something that is gained, or acquired
the geographic line between two places, such as two countries
give up territory, usually as the result of a treaty
a group of people sent to explore unknown places
an area of land set aside by the United States government for Native Americans to live on
a person who wanted to end, or abolish, slavery
a Spanish-speaking person who had settled in California
to add or incorporate (a new territory) into a country
the bitter conflict fought from 1861 to 1865 between the states that remained in the Union and the states that seceded and formed the Confederacy
a piece of land worked by a miner seeking valuable minerals
the nation formed by the 11 states (in order of secession—South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina, Tennessee) that left the Union
the selection of people to serve in an army whether or not they wish to serve
President Abraham Lincoln’s order to free (emancipate) people enslaved in states that were still fighting the Union and to allow African Americans into the Union army and navy
a gold-seeker in the California gold rush of 1849
a person who comes from his or her homeland to settle in another country
an American belief in the 1800s that it was the natural right of the United States to expand westward to the Pacific Ocean
a person who is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
extending across a continent
a system in which abolitionists secretly helped people who had escaped slavery reach freedom
the United States as one country; during the Civil War, the government and the armies of the states that chose to remain a part of the United States; (the North)
to officially withdraw from a government or a country
one of the first people to settle in a territory
strong concern for local interests