Why did O Sullivan believe that countries such as England and France wanted to block the United States annexation of Texas?
Sullivan viewed England and France as a force that was frustrating their efforts by limiting the manifestation of their destiny across the continent. The presence of the British on their northern Border caused Sullivan to fear that the British may continue expanding its territories in North America, hindering American’s mission.
What relationship did Sullivan see between expansion, population growth, and divine providence?
O, Sullivan meant believed that the US population was big and that they need to constantly grow and expand, which was the wish of God. That is the expansion as a result of God’s plan for the US to spread democracy across the world, and the population growth of Americans was the indication of such manifestation.
Why did Sullivan predict that California will soon break away from Mexico? What does that prediction reveal about patterns of American expansion in the mid- 19th century?
Sullivan believed that Mexico was developing incapability to exert its force in California. The growing number of American settlers in California would push for the independence of California State from Mexican rule.
How did the discovery of gold affect Colton’s community? How does he describe the people who came to mine gold?
Everyone in his community started moving out and leaving their activities to the gold mine. Colton describes them as a confused flock wild geese taking wing after the crack of a gun as people from different languages rushed to the gold mines.
Why did Colton refuse to exclude Sonoranians from the mines? Why did he reject the argument that they were draining the community resources, and what role did he expect them to play in the future?
He refuses to drive them out as they were providing labor at the gold mines, which was important to California’s source of wealth. Colton refused the argument that they were draining community resources because the sonoranians spent every pound of gold on provisions, clothes, and on the hazards of the gaming table. Colton predicted that the sonoranians would be used as hardy men when gold mine fails or when machinery will be employed to provide labor to quarry the rocks and feed the stampers.
Why did California workers reject slavery? Were they motivated by abolitionist sentiments?
The free white diggers could not associate with slaves. The white diggers had to dig as they had come to the mines to dig, but they decided not to lower their level by associating with slaves. They were not concerned about the existence of slavery, but they were concerned about their position and pride; hence they were after protecting it.
How did Texas settlers evade the Mexican law? How often did they seem to do so?
The laws were ineffectual as the distance between the capital and the provinces were far; they had little attention from the government. This was also possible due to the fact that the blacks were ignorant, and the whites favor slavery, a factor that worked favorably well for them. The gift that these people received made them be indebted for a long time.
How did hooker describe the agricultural potential of Texas? How did farming there compare with farming in the north?
Hooker described Texas as a rich area for practicing agriculture. Farming in Texas was simple as compared to the north as they were no rocky and barren ledges, no need to keep fodder for cattle as they could take care of themselves, ready market for cotton, planting without first preparing the ground among others.
How did hooker describe race relations in colonial Texas? How did the treatment of Mexicans and Native Americans differ from that of enslaved African Americans?