Santa Fe Trail Went from Missouri into New Mexico Territory
Tejanos Mexicans who viewed Texas as their home
Vigilance committees Formed in response to the lawlessness in mining towns
The Alamo A mission where a small Texan force fought for twelve days against Santa Anna’s forces
Manifest Destiny Idea that it was inevitable that the U.S. would expand to the Pacific Ocean
Forty-niners Came to California in search of gold
James K. Polk President who was determined to get New Mexico and California from Mexico through war
Joseph Smith Founder of the Mormon church
Oregon Country An area between the pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains and north of California
Missions Spanish settlements built to convert Native Americans to Christianity and put them to work
Davy Crockett Killed at the Alamo
Gadsden Purchase Land acquisition in 1853
Mountain men Trapped for fur in the Oregon Country and adopted Native American ways
Mormons Settled in the great Salt Lake area in Utah
Sam Houston President of the Lone Star Republic
Stephen F. Austin A large American landowner and political leader in Texas
Texas Annexed by the U.S. in 1845
Bear Flag Republic Formed by Americans in Sonoma, California
Oregon Trail Followed by tens of thousands of settlers westward
Kit Carson Guided settlers westward