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A

Annexation:

The addition of territory to a country. Annexation became an issue in westward expansion when Southerners called for the United States to annex the Republic of Texas.

Argonauts:

The name given to people who traveled to California via the water route from the east coast of the United States south along the Atlantic coast, across the Isthmus of Panama, and north on the Pacific Ocean.

C

Californios:

Descendants of the original Spanish settlers in California.

Cattle Drive:

Moving a herd of cattle from the open range to a railroad line. Cattle drives were led by bands of cowboys who tended the cattle.

Cholera:

An acute intestinal infection. Cholera causes violent vomiting, fever,...