| A | B |
| Prospecting | Searching for mineral deposits, especially silver and gold |
| Louisiana Purchase | Purchase between the United States and France to acquire the Louisiana Territory |
| Gadsden Purchase | Land purchased by the United States, from Mexico, for the price of 10 million dollars |
| Florida Purchase | Land purchased between the United States and Spain |
| Missouri River | a water route that Lewis and Clark took to the Rockies |
| Columbia River | water route that took Lewis and Clark from the Rockies to the Pacific Ocean |
| 4 challenges explorers faced on the trail | Weather, Terrain, Native American conflicts, and accidents |
| Oregon Trail | Trail starting in Missouri and going to Oregon. 2,170 miles and was traveled by pioneers.(farmers, traders, etc.) |
| California Trail | Trail starting in Missouri and ending in California. Was 1,950 miles long and was traveled by Gold Seekers. |
| Mormon Trail | Started in Illinois and ended in Utah. Trail was 1,300 miles long and travelled by those leaving religious persecution. |
| Santa Fe Trail | Trail started in Missouri and ended in New Mexico. Trail was 870 miles long and travelled by U.S. Army and Fur traders. |
| Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo | Agreement that ended the Mexican-American war and gave the United States the Mexican Cession. |
| Mexican Cession | Land given to the United States that makes up more than 1/3 of Mexican territory. |
| US Northern Border | 49th parallel |
| Land ceded by Great Britain | 1818: Established the northern border of the US |
| Texas | Broke away from Mexico in 1836. Operated as an independent country until 1845 when it was annexed by the US |
| Oregon Treaty | 1846. Great Britain ceded the Oregon Country to the US. |
| Transcontinental Railroad | Finished in 1869 in Promontory Peak, Utah; connected the US east to west |