AMSCO APUSH FINAL EXAM ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔Wilmot Proviso - ✔✔In 1846, the first year of the Mexican War, this bill would forbid
slavery in any of the new territories acquired from Mexico. the bill passed the House
twice, but was defeated in the Senate. (p. 234)
✔✔Franklin Pierce - ✔✔In 1852, he was elected the fourteenth president of the United
States. (p. 236)
✔✔Ostend Manifesto - ✔✔The United States offer to purchase Cuba from Spain. When
the plan leaked to the press in the United States, it provoked an angry reaction from
antislavery members of Congress, forcing President Franklin Pierce to drop the plan. (p.
235)
✔✔Texas - ✔✔In 1823, Texas won its national independence from Spain. The
annexation of this state was by a joint resolution of Congress, supported by President-
elect James Polk. This annexation contributed to the Mexican War because the border
with Mexico was in dispute. Land from the Republic of Texas later became parts of New
Mexico, Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Wyoming. (p. 233)
✔✔Stephen Austin - ✔✔In the 1820s, his father had obtained and large land grant in
Texas. He brought 300 families from Missouri to settle in Texas. (p. 231)
✔✔Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna - ✔✔In 1834, he established himself as dictator of
Mexico and attempted to enforce Mexico's laws in Texas. In March 1836 a group of
American settlers revolted and declared Texas to be an independent republic. He then
led an army which attacked the Alamo in San Antonio, killing all the American
defenders. Shortly after that, Sam Houston led an army that captured him and he was
forced to sign a treaty that recognized the independence of Texas. (p. 231)
✔✔Sam Houston - ✔✔In March 1836, he led a group of American settlers that revolted
against Mexico and declared Texas to be an independent republic. He led an army that
captured Santa Anna and forced him to sign a treaty that recognized Texas as an
independent republic. As the first president of the Republic of Texas, he applied to the
U.S. government for Texas to be added as a new state. It was many years before the
U.S. would act to add Texas as a state. (p. 231)
✔✔Alamo - ✔✔The mission and fort that was the site of a siege and battle during the
Texas Revolution, which resulted in the massacre of all its defenders. The event helped
galvanize the Texas rebels and led to their victory at the Battle of San Jacinto.
Eventually Texas would join the United States. (p. 231)
✔✔Aroostook War - ✔✔In the early 1840s, there was a dispute over the the British
North America (Canada) and Maine border. Open fighting broke out between rival
,groups of lumbermen. The conflict was soon resolved by the Webster-Ashburton Treaty
of 1842. (p. 231)
✔✔Webster-Ashburton Treaty - ✔✔In this 1842 treaty US Secretary of State Daniel
Webster and British ambassador Lord Alexander Ashburton created a treaty splitting
New Brunswick territory into Maine and British Canada. It also settled the boundary of
the Minnesota territory. (p. 232)
✔✔Rio Grande; Nueces River - ✔✔In the 1840s the United States believed the
southern Texas border was the Rio Grande River. Mexico believed the border was
further north on the Nueces River. (p. 233)
✔✔Mexican War (1846-1847) - ✔✔A war between the United States and Mexico from
1846 to 1848. President James Polk attempted to purchase California and the New
Mexico territories and resolve the disputed Mexico-Texas border. Fighting broke out
before the negotiations were complete and the war lasted about two years, ending when
the United States troops invaded Mexico City. (p. 233-235)
✔✔Zachary Taylor - ✔✔In 1845, this U.S. general, moved his troops into disputed
territory in Texas, between the Nueces and Rio Grande Rivers. Eleven of his soldiers
were killed by Mexican troops and President James Polk used the incident to justify
starting the Mexican War. He used of force of 6,000 to invade northern Mexico and won
a major victory at Buena Vista. In 1848, he was elected president. (p. 233, 234)
✔✔Winfield Scott - ✔✔This U.S. general invaded central Mexico with an army of
14,000. They took the coastal city of Vera Cruz and then captured Mexico City in
September 1847. (p. 234)
✔✔Stephen Kearney - ✔✔This U.S. general led a small army of less than 1,500 that
succeeded in taking Santa Fe, the New Mexico territory, and southern California during
the Mexican War. (p. 234)
✔✔John C. Fremont - ✔✔In June 1846, he overthrew Mexican rule in northern
California and proclaimed California to be an independent republic, the Bear Flag
Republic. (p. 234)
✔✔California; Bear Flag Republic - ✔✔In June 1846, John C. Fremont quickly
overthrew Mexican rule in Northern California to create this independent republic. (p.
234)
✔✔Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo - ✔✔In 1848, this treaty ended the Mexican War.
Under its terms, Mexico recognized the Rio Grande as the border with Texas, Mexico
ceded the California and New Mexico territories to the United States. The United States
agreed to pay Mexico $15 million and assumed responsibility for any claims of
American citizens against Mexico. (p. 234)
, ✔✔Mexican Cession - ✔✔Historical name for the former Mexican provinces of
California and New Mexico that were ceded to the U.S. by Mexico in 1848 under the
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. (p 234)
✔✔Walker Expedition - ✔✔An expedition by a Southern adventurer who unsuccessfully
tried to take Baja California from Mexico in 1853. He took over Nicaragua in 1855 to
develop a proslavery empire. His scheme collapsed when a coalition of Central
American countries invaded and defeated him, and he was executed. (p. 236)
✔✔Clayton-Bulwer Treaty - ✔✔An 1850 treaty between the U.S. and Great Britain
agreeing that neither country would attempt to take exclusive control of any future canal
route in Central America. (p. 236)
✔✔Gadsden Purchase - ✔✔In 1853, the U.S. acquired land (present day southern New
Mexico and Arizona) from Mexico for $10 million. (p. 236)
✔✔foreign commerce - ✔✔In the mid-1800s, the growth in manufactured goods as well
as in agriculture products (Western grains and Southern cotton) caused a significant
growth of exports and imports. (p. 238, 239)
✔✔exports and imports - ✔✔In the mid-1800s, the U.S. was exporting primarily
manufactured goods and agriculture products such as Western grains and Southern
cotton. Imports also increased during this period. (p. 238, 239)
✔✔Matthew C. Perry; Japan - ✔✔Commodore of the U.S. Navy who was sent to force
Japan to open up its ports to trade with the U.S. (p. 239)
✔✔free-soil movement - ✔✔This movement did not oppose slavery in the South, but
they did not want the Western states to allow slavery. (p. 247)
✔✔Free-Soil party - ✔✔In 1848, Northerns organized this party to advocate that the
new Western states not allow slavery and provide free homesteads. Their slogan was,
"free soil, free labor, free men". (p. 248)
✔✔conscience Whigs - ✔✔Whigs that opposed slavery. (p. 248)
✔✔barnburners - ✔✔Antislavery Democrats, whose defection threatened to destroy the
the Democratic party. (p 248)
✔✔New England Emigrant Aid Company - ✔✔Northern abolitionist and Free-Soilers set
up this company to pay for the transportation of antislavery settlers to the Kansas
Territory. They did this to shift the balance of power against slavery in this new territory.
(p. 253)
ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔Wilmot Proviso - ✔✔In 1846, the first year of the Mexican War, this bill would forbid
slavery in any of the new territories acquired from Mexico. the bill passed the House
twice, but was defeated in the Senate. (p. 234)
✔✔Franklin Pierce - ✔✔In 1852, he was elected the fourteenth president of the United
States. (p. 236)
✔✔Ostend Manifesto - ✔✔The United States offer to purchase Cuba from Spain. When
the plan leaked to the press in the United States, it provoked an angry reaction from
antislavery members of Congress, forcing President Franklin Pierce to drop the plan. (p.
235)
✔✔Texas - ✔✔In 1823, Texas won its national independence from Spain. The
annexation of this state was by a joint resolution of Congress, supported by President-
elect James Polk. This annexation contributed to the Mexican War because the border
with Mexico was in dispute. Land from the Republic of Texas later became parts of New
Mexico, Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Wyoming. (p. 233)
✔✔Stephen Austin - ✔✔In the 1820s, his father had obtained and large land grant in
Texas. He brought 300 families from Missouri to settle in Texas. (p. 231)
✔✔Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna - ✔✔In 1834, he established himself as dictator of
Mexico and attempted to enforce Mexico's laws in Texas. In March 1836 a group of
American settlers revolted and declared Texas to be an independent republic. He then
led an army which attacked the Alamo in San Antonio, killing all the American
defenders. Shortly after that, Sam Houston led an army that captured him and he was
forced to sign a treaty that recognized the independence of Texas. (p. 231)
✔✔Sam Houston - ✔✔In March 1836, he led a group of American settlers that revolted
against Mexico and declared Texas to be an independent republic. He led an army that
captured Santa Anna and forced him to sign a treaty that recognized Texas as an
independent republic. As the first president of the Republic of Texas, he applied to the
U.S. government for Texas to be added as a new state. It was many years before the
U.S. would act to add Texas as a state. (p. 231)
✔✔Alamo - ✔✔The mission and fort that was the site of a siege and battle during the
Texas Revolution, which resulted in the massacre of all its defenders. The event helped
galvanize the Texas rebels and led to their victory at the Battle of San Jacinto.
Eventually Texas would join the United States. (p. 231)
✔✔Aroostook War - ✔✔In the early 1840s, there was a dispute over the the British
North America (Canada) and Maine border. Open fighting broke out between rival
,groups of lumbermen. The conflict was soon resolved by the Webster-Ashburton Treaty
of 1842. (p. 231)
✔✔Webster-Ashburton Treaty - ✔✔In this 1842 treaty US Secretary of State Daniel
Webster and British ambassador Lord Alexander Ashburton created a treaty splitting
New Brunswick territory into Maine and British Canada. It also settled the boundary of
the Minnesota territory. (p. 232)
✔✔Rio Grande; Nueces River - ✔✔In the 1840s the United States believed the
southern Texas border was the Rio Grande River. Mexico believed the border was
further north on the Nueces River. (p. 233)
✔✔Mexican War (1846-1847) - ✔✔A war between the United States and Mexico from
1846 to 1848. President James Polk attempted to purchase California and the New
Mexico territories and resolve the disputed Mexico-Texas border. Fighting broke out
before the negotiations were complete and the war lasted about two years, ending when
the United States troops invaded Mexico City. (p. 233-235)
✔✔Zachary Taylor - ✔✔In 1845, this U.S. general, moved his troops into disputed
territory in Texas, between the Nueces and Rio Grande Rivers. Eleven of his soldiers
were killed by Mexican troops and President James Polk used the incident to justify
starting the Mexican War. He used of force of 6,000 to invade northern Mexico and won
a major victory at Buena Vista. In 1848, he was elected president. (p. 233, 234)
✔✔Winfield Scott - ✔✔This U.S. general invaded central Mexico with an army of
14,000. They took the coastal city of Vera Cruz and then captured Mexico City in
September 1847. (p. 234)
✔✔Stephen Kearney - ✔✔This U.S. general led a small army of less than 1,500 that
succeeded in taking Santa Fe, the New Mexico territory, and southern California during
the Mexican War. (p. 234)
✔✔John C. Fremont - ✔✔In June 1846, he overthrew Mexican rule in northern
California and proclaimed California to be an independent republic, the Bear Flag
Republic. (p. 234)
✔✔California; Bear Flag Republic - ✔✔In June 1846, John C. Fremont quickly
overthrew Mexican rule in Northern California to create this independent republic. (p.
234)
✔✔Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo - ✔✔In 1848, this treaty ended the Mexican War.
Under its terms, Mexico recognized the Rio Grande as the border with Texas, Mexico
ceded the California and New Mexico territories to the United States. The United States
agreed to pay Mexico $15 million and assumed responsibility for any claims of
American citizens against Mexico. (p. 234)
, ✔✔Mexican Cession - ✔✔Historical name for the former Mexican provinces of
California and New Mexico that were ceded to the U.S. by Mexico in 1848 under the
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. (p 234)
✔✔Walker Expedition - ✔✔An expedition by a Southern adventurer who unsuccessfully
tried to take Baja California from Mexico in 1853. He took over Nicaragua in 1855 to
develop a proslavery empire. His scheme collapsed when a coalition of Central
American countries invaded and defeated him, and he was executed. (p. 236)
✔✔Clayton-Bulwer Treaty - ✔✔An 1850 treaty between the U.S. and Great Britain
agreeing that neither country would attempt to take exclusive control of any future canal
route in Central America. (p. 236)
✔✔Gadsden Purchase - ✔✔In 1853, the U.S. acquired land (present day southern New
Mexico and Arizona) from Mexico for $10 million. (p. 236)
✔✔foreign commerce - ✔✔In the mid-1800s, the growth in manufactured goods as well
as in agriculture products (Western grains and Southern cotton) caused a significant
growth of exports and imports. (p. 238, 239)
✔✔exports and imports - ✔✔In the mid-1800s, the U.S. was exporting primarily
manufactured goods and agriculture products such as Western grains and Southern
cotton. Imports also increased during this period. (p. 238, 239)
✔✔Matthew C. Perry; Japan - ✔✔Commodore of the U.S. Navy who was sent to force
Japan to open up its ports to trade with the U.S. (p. 239)
✔✔free-soil movement - ✔✔This movement did not oppose slavery in the South, but
they did not want the Western states to allow slavery. (p. 247)
✔✔Free-Soil party - ✔✔In 1848, Northerns organized this party to advocate that the
new Western states not allow slavery and provide free homesteads. Their slogan was,
"free soil, free labor, free men". (p. 248)
✔✔conscience Whigs - ✔✔Whigs that opposed slavery. (p. 248)
✔✔barnburners - ✔✔Antislavery Democrats, whose defection threatened to destroy the
the Democratic party. (p 248)
✔✔New England Emigrant Aid Company - ✔✔Northern abolitionist and Free-Soilers set
up this company to pay for the transportation of antislavery settlers to the Kansas
Territory. They did this to shift the balance of power against slavery in this new territory.
(p. 253)
