elections that opposed the extension of slavery into the territories, arguing that the presence of slavery would limit opportunities for free laborers.
- Historical Significance - The Free-soil party took 10% of the Democratic votes in the election of 1848 causing Lewis Cass to lose to Whig candidate Zachery Taylor. David Wilmot would become leader of the party which eventually became the Republican party.
- Connection - Political
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