America's 'Destiny' Westward Trivia Quiz

Answer: John O'Sullivan

O'Sullivan, a New York newspapermen, coined the phrase in 1844. The idea was that expansion westward was not only a triumph for liberty, but it was foreordained and inevitable. This expansion included not just Texas and Oregon, but Canada, Mexico, Cuba and all land in North America belonging to the U.S.

Answer: Maine

Maine was a territory of Massachusetts upon the birth of the U.S. The citizens of Maine, however, did not begin to support the separation from Massachusettes until the war of 1812. This war proved that Massachusetts would be unable to sufficiently protect Maine from British raids.

Answer: Goliad

Despite the surrendering of Texas troops to Santa Anna days earlier, Santa Anna ordered the execution of these prisoners claiming they were mercenaries and pirates. 'Remember the Goliad' became a battle cry for the Texans for the remainder of the Texas Revolution.

Answer: Cayuse

Claiming that the missionaries were responsible for a measles epidemic, the Cayuse Indians killed Marcus and Narcissa Whitman as well as twelve other whites in 1847.

Answer: Oregon City

First settled by John McLoughlin of the Hudson Bay Company, it was the first capital of Oregon in 1848. The capital was eventually moved to Salem in 1851 and remained there despite being moved to Corvallis for a short period.

Answer: Independence, MO

Independence, MO (opposite Franklin, MO) provided a good starting point for western travel because of its western Missouri location and being located near the Missouri River.

Answer: Stephen F. Kearny

Kearny was ordered to take New Mexico and California upon the outbreak of the Mexican-American War. He took New Mexico rather easily but met resistance in California where Fremont had caused dissension among the Californios. Through several quarrels with the locals, Kearny was able to achieve victories at San Gabriel and Mesa, which ended the resistance.

He later court-martialed Fremont, and led the attack against Mexico at Veracruz and Mexico City.

Answer: Popular sovereignty in Kansas

Through the efforts of Henry Clay, the compromise of 1850 temporarily ended sectional disputes over expansion. However, it led to a further dispute in Kansas. This resulted in the passing of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which enacted popular sovereignty, the idea that territories would vote on slavery issue upon statehood.

Answer: 1853

James Gadsden acquired the last acquistion of the modern continental U.S. on December 30, 1853. It was a small strip of land between the Gila River and the present international border in Arizona. The main purpose of this treaty was to acquire land that would lead to the building of the southern transcontinental railroad.

Answer: The state was too rebellious

Taking over the Mormon Religion from Joseph Smith in 1844, Young successfully led Mormon emigration from Missouri to Utah in 1848. There he established Utah territory in 1849 and became governor. However, conflict with the federal government would led to his removal in 1857. Young may be noted mostly for being the head of the Mormon Church with more than 20 wives and 47 children.