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| Mexico, which owned texas, had issues with Native AMerican attacks on their few residents there. So, they invited Americans to move to Texas in an effort to stop the attacks so long as the Americans promised to live by Mexican laws (that did not happen). |
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| Leader of the American colony in Texas. |
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| Tough military leader of the Mexican army who ordered the Americans to be shot at the Alamo. |
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| The Texans looked for protection inside this San Antonio mission (fort/church) from the Mexican army. Severely outnumbered and surrounded, the Texans surrendered and were executed. This became a rallying cry for the rest of the war between the Texans and Mexico. |
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| Leads the Texan army to victory over Santa Anna and the Mexican army. This leads to independence for Texas (Lone Star Republic). |
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| From 1836 to 1846, Texas was an independent nation. It won its freedom from Mexico and wanted to become a part of the U.S. However, the U.S. was reluctant to annex (add) Texas for fear of upsetting Mexico. |
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| To add. The U.S. added Texas in 1846, setting off the Mexican-American War. |
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| Hunters, trappers and traders in the American west, these were the first non-Native Americans to explore the Rocky Mountains. |
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| A gathering of the mountain men to sell furs. Often saw drinking, gambling and physical games such as wrestling, boxing. |
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| Route across the Great Plains to the Oregon Territory for farmers who wanted to start a new life in the west. The journey across the plains was difficult and dangerous. |
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| The popular idea of John L' O'Sullivan that the U.S. should stretch from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean and that Americans should "raise" the lifestyles and cultures of those living there to American standards. Very racist, but also with good intentions. |
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| After annexing Texas, the U.S. entered into a wart with Mexico. The U.S. easy won, and as a result gained control of the Mexican Cession. |
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| Lands seced by Mexico to the U.S. as a result of the Mexican-American War. This included California and parts of Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado. The United States now went from ocean to ocean. |
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| For $10 million, the U.S. buys southern Arizona and New Mexico from Mexico. The U.S. now owns all of the land that would become the lower 48 states. |
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| When gold was discovered in 1848 at Sutter's Mill (San Francisco), people from across the globe rushed to California in an effort to strike it rich. Most failed to do so, but the world found out a bout California's beautiful climate and geography and many stayed. California quickly became a free state. |
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| Nickname given to the people who headed to California in order to find gold. The rush was most strong in 1849, the reason for the name. |
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| A religious group founded by Joe Smith. They believed in polygamy - that a man can have more than one spouse. This got the Mormons kicked out of many places in the east, so they decided to live on their own in Salt Lake City, Utah. |
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| Founder of the Mormon faith. He was killed as a result of his beliefs in Illinois. |
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| Following the murder of Joseph Smith, he moved the Mormons to Utah so that they could practice their faith freely and without interference. |
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