Chapter Thirteen
An Age Of Expansionism
Multiple Choice
1. Which of the following does NOT characterize the Young America movement of the 1840s
and 1850s?
A) territorial expansion
B) an aggressive foreign policy
C) economic expansion and growth
D) technological progress
E) appraisal of American values
Answer: E
Rationale:
The Young America movement of the 1840s and 1850s was characterized by a focus on
territorial expansion, an aggressive foreign policy, economic expansion and growth, and
technological progress. However, it did not particularly focus on an appraisal of American
values.
2. Which of the following novels was so original in form and conception that it was
considered the ideal Young American novel?
A) The Scarlet Letter
B) Moby-Dick
C) Uncle Tom’s Cabin
D) Pride and Prejudice
E) Jane Eyre
Answer: B
Rationale:
"Moby-Dick" by Herman Melville was considered the ideal Young American novel due to its
originality in form and conception, reflecting the innovative spirit of the Young America
movement.
3. After the Mexican-American War, the Young America movement shifted its focus to which
of the following?
A) economic growth and industrialization
B) adding Canada and Alaska to the United States
C) the abolition of slavery
D) making the United States a world power
E) spreading the gospel to foreign lands
Answer: A
Rationale:
After the Mexican-American War, the Young America movement shifted its focus to
economic growth and industrialization, aiming to capitalize on the territories acquired during
the war.
4. Which of these states was NOT wholly or partly Mexican in 1821?
A) California
B) Oregon
C) Texas
D) New Mexico
E) Arizona
Answer: B
Rationale:
Oregon was not wholly or partly Mexican in 1821; it was primarily inhabited by indigenous
peoples and later became the subject of dispute between the United States and Britain.
5. In the early 1820s, Mexican officials encouraged settlers from the United States to settle in
Texas with offers of which of the following?
A) more freedoms for women
B) religious freedom
C) cheap land
D) money
E) abolishing slavery
Answer: C
Rationale:
Mexican officials encouraged settlers from the United States to settle in Texas in the early
1820s by offering cheap land as an incentive for colonization.
6. Which famous battle occurred just days after Texas declared itself a republic?
A) the battle of the Nueces
B) the battle of Matamoros
C) the battle of the Alamo
D) the battle of Veracruz
E) the siege of Mexico City
Answer: C
Rationale:
The famous battle that occurred just days after Texas declared itself a republic was the Battle
of the Alamo, a pivotal event in the Texas Revolution.
7. What was the platform of Sam Houston, the first president of Texas?
A) He fought to prevent the annexation of Texas.
B) He was against annexation in any form.
C) He was against annexation unless it included the Oklahoma territory.
D) He was for annexation but only if it included the New Mexico territory.
E) He was for annexation immediately after Texas declared independence.
Answer: E
Rationale:
Sam Houston, the first president of Texas, was for annexation immediately after Texas
declared independence, advocating for Texas to join the United States.
8. One of the important ideas behind the concept of Manifest Destiny was ________.
A) converting recent immigrants to Protestantism
B) the establishment of the factory system
C) the inclusion of women in the workforce
D) territorial expansion
E) the abolition of slavery
Answer: D
Rationale:
One of the important ideas behind the concept of Manifest Destiny was territorial expansion,
the belief that the United States was destined to expand across the North American continent.
9. Which of the following was opposed to President Tyler’s plan for the annexation of Texas?
A) northern antislavery Whigs
B) southern agricultural interests
C) New England merchants
D) Great Britain
E) railroad companies
Answer: A
Rationale:
Northern antislavery Whigs were opposed to President Tyler’s plan for the annexation of
Texas due to concerns about the expansion of slavery into new territories.
10. Which presidential candidate in 1844 ran on a platform calling for the simultaneous
annexation of Texas and assertion of American claims to all of Oregon?
A) Henry Clay
B) James K. Polk
C) Martin Van Buren
D) John Tyler
E) James G. Birney
Answer: B
Rationale:
James K. Polk ran on a platform calling for the simultaneous annexation of Texas and
assertion of American claims to all of Oregon during the presidential election of 1844.
11. Which of the following best sums up the ideals of John O’Sullivan’s concept of Manifest
Destiny?
A) North America was American property.
B) Britain and Mexico were the natural enemies of the U.S.
C) Industrialization and expansion are inextricably linked.
D) The U.S. was destined to expand into North America.
E) The U.S. was doomed if it could not expand.
Answer: D
Rationale:
John O’Sullivan's concept of Manifest Destiny encapsulated the belief that the United States
was destined to expand its territory across North America, reflecting the idea of inevitable
westward expansion.
12. Which of the following did not result from the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe
Hidalgo?
A) The Rio Grande was confirmed as the southern border of Texas.
B) The United States paid Mexico $15 million.
C) Slavery would not be allowed west of the Rio Grande.
D) Mexico ceded New Mexico and California to the United States.
E) Mexican residents of the ceded areas would become American citizens.
Answer: C
Rationale:
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo did not include a provision stating that slavery would not
be allowed west of the Rio Grande. This issue was later addressed in the Compromise of
1850.
13. During the Mexican-American War, what major issue came up for debate in Congress?
A) annexation of Mexico as U.S. territory
B) prohibition of slavery in any territory acquired from Mexico
C) extension of voting rights to women in the western territories
D) increased immigration from Mexico to the United States
E) cession of more southwestern territory to the Mexican government
Answer: B
Rationale:
During the Mexican-American War, a major issue debated in Congress was the prohibition of
slavery in any territory acquired from Mexico, reflecting the ongoing national debate over the
expansion of slavery.
14. Which of the following forms of transportation had the greatest impact on the American
economy during the 1840s and 1850s?
A) the clipper ship
B) the canal system
C) the steamboat
D) the covered wagon
E) the railroad
Answer: E
Rationale:
The railroad had the greatest impact on the American economy during the 1840s and 1850s,
revolutionizing transportation and facilitating economic growth and expansion.
15. What did state and local governments do to help the early railroads?
A) They gave them money and land.
B) They gave them the right to seize private property.
C) They gave them free labor to lay tracks.
D) They gave them legal immunity.
E) They backed railroad bonds.
Answer: E
Rationale:
State and local governments helped the early railroads by backing railroad bonds, providing
financial support to encourage the construction of railroad infrastructure.
16. All of these were essential features of the factory system beginning in the 1840s,
EXCEPT ________.
A) a supervised workforce
B) the workforce being located in one place
C) payment of cash wages
D) each product being produced by one worker
E) mechanization
Answer: D
Rationale:
All of the listed options were essential features of the factory system beginning in the 1840s,
except for each product being produced by one worker, as the factory system typically
involved division of labor with multiple workers contributing to the production of a single
product.
17. Which of the following inventions laid the basis for the ready-to-wear clothing industry?
A) the sewing machine
B) the button machine
C) blue denim
D) the zipper
E) iron to press clothing
Answer: A
Rationale:
The invention of the sewing machine laid the basis for the ready-to-wear clothing industry by
significantly speeding up the process of garment production.
18. What was the greatest triumph of American technology during the mid-nineteenth
century?
A) improvements in the transportation infrastructure
B) new uses for vulcanized rubber
C) improved farm implements
D) sophisticated machine tools
E) more efficient farming strategies
Answer: D
Rationale:
The greatest triumph of American technology during the mid-nineteenth century was the
development of sophisticated machine tools, which revolutionized manufacturing processes
and contributed to industrial growth.
19. In 1860, most Americans worked in what sector?
A) ranching
B) gold mining
C) farming
D) the textile industry
E) the transportation industry
Answer: C
Rationale:
In 1860, most Americans worked in the farming sector, as agriculture was the dominant
occupation in the United States at that time.
20. What was the significance of the invention of the John Deere steel plow?
A) It allowed farmers to cultivate tough prairie soils.
B) It lowered the cost of steel plows.
C) It helped farmers plow loose soil in half the time of a cast-iron plow.
D) It allowed farmers to plow by hand without the aid of a farm animal.
E) It allowed farmers to plow more accurately than cast-iron plows.
Answer: A
Rationale:
The significance of the invention of the John Deere steel plow was that it allowed farmers to
cultivate tough prairie soils, enabling the expansion of agriculture into previously
uncultivated lands.
21. Where did most of the immigrants to the United States come from in the 1840s and
1850s?
A) the Middle East
B) Europe
C) Africa
D) Latin America
E) China
Answer: B
Rationale:
During the 1840s and 1850s, the majority of immigrants to the United States came from
Europe, particularly Ireland and Germany. Economic hardship, famine, and political unrest in
Europe drove millions to seek opportunities in the United States during this period.
22. What was the period of greatest immigration in proportion to the overall population in
America?
A) 1790 to 1800
B) 1805 to 1815
C) 1840 to 1860
D) 1880 to 1890
E) 1910 to 1920
Answer: C
Rationale:
The period from 1840 to 1860 marked the greatest immigration in proportion to the overall
population in America. This era saw a massive influx of immigrants from Europe,
particularly Ireland and Germany, seeking refuge from famine, economic hardship, and
political instability.
23. Due to their poverty, where did most Irish immigrants settle in the United States?
A) the South
B) the Midwest
C) the Far West
D) the Northeast
E) the Gulf Coast region
Answer: D
Rationale:
Most Irish immigrants settled in the Northeastern United States, particularly in cities such as
New York and Boston, where they could find employment in industries such as
manufacturing, construction, and domestic service.
24. How were the majority of immigrants employed in the mid-1800s?
A) as yeoman farmers
B) as small business owners
C) as wage workers in factories
D) as skilled craftsmen
E) as prospectors
Answer: C
Rationale:
The majority of immigrants in the mid-1800s were employed as wage workers in factories.
Industrialization was rapidly transforming the American economy, creating a demand for
labor in factories, mills, and other manufacturing establishments.
25. What did the Female Labor Reform Association campaign for?
A) more jobs for women and children
B) more managerial positions for women
C) higher pay
D) shorter working hours
E) an end to all forms of sexual harassment
Answer: D
Rationale:
The Female Labor Reform Association campaigned for shorter working hours for women,
advocating for limits on the length of the workday to improve working conditions and protect
the health and well-being of female workers.
26. How were Young Americans unlike the traditional members of the Democratic Party?
A) They were enthusiastic about commerce, industry, and speculation in the market.
B) They were opposed to territorial expansion.
C) They fiercely opposed the Mexican-American War.
D) They worried about the materialism that accompanied the market economy.
E) They embraced European themes in American literature.
Answer: A
Rationale:
Young Americans differed from traditional Democratic Party members in their enthusiasm for
commerce, industry, and market speculation. They embraced the economic changes brought
about by industrialization and were supportive of capitalist endeavors.
27. What caused friction to develop between the Mexican government and Anglo-American
colonists in Texas?
A) The Mexican government denied Anglo-American settlers the right to own land.
B) The Mexican government did not grant women any rights.
C) Anglo-American settlers flouted Mexican law.
D) Many Anglo-American settlers refused to practice any religion.
E) Many Anglo-American settlers refused to pay taxes.
Answer: C
Rationale:
Friction developed between the Mexican government and Anglo-American colonists in Texas
because many Anglo-American settlers flouted Mexican law, including regulations on
slavery, land ownership, and taxes, leading to tensions and conflicts.
28. Why was slavery a point of conflict between the Mexican government and AngloAmerican settlers in Texas?
A) The Mexican government required Anglo-American settlers to emancipate their slaves.
B) The Mexican government required each Anglo-American settler to own at least four
slaves.
C) The Mexican government allowed white as well as black slavery.
D) The Anglo-American settlers tried to enslave Mexican citizens.
E) The Anglo-American settlers did not want slavery in the territory.
Answer: A
Rationale:
Slavery was a point of conflict between the Mexican government and Anglo-American
settlers in Texas because the Mexican government sought to abolish slavery and required
Anglo-American settlers to emancipate their slaves, which many settlers resisted.
29. How did Andrew Jackson and his administration react to Texas becoming an independent
republic in 1836?
A) They tried to convince Texans to return to Mexican rule.
B) They declared war on Mexico to defend Texas's revolt.
C) They immediately annexed Texas.
D) They formally recognized Texas as a sovereign republic.
E) They refused to recognize Texas as a republic.
Answer: D
Rationale:
Andrew Jackson and his administration formally recognized Texas as a sovereign republic
after it declared independence from Mexico in 1836, but they did not immediately annex it
into the United States.
30. Why did President John Tyler initiate the politics of Manifest Destiny beginning in 1841?
A) He wanted to win the support of his fellow Whigs.
B) He wanted to reconcile the Whig and Democratic parties.
C) He was inspired by the beliefs of Henry Clay.
D) He wanted to build a base for his reelection in 1844.
E) He hoped to identify himself with James Monroe.
Answer: D
Rationale:
President John Tyler initiated the politics of Manifest Destiny beginning in 1841 with the aim
of building a base for his reelection in 1844, hoping to capitalize on popular sentiments of
westward expansion and territorial acquisition.
31. In the most extreme form of Manifest Destiny, what land would the United States
ultimately occupy?
A) the area from the east coast to the Rocky Mountains
B) the area from the east coast to the west coast
C) the land that is occupied today by the United States, Mexico, and Canada
D) North America and Central America
E) the entire North American continent plus the Caribbean islands
Answer: C
Rationale:
The most extreme form of Manifest Destiny envisioned the United States ultimately
occupying the land that is now occupied by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. This
expansive territorial ambition reflected the belief in the inevitable expansion of American
influence and control across the entire continent.
32. What finally led Mexico to break off diplomatic relations with the United States and
prepare for armed conflict?
A) The Republic of Texas began claiming land south of the Rio Grande.
B) The United States annexed Texas and claimed the land between the Nueces River and the
Rio Grande.
C) The U.S. military began fighting for control over California harbors.
D) The U.S. government refused to grant rights of citizenship to people of Mexican descent
living in Texas.
E) President Polk criticized the Mexican government in a scathing public address.
Answer: B
Rationale:
Mexico broke off diplomatic relations with the United States and prepared for armed conflict
after the United States annexed Texas and claimed the land between the Nueces River and the
Rio Grande. This action was perceived as a violation of Mexican sovereignty and territorial
integrity.
33. What caused James Polk to send troops to Mexico?
A) to retaliate for the harsh Mexican treatment of Texans
B) to protect the southern border of the United States
C) to enforce U.S. claims along the Texas-Mexico border
D) to prevent a Mexican attempt to reacquire Texas
E) to distract Americans from other domestic issues
Answer: C
Rationale:
James Polk sent troops to Mexico to enforce U.S. claims along the Texas-Mexico border,
particularly regarding the disputed territory between the Nueces River and the Rio Grande.
The presence of U.S. troops was intended to assert American authority and territorial claims
in the region.
34. What caused the Mexican-American War to last much longer than expected?
A) The Americans lacked the resources to attack in earnest.
B) The Americans lost a string of important battles.
C) Severe weather slowed the American advance.
D) The Mexicans were better prepared to battle in the Mexican terrain.
E) The Mexicans stubbornly refused to make peace despite military defeats.
Answer: E
Rationale:
The Mexican-American War lasted much longer than expected because the Mexicans
stubbornly refused to make peace despite suffering military defeats. The Mexican
government's resistance prolonged the conflict and increased the duration of hostilities.
35. According to historian Norman Graebner, the United States did not annex all of Mexico
because they already had ________.
A) U.S. citizenship for thousands of Mexicans living in the territory
B) the grazing lands of the southwest
C) the fertile farming lands of new Mexico
D) the harbors of California
E) the deserts of Arizona
Answer: D
Rationale:
Historian Norman Graebner suggests that the United States did not annex all of Mexico
because they already had the harbors of California, which provided strategic access to the
Pacific Ocean and facilitated trade and naval operations.
36. Why did the Mexican-American War ultimately divide the American public and provoke
political dissension?
A) Many Northerners feared the spread of slavery to the newly acquired territories.
B) Many Southerners feared the economic competition from cotton growers in the newly
acquired territories.
C) Many people in the Midwest feared the economic competition from ranchers in the newly
acquired territories.
D) Many people on the East Coast worried about the social effects of expansion.
E) Many religious groups worried about the lawlessness that would exist in the sparsely
populated new territories.
Answer: A
Rationale:
The Mexican-American War ultimately divided the American public and provoked political
dissension because many Northerners feared the spread of slavery to the newly acquired
territories. The debate over the extension of slavery intensified tensions between Northern
and Southern states, leading to increased polarization and discord.
37. Why did freight businesses not immediately shift to the railroads when they were first
built?
A) Companies distrusted the safety of the steam engine.
B) Companies received financial incentives from the government to stay with canal routes.
C) Canal boats were cheaper.
D) Companies were not convinced of their reliability.
E) Companies were fiercely loyal to the canal operators.
Answer: C
Rationale:
Freight businesses did not immediately shift to the railroads when they were first built
because canal boats were cheaper for transporting goods. Canals offered a well-established
and cost-effective means of transportation, which initially discouraged businesses from
investing in the relatively new and unproven railroad technology.
38. What could be said about the railroad industry by the end of the 1850s?
A) Railroads were struggling to remain active due to heavy financial losses.
B) Business was booming and railroads had transformed the economy.
C) Railroads had been largely replaced by canal transportation.
D) The railroad industry was still in its infancy.
E) The railroad industry was crippled by scandals and corruption.
Answer: B
Rationale:
By the end of the 1850s, the railroad industry had transformed the economy, and business
was booming. Railroads had become essential for transporting goods and people across vast
distances, spurring economic growth, industrial development, and westward expansion.
39. All of the following influenced the growth of American industry in the 1830s and 1840s
EXCEPT ________.
A) the transition to a factory setting
B) the development of mass production
C) the discovery of oil in Pennsylvania
D) the invention of mechanical tools
E) advances in the transportation industry
Answer: C
Rationale:
The growth of American industry in the 1830s and 1840s was influenced by various factors,
including the transition to a factory setting, the development of mass production techniques,
the invention of mechanical tools, and advances in the transportation industry. However, the
discovery of oil in Pennsylvania occurred later, in the mid-19th century, and therefore did not
directly influence industrial growth during this period.
40. What was the major push factor that brought Irish immigrants to the United States in the
1840s and 1850s?
A) oppression by the British government
B) decline in the number of jobs in Ireland
C) overpopulation of Ireland
D) the great potato blight
E) persecution of Catholics
Answer: D
Rationale:
The major push factor that brought Irish immigrants to the United States in the 1840s and
1850s was the great potato blight, which devastated Ireland's potato crops and led to
widespread famine, poverty, and starvation. This catastrophic event forced many Irish to seek
refuge and opportunities abroad, particularly in the United States.
41. What brought most German immigrants to the United States in the 1840s and 1850s?
A) They wanted to avoid European wars.
B) They wanted to escape tough economic times.
C) They wanted to escape catastrophic famine.
D) They wanted to escape political oppression.
E) They wanted to escape religious persecution.
Answer: B
Rationale:
The economic downturn in Germany during the 1840s and 1850s, including crop failures and
industrialization displacing workers, was a primary driver for German immigration to the
United States during this period.
42. Which of the following characterizes the experience of German immigrants?
A) They suffered less prejudice than the Irish.
B) They suffered more prejudice than the Irish.
C) They could not be assimilated easily into American society.
D) They possessed few agricultural or other skills.
E) They were few in number.
Answer: A
Rationale:
German immigrants generally faced less prejudice compared to the Irish due to factors such
as their Protestant religion, education levels, and perceived cultural similarities with nativeborn Americans.
43. Which of the following demonstrates that economics was a major motivation for
immigration?
A) the occupations of the immigrants
B) the kinds of labor needed in the United States
C) the peaks in immigration that correspond to times of economic prosperity
D) the wages paid to immigrants
E) the forms that immigrants filled out when they reached Ellis Island
Answer: C
Rationale:
The peaks in immigration that correspond to times of economic prosperity indicate that
economic conditions in both Europe and the United States significantly influenced
immigration patterns.
44. Which of the following statements describes the result of the arrival of large numbers of
immigrants in the 1850s?
A) They were a positive development for American cities.
B) They did not contribute measurably to city developments.
C) They worsened the already serious problems of the cities.
D) They increased the population of rural rather than urban areas.
E) They prevented the development of America’s first suburbs.
Answer: C
Rationale:
The influx of immigrants in the 1850s exacerbated the existing problems in American cities,
including overcrowding, inadequate housing, and strained infrastructure.
45. Which of the following resulted from the growth of the working class in the 1830s and
1840s?
A) greater cooperation between employer and employee
B) improvement in working conditions and wages
C) the paternalistic employer-employee relationship
D) more emphasis on skilled labor
E) an upsurge of labor militancy
Answer: E
Rationale:
The growth of the working class in the 1830s and 1840s led to an upsurge of labor militancy
as workers organized and protested against poor working conditions and low wages.
46. What explains why Irish immigrants were unlikely to protest poor labor conditions?
A) Labor protests were very unpopular at the time.
B) They had low economic expectations and conservative attitudes.
C) They were afraid of violent retribution from native-born Americans.
D) The Catholic Church strictly forbade all forms of protest.
E) They tended to find jobs with good working conditions.
Answer: B
Rationale:
Irish immigrants often had low economic expectations and conservative attitudes, which
made them less likely to protest poor labor conditions compared to other groups.
47. What was different about the American working class of the 1830s as compared to the
American working class of the 1840s?
A) In the 1830s, most factory work was done by men, but by the 1840s, more women and
children began to work in factories.
B) In the 1830s, most men worked in factories, but by the 1840s, they worked more as
artisans as factory work decreased in general.
C) In the 1830s, the majority of male workers were farmers, but by the 1840s, most male
workers were employed in factories.
D) In the 1830s, most male workers were artisans and few worked in factories, but by the
1840s, the proportion of male factory workers increased.
E) In the 1830s, most women and children did not work at all, but by the 1840s they worked
side by side with men in factories.
Answer: D
Rationale:
In the 1830s, most male workers were artisans, but by the 1840s, the proportion of male
factory workers increased as industrialization progressed.
48. How did the Mexican-American War affect sectional tensions in the U.S.?
A) Tensions were appeased because of the expansion of slavery.
B) New ties between the Old and New Northwest increased national harmony.
C) Linked by railroads, the entire country entered a period of unprecedented harmony.
D) It eased North-South tensions because of the acquisition of new territory.
E) It exacerbated North-South conflicts because of the slavery issue.
Answer: E
Rationale:
The Mexican-American War exacerbated North-South conflicts due to debates over the
expansion of slavery into newly acquired territories, intensifying sectional tensions.
49. Which statement best characterizes how the labor force changed during the 1800s?
A) Male workers made the transition from being factory workers to being artisans.
B) Male workers made the transition from being artisans to being factory workers.
C) Married women were more likely to work in factories than men.
D) Married women were more likely to work in factories than unmarried women.
E) Immigrants were being replaced in factories by native-born Americans.
Answer: B
Rationale:
During the 1800s, there was a transition in the labor force where male workers shifted from
being predominantly artisans to being predominantly factory workers due to industrialization.
50. Which statement best characterizes how the increase in immigration changed the U.S.
economy in the mid–1800s?
A) Immigration hindered economic growth because immigrants came in such large numbers
that there were not enough resources for everyone.
B) Immigration slowed down the Industrial Revolution because immigrants launched
frequent and effective labor protests.
C) Immigration boosted the economy because immigrants provided much of the capital that
was needed for infrastructure and entrepreneurship.
D) Immigration boosted the economy by providing the skilled labor that was desperately
needed in the labor force.
E) Immigration accelerated the Industrial Revolution by providing a large pool of cheap
factory labor.
Answer: E
Rationale:
The increase in immigration during the mid-1800s accelerated the Industrial Revolution by
providing a large and inexpensive labor force for factory work, fueling industrial growth and
economic development.
Essay
1. What were the main ideas behind Manifest Destiny? How was this notion related to the
Young America movement and the Puritan tradition?
Answer: Manifest Destiny was the belief prevalent in 19th-century America that it was the
nation's destiny and duty to expand westward across the North American continent. This
notion was deeply rooted in the Puritan tradition of divine providence and the belief in
America's exceptionalism. The Young America movement, emerging in the mid-19th century,
echoed Manifest Destiny sentiments, emphasizing territorial expansion, economic growth,
and the spread of democratic principles. Both Manifest Destiny and the Young America
movement reflected the Puritan idea of America as a chosen nation with a special mission to
fulfill.
2. How did the annexation of Texas differ from previous territorial acquisitions? How did the
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo stimulate sectional controversies in the United States?
Answer: The annexation of Texas differed from previous territorial acquisitions in that it
involved the annexation of an independent republic rather than the acquisition of territory
from a foreign power. Texas had declared its independence from Mexico in 1836 and sought
annexation by the United States, which was accomplished in 1845. The Treaty of Guadalupe
Hidalgo, which ended the Mexican-American War in 1848, ceded vast territories to the
United States, including present-day California, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and
parts of Colorado and Wyoming. This stimulated sectional controversies in the United States
because it reignited debates over the expansion of slavery into these newly acquired
territories, ultimately leading to the Compromise of 1850 and further exacerbating tensions
between the North and South.
3. How did technological advances open the way for the creation of a national market?
Answer: Technological advances played a crucial role in opening the way for the creation of a
national market in the United States. Innovations such as the steamboat, the telegraph, and
the railroad revolutionized transportation and communication, allowing goods, information,
and people to move more efficiently and quickly across long distances. This facilitated the
development of interconnected regional economies and enabled producers to access larger
markets beyond their immediate vicinity. As a result, the nation transitioned from localized
economies to a more integrated national market system, fostering economic growth,
industrialization, and the expansion of trade networks.
Test Bank for The American Story
Robert A. Divine, T. H. Breen, R. Hal Williams, Ariela J. Gross, H. W. Brands
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