Name: ____________________________ Class: ______ Date: ________

Western Expansion
Directions: Fill in the missing information about western expansion in the boxes below.

Cause Effect

● Government encourages pioneers to settle

on the frontier
● Texas becomes part of United States
● Mexican-American War will result in the
1840’s - ________ Mexican Cession of land (California, New
________________
________________
Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Arizona)

● Pioneers seek out new land in the west

settling new towns along the way
● ___________________________________
___________________________________
● ____________________________________
1848 - The United
____________________________________
States gains new
land in the West. ● ____________________________________

● ____________________________________
● More families are travelling to settle out west
seeking to own their own land.
● ____________________________________
1850’s - Pathfinders ____________________________________
open trails to new ____________________________________
territories in the west

● Large number of people migrate to California

● Most people will not find any gold, but will
end up settling and finding another trade for
work.
● Leads to the development of a ___________
1849 - ___________
_____________________ to expedite travel
________________
________________
 Name: ____________Key__________ Class: ______ Date: ________

Western Expansion
Directions: Fill in the missing information about western expansion in the boxes below.

Cause Effect

● Government encourages pioneers to settle

on the frontier
● Texas becomes part of United States
● Mexican-American War will result in the
1840’s - Americans Mexican Cession of land (California, New
believe in the idea of
Manifest Destiny.
Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Arizona)

● Pioneers seek out new land in the west

settling new towns along the way
● Access to more natural resources and new
trade ports
● Debate over expansion of slavery into new
1848 - The United
terrirtory begins in Congress
States gains new
land in the West. ● Manifest Destiny is complete

● Faster and easier travel to western towns

● More families are travelling to settle out west
seeking to own their own land.
● Trade will flourish, with better access to
1850’s - Pathfinders natural resources and increase in cultivation
open trails to new of those resources
territories in the west

● Large number of people migrate to California

in search of gold
● Most people will not find any gold, but will
end up settling and finding another trade for
work.
1849 - Gold is ● Leads to the development of a
discovered in transcontinental railroad to expedite travel
California