SAQs for APUSH Topic 5.3 — The Mexican American War

Seven short answer questions designed to help students review for the annual exam and that relate to an 1846–1848 conflict between the United States and Mexico.

1. In the 1840s, Americans believing in Manifest Destiny often advocated in favor of annexing western lands. Name a western land that was annexed prior to the Mexican American War. Briefly describe a dispute that flowed from this annexation and that some historians view as “the cause” of the Mexican Amerian War.
2. In 1844, a “champion of manifest destiny” was elected president. What was this champion’s name?
3. As a result of its victory in the Mexican American War, the U.S. acquired large territories in the West. What states were ultimately carved out of this territory.
4. As a result of its victory in the Mexican American War, the U.S. acquired large territories in the West. This acquisition of territory raised questions about the status of slavery in the newly acquired territory. What was one question raised about the status of slavery in the newly acquired territory? How did Congress respond to this question in 1850?
5. As a result of its victory in the Mexican American War, the U.S. acquired large territories in the West. This acquisition of territory raised questions about the status of American Indians in the newly acquired territory. What was one question raised about the status of American Indians in the newly acquired territory?
6. As a result of its victory in the Mexican American War, the U.S. acquired large territories in the West. This acquisition of territory raised questions about the status of Mexicans in the newly acquired territory. What was one question raised about the status of Mexicans in the newly acquired territory?
7. Briefly explain why the territory acquired as a result of the Mexican American War marks the beginning of the sectional crisis that led to the outbreak of the Civil War.
8. Many historians claim that the brutal history of anti-Latino discrimination in America begins with the territory acquired by the United States as a result of its victory in the Spanish American War. Give one example of anti-Latino discrimination that can be found in the newly acquired territory between 1848–1877.
9. Click here for six questions that relate to how the courts and national leaders, after the Mexican American War and before the Civil War, made a variety of attempts to resolve the issue of slavery in the territories.