United States History Chapter 9 Higher Order Thinking Skills Homework

1. Describe how industrialization and capitalism impacted the U. S 1. Describe how industrialization and capitalism impacted the U.S. economy. What was the market revolution? Represented the shift from producing goods for one’s own consumption, to buying and selling goods in the marketplace. What role did entrepreneurs play in fueling the nation’s economy? They created the competition within the marketplace that drove capitalism. They risked everything to make huge profits.

2. Identify the inventions that enhanced people’s lives and helped fuel the country’s economic progress. How did inventions impact consumers? They tended to make life easier and more comfortable for consumers. How did the invention of the telegraph enhance the nation’s business activities? Made it possible for the different regions of the United States (North, South, and West) to do business with each other more efficiently. In what ways did Americans improve their transportation systems? The United States laid thousands of miles of Railroad tracks during this period, as well as starting up numerous Canal projects.

3. Explain how improved transportation and communication systems helped to link America’s regions and make them more interdependent. What factors helped the Northeast to become the center of commerce? Heavy investment in Railroads and Canals, an emphasis on manufacturing jobs, and good ports for foreign trade. What inventions helped to improve farming in the Midwest? John Deere’s invention of the Steel Plow and Cyrus McCormick’s invention of the Mechanical Reaper. Why did the South remain largely agricultural throughout the early- and mid-1800’s? Transportation systems were less developed, Wealthy Southerners’ money was tied up in land and slaves and not available to invest in factory construction, and many Southerners looked down on industrialization as uncivilized.

4. Summarize the reasons American settlers headed west during the mid-1800’s. What was the concept of Manifest Destiny? Based on the belief that America was God’s new “Chosen People” and that the west was our “promised land”. It stated that American expansion to the west was inevitable and pre-ordained by God. For what reasons did Americans move west? Economic problems, abundance of land, trade with Asia (made possible by the transportation improvements of the period).

5. Describe the impact of westward expansion on Native Americans. Why did a number of Native Americans resist white settlement on the western frontier? To protect their ancestral lands and cultures. What were the causes and consequences of the Blackhawk War? Illinois was forcing the Sauk and Fox tribes west of the Mississippi River, Chief Black Hawk decided to lead a rebellion, over 200 Sauk and Fox were slaughtered and the tribes were forcibly removed. What did the Treaty of Fort Laramie state? Native American tribes were given control of the Central Plains in return for promises not to attack settlers and to allow the United States to build Forts and Roads in the territory.

6. Identify the westward trails and some of the people that used them. What were the main routes that Americans took as they traveled into the west? Oregon Trail, Mormon Trail, California Trail, Bozeman Trail For what reasons did the Mormons migrate west? To escape religious persecution How did the United States and Great Britain settle their disputes over western territory? Initially, American settlers demanded a war with Great Britain to acquire the entire Oregon Territory (“54’40 or Fight”) However, facing a war with Mexico, James K. Polk decided to come to an agreement with the British to extend the border at the 49th parallel to the Pacific Ocean (our current northern boundary).

7. Explain why Mexico encouraged settlement in Texas. Why did tensions develop between Native American and Mexican inhabitants of Texas? The Mexican government forced Native Americans to work as unpaid laborers. The Comanche and Apache tribes responded with violent attacks on Mexican settlements in Texas and New Mexico. Why did Mexico invite American settlers to Texas? They hoped it would help solve the “Indian Problem” and create a closer connection between Mexico City and the Texas settlement. What role did Stephen Austin play in the American settlement of Texas? He acted as an empresario (land agent) that helped bring American settlers to Texas.

8. Describe how Texas gained its independence. Why did the Anglo settlers in Texas rebel against the Mexican government? Santa Anna closed the border to the United States banning American immigrants and placing a heavy tax on American products. What was the significance of the Battle at the Alamo? Became the rallying cry (“Remember the Alamo”) for Texas Independence, reminding Texans of the cruelty and unmerciful nature of the Santa Anna regime. How did Texas eventually become the 28th state in the Union? After winning their independence and existing for a while as the Lone Star Republic, Texas invited the United States to annex (add) them as the 28th state in the Union.

9. Summarize the conflicting attitudes on waging war with Mexico. Why did Polk favor war with Mexico? It would give the opportunity to fulfill manifest destiny through acquisition of what would become California, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, and Nevada. Why was public opinion divided over going to war with Mexico? The war represented the possible expansion of the territory of slavery within the United States.

10. Describe key battles that helped the United States win the war with Mexico. How did the Mexican-American War begin? Zachary Taylor was sent to the Rio Grande River (within territory disputed by both the United States and Mexico) where he was attacked by Mexican forces, provoking a declaration of war against Mexico. How did views of the war differ among the nation’s regions? The South supported the War because it could expand the influence of the slave states in Congress, the North opposed the War for the same reason. How did the United States gain control of New Mexico and California? Both were acquired by the U.S. after revolutions led by local settlers (wealthy Mexican ranchers in New Mexico and by American settlers led by John Freemont in California).

11. Identify U.S. Territories gained from Mexico. What were the terms of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo? The United States received the land that would become California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico (The Mexican Cession) in return for a payment of $20 Million. What was the significance of the Gadsden Purchase? Completed the borders of the mainland United States, allowed for completion of the Transcontinental Railroad. What role did the war with Mexico play in the election of 1848? The issue of whether or not to ban slavery from the territory gained from Mexico split the Democratic Party and allowed War Hero Zachary Taylor to win the election easily.

12. Explain the impact of the discovery of gold in California on the development of the West. What impact did the discovery of gold have on the west? Inspired dramatic increases in the numbers of people migrating to the west. In what ways did the west become more diverse? The State’s population included Chinese immigrants, Free Blacks, Mexican immigrants, some slaves (until the state constitution abolished the institution in 1849) and Whites.