Americans were moving through the Appalachian Mountains with their Conestoga Wagons but were limited to the western border of the United States.

Sturdy vehicle topped with white canvas and used by pioneers to move west

France, Spain, England and Russia all had claims on lands in the west but currently the Louisiana territory was owned by Spain. This included the City of New Orleans.

Jefferson believed the port city of New Orleans was the key to controlling North America.

The French Threat

- 1802, Spain secretly sells Louisiana to French

- Napoleon plans to create empire in N. America

- Needs Santo Domingo in Caribbean for naval base

The Nation Expands- Robert Livingston sent to offer $10 million for New Orleans

- France decides to sell all of Louisiana Territory, WHY?- Napoleon was worried about colonies- Needed money to fight the war with

England

- James Monroe and R Livingston negotiate deal

LOUISIANA PURCHASE- a huge tract of land in the middle of North America sold by France to

the United States

- 1803

- $15 million

- Doubled the size of the United States

- Jefferson knew it was a great deal, yet he worried if it was legal.

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LOUISIANAPURCHASE- What eased Jefferson’s

worries?

- The provision allowing him to make treaties with other countries would cover the purchase.

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Expedition Time*

- Find a water route that went across the continent

- Establish good relations with the Native Americans

- Describe the animals, plants, and landscape they saw

- 1804, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark chosen to lead expedition (the Corps of Discovery) and to:

The CORPS OF DISCOVERY set out from St Louis in the spring 1804

The expedition includes about 40 people including a slave named York.

Sacagawea

-A 17-year old Shoshone woman

-She joined them as a guide and interpreter

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The Corps stayed in a Mandan village in present day North Dakota

The ResultsThe Corps concluded:

- No Northwest Passage- Columbia river discovered and it flows into Pacific Ocean

- Formed good relationships with some of the Native Americans

- Kept journals about the animals and nature

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Expedition Time*- Zebulon Pike chosen to lead expedition in a southern direction

- His mission was to find the sources of the Arkansas and Red Rivers

- Set out in summer 1804 from St. Louis

- Discovered Pike’s Peak in CO

Effects of Expeditions- Accurate maps

- Used by settlers to move west

- Growth of Fur Trade- Hunters and trappers added to knowledge of the

west

- Mistaken view of the Great Plains- Inaccurately described as treeless Great Plains as

deserts- Led Americans to believe Plains were useless for

farming

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Party Views of Purchase- Federalists disagreed with purchase

- Feared new lands would support Republicans- Threat of secession (secede)To leave or withdraw

- Hamilton and Burr- Hamilton though Burr secretly agreed to

lead NY out of union- Accused him of treason- Burr blamed Hamilton’s comments for his

loss of gubernatorial race in NY.- Challenged him to duel- Burr shot Hamilton and he later died of his

injuries