Manifest destiny
the belief that the United States was destined by God to extend its boundaries to the Pacific Ocean
Mountain Men
an adventurer of the American West
Vigilante
a person who acts as police, judge, and jury without formal legal authority
Decree
an official order
Baracade
to block off
Tejano
a Texan, of Latino, often Mexican, descent
Joint Occupation
a situation in which people from two different countries can occupy an area
Emigrant
a person who leaves his or her country to live else where
Forty niner
a fortune-seeker who came to California during the Gold Rush
Boomtown
a fast-growing community
Prairie-schooner
a canvas-covered wagon used by pioneers in the mid-1800s
Ranchero
a rancher, owner of a rancho
Annex
to add a territory to one's own territory