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