Export your learner materials as an interactive game, a webpage, or FAQ style cheatsheet.
Unsaved Work Found!
It looks like you have unsaved work from a previous session. Would you like to restore it?
Total Categories: 7
The immediate cause of the Mexican-American War was the U.S. annexation of California in 1845.
Answer: False
The immediate catalyst for the Mexican-American War was the U.S. annexation of Texas in 1845, which Mexico contested. A significant contributing factor was the dispute over Texas's southern border, with the United States claiming the Rio Grande and Mexico asserting the Nueces River.
The dispute over whether Texas's southern border lay at the Rio Grande or the Nueces River was a significant factor leading to the war.
Answer: True
The disagreement over Texas's southern boundary, with the U.S. asserting the Rio Grande and Mexico maintaining the Nueces River, was a principal cause of the Mexican-American War.
The issue of slavery did not influence the annexation of Texas prior to the war.
Answer: False
The annexation of Texas was a contentious issue in the United States due to sectional politics surrounding slavery, as admitting Texas as a slave state would have altered the balance of power between free and slave states in Congress.
James K. Polk's presidential platform included advocating for the acquisition of Oregon, California, and Texas.
Answer: True
President James K. Polk was elected on a platform that explicitly supported the territorial expansion of the United States into Oregon, California, and Texas, a policy that significantly influenced the nation's westward ambitions.
John Slidell was sent by President Polk to Mexico with an offer to purchase California and other territories.
Answer: True
President Polk dispatched John Slidell to Mexico City as a special envoy with a proposal to purchase California and the disputed territories north of the Rio Grande for $25 million, an offer that was ultimately rejected by the Mexican government.
The Thornton Affair involved a large-scale battle between the main armies of the United States and Mexico.
Answer: False
The Thornton Affair, occurring on April 25, 1846, was a skirmish involving a U.S. patrol attacked by Mexican cavalry in disputed territory, not a large-scale battle between the main armies.
Mexico's policy of allowing U.S. settlement in Texas was intended to create a buffer against Native American raids.
Answer: True
Mexico's policy of encouraging U.S. settlement in Texas was initially designed to establish a buffer zone against Native American incursions, but it inadvertently led to demographic and political shifts that contributed to the Texas Revolution.
The primary U.S. interest in acquiring California was to prevent Russian expansion on the Pacific coast.
Answer: False
The primary U.S. interest in acquiring California was to secure a vital port on the Pacific Ocean and to counter potential British influence in the region, rather than solely to prevent Russian expansion.
What were the primary dates defining the Mexican-American War?
Answer: 1846 to 1848
The Mexican-American War officially spanned from April 25, 1846, to February 2, 1848.
What event, occurring on April 25, 1846, was used by President Polk as justification to ask Congress for a declaration of war?
Answer: The Thornton Affair
President Polk cited the Thornton Affair, a clash between U.S. and Mexican forces in disputed territory on April 25, 1846, as the justification for requesting a declaration of war from Congress.
What was the primary reason for the U.S. government's interest in acquiring California before the war?
Answer: To gain a crucial port on the Pacific Ocean and thwart British interests.
The primary U.S. interest in acquiring California was to secure a vital port on the Pacific Ocean and to counter potential British influence in the region, rather than solely to prevent Russian expansion.
President James K. Polk was a key American leader during the Mexican-American War, serving as Secretary of War.
Answer: False
President James K. Polk was the chief executive of the United States during the Mexican-American War. He did not serve as Secretary of War; that role was held by William L. Marcy.
Antonio López de Santa Anna served as President of Mexico during the conflict.
Answer: True
Antonio López de Santa Anna held the position of President of Mexico multiple times, including during periods of the Mexican-American War, although his leadership was marked by political instability.
General Stephen W. Kearny established the Kearny Code to serve as a temporary legal system in New Mexico.
Answer: True
Following the U.S. occupation of New Mexico, General Stephen W. Kearny instituted the Kearny Code, which established a provisional government and legal framework for the territory.
Abraham Lincoln proposed the 'Spot Resolutions' to strongly support President Polk's justification for the war.
Answer: False
Abraham Lincoln proposed the 'Spot Resolutions' in Congress, which questioned President Polk's assertion that American blood had been shed on American soil, thereby challenging the justification for the war.
Who was the President of the United States during the Mexican-American War?
Answer: James K. Polk
James K. Polk served as the President of the United States from 1845 to 1849, presiding over the entirety of the Mexican-American War.
What was the purpose of the Kearny Code established in New Mexico?
Answer: To serve as a temporary legal system for the territory.
The Kearny Code was established by General Stephen W. Kearny to provide a temporary legal and governmental structure for New Mexico following its occupation by U.S. forces.
Abraham Lincoln's 'Spot Resolutions' questioned:
Answer: The exact location where American blood was shed on American soil.
Abraham Lincoln's 'Spot Resolutions' specifically challenged President Polk's justification for war by demanding precise information regarding the location where U.S. soldiers were allegedly attacked on U.S. territory.
The Taos Revolt involved an uprising by American settlers against Mexican authorities in New Mexico.
Answer: False
The Taos Revolt in January 1847 was an uprising by New Mexicans and allied Pueblo peoples against the occupying U.S. forces, not by American settlers against Mexican authorities.
The Bear Flag Revolt was an uprising by American settlers in California aimed at independence from Mexican rule.
Answer: True
The Bear Flag Revolt, occurring in June 1846 in Sonoma, California, was indeed an uprising by American settlers seeking independence from Mexican governance, later aligning with U.S. forces.
The Treaty of Cahuenga marked the formal end of the Mexican-American War.
Answer: False
The Treaty of Cahuenga, signed in January 1847, concluded hostilities specifically in California, but the formal end of the entire Mexican-American War was marked by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in February 1848.
General Winfield Scott's amphibious landing at Veracruz was a pioneering operation in U.S. military history.
Answer: True
General Winfield Scott's amphibious landing at Veracruz in March 1847 represented one of the earliest major amphibious operations undertaken by the United States military, establishing a crucial beachhead for the invasion.
The Battle of Cerro Gordo resulted in a decisive victory for the Mexican forces, leading to Santa Anna's promotion.
Answer: False
The Battle of Cerro Gordo on April 18, 1847, resulted in a significant defeat for the Mexican forces, leading to the capture of Santa Anna's artillery and demoralizing his army.
The Battle of San Pasqual was a decisive U.S. victory that quickly led to the conquest of California.
Answer: False
The Battle of San Pasqual in December 1846 was a tactical victory for the Californio forces, inflicting casualties on Kearny's U.S. Army, although it did not ultimately prevent the U.S. conquest of California.
During the Battle of Monterrey, U.S. troops successfully adapted to urban warfare by employing house-to-house fighting tactics.
Answer: True
At the Battle of Monterrey, U.S. soldiers adopted 'mouse-holing' tactics, breaching walls and roofs to engage in house-to-house combat, which proved effective in overcoming the city's defenses.
The Battle of Buena Vista resulted in a major defeat for Zachary Taylor's U.S. forces.
Answer: False
The Battle of Buena Vista in February 1847 was a strategic victory for Zachary Taylor's U.S. forces, as his smaller army successfully repelled a larger Mexican force led by Santa Anna.
The Siege of Veracruz resulted in the surrender of Mexican forces after a prolonged siege of over a month.
Answer: False
The Siege of Veracruz concluded with the surrender of Mexican forces after approximately 12 days, not over a month, following General Scott's amphibious landing.
The Battle of Chapultepec is primarily remembered for the strategic importance of the castle's fortifications.
Answer: False
While the Chapultepec Castle was fortified, the Battle of Chapultepec is primarily remembered for the legendary sacrifice of the Niños Héroes, young military cadets who defended the castle.
Which event involved American settlers in California declaring independence from Mexico?
Answer: The Bear Flag Revolt
The Bear Flag Revolt, occurring in June 1846 in Sonoma, California, was an uprising by American settlers seeking independence from Mexican governance.
General Winfield Scott's amphibious landing at Veracruz was significant because it was:
Answer: The first major amphibious operation in U.S. history.
General Winfield Scott's landing at Veracruz in March 1847 was a landmark event, constituting the first major amphibious operation in United States military history, enabling the subsequent advance inland.
What was the outcome of the Battle of Cerro Gordo for the Mexican military?
Answer: A defeat leading to significant casualties and loss of artillery.
The Battle of Cerro Gordo resulted in a significant defeat for the Mexican army, characterized by substantial casualties and the loss of much of Santa Anna's artillery to U.S. forces.
What tactical adaptation did U.S. troops make during the Battle of Monterrey?
Answer: They employed 'mouse-holing' tactics for urban warfare.
During the Battle of Monterrey, U.S. troops adapted their tactics to urban combat by employing 'mouse-holing,' which involved breaching walls and roofs to advance through buildings, proving effective against entrenched defenders.
What was the outcome of the Battle of Buena Vista?
Answer: A U.S. victory where Taylor's smaller force held off a larger Mexican army.
The Battle of Buena Vista concluded with a U.S. victory, as Zachary Taylor's outnumbered forces successfully defended their position against a larger Mexican army commanded by Santa Anna.
What was the significance of the Battle of San Pasqual?
Answer: It was a Californio tactical victory inflicting casualties on U.S. forces.
The Battle of San Pasqual is significant as a tactical victory for Californio forces, who inflicted casualties on General Kearny's advancing U.S. troops, though it did not alter the ultimate U.S. control of California.
The Mexican-American War officially concluded on February 2, 1848, with the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
Answer: True
The Mexican-American War formally ended on February 2, 1848, with the ratification of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
As a result of the Mexican-American War, Mexico ceded California, Nevada, Utah, and parts of Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Wyoming to the United States.
Answer: True
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo stipulated that Mexico would cede the vast territory known as the Mexican Cession, encompassing present-day California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and portions of Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Wyoming.
The United States paid Mexico $25 million for the territories ceded under the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
Answer: False
The United States paid Mexico $15 million for the territories ceded under the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, in addition to assuming $3.25 million in debts owed to U.S. citizens.
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo required Mexico to cede territory and the U.S. to pay $15 million and assume debts.
Answer: True
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo stipulated that Mexico would cede vast territories to the U.S. in exchange for $15 million and the assumption of $3.25 million in debts owed by Mexico to U.S. citizens.
The Mexican Cession comprised less than 100,000 square miles of territory.
Answer: False
The Mexican Cession, the territory ceded by Mexico to the United States, encompassed over 529,000 square miles, significantly expanding the nation's territory.
The U.S. Navy played a crucial role in securing American control over California during the war.
Answer: True
The U.S. Navy's Pacific Squadron was instrumental in blockading California ports and seizing key locations, thereby supporting the land operations that led to American control of the territory.
The U.S. Senate's modification of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo removed all protections for existing land grants in ceded territories.
Answer: False
While the U.S. Senate modified the treaty by striking Article X concerning land grants, a subsequent protocol clarified that rights conferred by Article IX would still be recognized, though the status of many grants remained contentious.
Article XI of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo obligated the U.S. to protect Mexico from raids by Native American tribes.
Answer: True
Article XI of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo mandated that the United States would undertake measures to prevent raids by Native American tribes into Mexican territory and provide restitution for damages, an obligation later released.
Which treaty concluded the Mexican-American War and stipulated territorial changes?
Answer: The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, signed on February 2, 1848, officially concluded the Mexican-American War and formalized the territorial concessions made by Mexico.
What vast territory did Mexico cede to the United States under the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo?
Answer: The Mexican Cession
Under the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, Mexico ceded a vast expanse of territory known as the Mexican Cession, which included present-day California and other southwestern states.
What was the approximate size of the territory ceded by Mexico in the Mexican Cession?
Answer: Over 529,000 square miles
The Mexican Cession, transferred to the United States via the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, comprised an area exceeding 529,000 square miles.
Which of the following was a key term of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo regarding U.S. payment?
Answer: The U.S. paid Mexico $15 million and assumed $3.25 million in debts.
Key terms of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo included the U.S. payment of $15 million to Mexico and the assumption of $3.25 million in debts owed by Mexico to U.S. citizens.
Article XI of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo obligated the U.S. to:
Answer: Suppress raids by Comanche and Apache tribes and provide restitution.
Article XI of the treaty required the United States to protect Mexico from Native American raids and provide restitution for damages, a commitment later released through the Gadsden Purchase.
The United States fielded approximately 73,532 troops throughout the war, while Mexico's forces were estimated to be around 40,000.
Answer: True
The U.S. Army involved approximately 73,532 personnel during the war, contrasted with Mexico's estimated forces of around 40,000.
Mexico's total casualties were estimated to be around 5,000 killed and 20,000 wounded.
Answer: True
Estimates indicate that Mexico suffered approximately 5,000 killed and 20,000 wounded soldiers, with some sources suggesting total deaths, including civilians, could be as high as 25,000.
Mexico's political instability significantly aided its ability to prepare for and conduct the war effectively.
Answer: False
Mexico's severe political instability, marked by frequent changes in leadership, critically weakened its government and military, thereby hindering its capacity to effectively prepare for and prosecute the war.
The Mexican Army was generally well-trained, well-equipped, and unified during the conflict.
Answer: False
The Mexican Army faced significant challenges, including internal divisions, poor training, inadequate equipment, and low morale, which compromised its overall effectiveness and unity during the war.
The U.S. Army benefited from superior artillery and more modern weaponry in some units compared to the Mexican Army.
Answer: True
The U.S. Army generally possessed superior artillery and, in certain units, more advanced weaponry such as rifles and revolvers, providing a technological advantage over the Mexican forces.
Mexican women, known as 'soldaderas,' primarily served as combatants alongside male soldiers.
Answer: False
Mexican women, referred to as 'soldaderas,' primarily provided essential support services such as cooking and nursing. While some engaged in combat during defensive actions, their main role was logistical and supportive.
The Saint Patrick's Battalion (San Patricios) consisted of American soldiers who defected to fight for the United States.
Answer: False
The Saint Patrick's Battalion, known as the 'San Patricios,' was composed primarily of foreign deserters, predominantly Irish and German Catholics, who defected from the U.S. Army to fight for Mexico.
Yellow fever was a significant disease that impacted both armies during the war, particularly U.S. troops after the capture of Veracruz.
Answer: True
Yellow fever posed a significant threat to both the U.S. and Mexican armies, causing substantial mortality, especially among American soldiers stationed in the tropical regions of Mexico following the capture of Veracruz.
What was the approximate number of troops fielded by Mexico during the war?
Answer: Estimated to be around 40,000
Mexico's military forces during the war were estimated to number around 40,000 soldiers.
How did Mexico's political instability impact its war effort?
Answer: It weakened the government and hindered its defense capacity.
Mexico's political instability weakened its government and military, hindering its capacity to effectively defend against the U.S. invasion and manage its resources.
What advantage did the U.S. Army possess regarding artillery?
Answer: It generally possessed superior artillery.
The U.S. Army typically held an advantage in artillery, possessing more advanced and effectively deployed pieces compared to the Mexican forces.
What was the role of 'soldaderas' in the Mexican war effort?
Answer: They provided essential support services like cooking and nursing.
'Soldaderas' were women who provided crucial support to the Mexican army, undertaking roles such as cooking, nursing the wounded, and managing camp logistics, rather than serving primarily as combatants.
Which group deserted the U.S. Army to fight for Mexico, becoming known as the Saint Patrick's Battalion?
Answer: Irish and German Catholic immigrants
The Saint Patrick's Battalion (San Patricios) was formed by Irish and German Catholic immigrants who deserted the U.S. Army, motivated by various factors including mistreatment and religious solidarity with Mexico.
The Mexican-American War did not significantly influence sectional tensions in the United States regarding slavery.
Answer: False
The acquisition of new territories following the war intensified sectional tensions in the United States, particularly concerning the expansion of slavery and the balance of power between free and slave states.
The 'All-Mexico Movement' proposed annexing only the northern territories of Mexico after the war.
Answer: False
The 'All-Mexico Movement' advocated for the complete annexation of Mexico, not merely its northern territories, a proposal that ultimately failed due to significant political and racial opposition within the United States.
Many future leaders of the American Civil War, such as Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee, gained valuable combat experience in the Mexican-American War.
Answer: True
The Mexican-American War served as a crucial training ground for many future prominent military leaders of the American Civil War, including Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee, who honed their skills and tactical understanding during the conflict.
The loss of territory during the war led to introspection and exacerbated internal political divisions within Mexico.
Answer: True
Mexico's substantial territorial losses following the war prompted significant national introspection and exacerbated existing internal political divisions, contributing to a period of instability and reevaluation.
The Niños Héroes are remembered in Mexico as foreign diplomats who negotiated peace.
Answer: False
In Mexico, the Niños Héroes are revered as national heroes, young military cadets who died defending Chapultepec Castle during the Battle of Chapultepec, symbolizing patriotism and sacrifice.
The successful outcome of the Mexican-American War reinforced the American belief in Manifest Destiny.
Answer: True
The territorial gains achieved through the Mexican-American War strongly reinforced the prevailing American ideology of Manifest Destiny, solidifying the belief in the nation's divinely ordained expansion across the continent.
Mexicans living in territories annexed by the U.S. generally retained their full civil and political rights without discrimination.
Answer: False
Despite treaty provisions, Mexicans residing in territories annexed by the U.S. often experienced discrimination, loss of property rights, and limitations on their civil and political freedoms.
The Mexican-American War provided Ulysses S. Grant with crucial experience in logistics and sustaining armies in the field.
Answer: True
The Mexican-American War provided Ulysses S. Grant with invaluable experience in military logistics, teaching him how to sustain large armies in the field, skills that proved critical in his later command during the Civil War.
Mexico lost approximately half of its territory as a result of the Mexican-American War and subsequent land sales.
Answer: True
The Mexican-American War resulted in Mexico losing over half of its territory, approximately 900,000 square miles, which drastically altered its geographical and political landscape.
The war bolstered American patriotism but did not significantly impact debates over slavery.
Answer: False
While the war did bolster American patriotism, it significantly intensified sectional debates over the expansion of slavery into the newly acquired territories, contributing to the growing tensions that led to the Civil War.
The Mexican-American War had minimal impact on the American Civil War, as the leaders involved were different.
Answer: False
The Mexican-American War had a significant impact on the American Civil War, as many future key figures from both sides gained crucial military experience, and the war's territorial outcomes intensified sectional disputes over slavery.
The Mexico City National Cemetery was established to commemorate Mexican soldiers who died in the war.
Answer: False
The Mexico City National Cemetery was established by the U.S. to inter American soldiers who perished during the war, not to commemorate Mexican soldiers.
While U.S. law generally replaced Mexican law in acquired territories, some aspects like community property were retained.
Answer: True
In the territories acquired from Mexico, U.S. common law generally superseded Mexican civil law; however, certain aspects, such as community property rights, were retained in some Southwestern states.
Most U.S. politicians strongly opposed the Mexican-American War, viewing it as an unjust expansionist conflict.
Answer: False
While a significant minority, including many Whigs and abolitionists, opposed the war, President Polk and the Democratic Party largely supported it, viewing it as a necessary response to Mexican aggression.
The Mexican-American War demonstrated the U.S.'s growing military power and reinforced its emergence as a global power.
Answer: True
The successful prosecution of the Mexican-American War showcased the United States' expanding military capabilities and contributed to its growing influence on the world stage.
How did the Mexican-American War contribute to tensions leading to the American Civil War?
Answer: It inflamed sectional tensions over slavery's expansion into new territories.
The war's territorial acquisitions exacerbated the debate over slavery's expansion into new territories, intensifying sectional divisions and contributing significantly to the conditions that led to the American Civil War.
What is the legacy of the Niños Héroes in Mexico?
Answer: They are symbols of patriotism and national identity for their sacrifice.
In Mexico, the Niños Héroes are revered as national heroes, young military cadets who died defending Chapultepec Castle during the Battle of Chapultepec, symbolizing patriotism and sacrifice.
The acquisition of territory following the Mexican-American War significantly reinforced which American belief?
Answer: Manifest Destiny
The successful territorial expansion resulting from the war strongly reinforced the American ideology of Manifest Destiny, the belief in the nation's right and duty to expand its dominion across North America.
How did the war impact the lives of many Mexicans living in the territories annexed by the U.S.?
Answer: They experienced discrimination and loss of rights.
Many Mexicans residing in the territories annexed by the U.S. faced discrimination, loss of property, and diminished civil and political rights, despite treaty assurances.
How did the Mexican-American War influence the U.S. perception of its role in the world?
Answer: It reinforced the belief in Manifest Destiny and demonstrated growing military power.
The war bolstered the U.S. belief in Manifest Destiny and showcased its increasing military strength, shaping its perception as a continental and emerging global power.
What was the primary impact of the war on Mexico's territorial extent?
Answer: Mexico lost over half of its land.
The Mexican-American War resulted in Mexico losing over half of its territory, approximately 900,000 square miles, which drastically altered its geographical and political landscape.
What was the general sentiment of Ulysses S. Grant regarding the Mexican-American War?
Answer: He viewed it as unjust and driven by territorial desires.
Ulysses S. Grant, despite serving in the war, expressed opposition to it, viewing it as unjust and motivated by territorial expansionism.
How did U.S. journalism evolve during the Mexican-American War?
Answer: It was the first conflict extensively covered by mass media like the penny press.
The Mexican-American War marked a significant development in U.S. journalism, being extensively covered by mass media like the penny press, which provided direct accounts and influenced public opinion.
No questions are available for this topic.