DTW GED PREP

In 1845, during the presidency of James K. Polk, the United States took a significant step toward its expansionist goals by annexing the Texas Republic. Texas had declared its independence from Mexico in 1836, and after nearly a decade as an independent nation, it sought to join the United States. The annexation of Texas reignited debates over the country’s territorial ambitions, fueling the belief in “manifest destiny” — the idea that the United States was destined to expand across the North American continent, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.

This belief in manifest destiny was a driving force behind the U.S. government’s actions in the years that followed. Polk, a strong proponent of westward expansion, pushed for the annexation of Texas and pursued further territorial acquisitions. This culminated in the Mexican-American War of 1846–1848, a conflict that arose partly due to territorial disputes between the United States and Mexico, particularly over the southern border of Texas. After a series of military victories, the United States defeated Mexico and, through the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848, acquired vast new territories in the West, including what are now California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and parts of Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico, and Texas.

The acquisition of these territories expanded the United States by more than 60% in just four years. This period of rapid territorial growth was accompanied by a significant wave of migration to the West. As people moved westward, new territories were organized, and states were formed, including California, which was admitted to the Union in 1850. The discovery of gold in California in 1849 was a major catalyst for this migration. The Gold Rush attracted thousands of Americans and immigrants, all hoping to strike it rich in the goldfields. The influx of settlers and the rush to claim land and wealth accelerated the process of statehood for California, which became the 31st state in 1850.

The westward expansion, fueled by the belief in manifest destiny, significantly reshaped the United States. It increased the nation’s territory and population, but also intensified tensions over issues such as slavery, as new states and territories were added to the Union. The expansion further complicated the already volatile debate over the extension of slavery into new territories, setting the stage for conflicts that would ultimately lead to the Civil War. Nonetheless, the period of expansion under Polk marked a defining moment in the nation’s history, as it solidified the United States’ position as a continental power and altered the landscape of North America

MANIFEST DESTINY

Directions: Choose the best answer to each of the following questions.

 1.  People who believed in the idea of manifest destiny thought that the

 United States should eventually include all the land between

A.   Texas and the Mississippi River.

 B.   Texas and the Pacific Ocean.

 C.   the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.

 D.   the Atlantic Ocean and Texas.

 2.  In the late 1840s the United States gained new territories in western

 North America by

 A.   purchasing Texas from Mexico.

 B.   establishing a state government in California.

 C.   defeating Mex ico in a war.

 D.   conquering the Texas Republic

Question 3 is based on the following graph

3.  How do the data in the graph relate to the idea of manifest destiny?

 A.   The addition of new territories in the mid-1800s caused the

 population of the United States to increase.

 B.   The rapid growth of the U.S. population in the mid-1800s created

 a demand for more territory.

C.   There was not enough population growth in the 1800s to justify

 the addition of new territories.

 D.   Enough land was gained in the 1840s to support the increasing

 population.

1. People who believed in the idea of manifest destiny thought that the United States should eventually include all the land between

✅ Correct Answer: C. the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.

Explanation:
“Manifest Destiny” was the belief that it was America’s divine right and duty to expand across the entire North American continent, from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean.

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2. In the late 1840s the United States gained new territories in western North America by

✅ Correct Answer: C. defeating Mexico in a war.

Explanation:
The Mexican-American War (1846–1848) ended with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, through which the U.S. gained a vast area of land including California, Arizona, New Mexico, and other parts of the Southwest.

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3. How do the data in the graph relate to the idea of manifest destiny?

✅ Correct Answer: B. The rapid growth of the U.S. population in the mid-1800s created a demand for more territory.

Explanation:
The graph (not visible here, but based on typical patterns) likely shows a sharp increase in U.S. population during the mid-1800s. This growing population fueled westward expansion, as Americans sought new land and opportunity—a key motive behind Manifest Destiny.