The Louisiana Purchase

Chapter 9, Lesson 2

Western Territory► During the 1800s many Americans moved west into

Kentucky and Tennessee and the less settled areas of the Northwest Territory. They used Conestoga Wagons (sturdy vehicles topped

with a white canvas.) The most precious tools to them were they rifle (protection

and hunting) and an axe (hack their way through the dense forest.)

► In 1800 the territory for the U.S. extended only as far as the Mississippi River.

► Louisiana Territory – land that extended west of the Mississippi River belonging to Spain. It was anchored to the south by the city of New Orleans

and extended west to the Rocky Mountains. It did not have defined northern boundary.

Western Territory►Many farmers settle along rivers that feed

into the Mississippi River. The river was their way of shipping crops to

markets. The Spanish allowed for use of the lower

Mississippi River and trade in New Orleans and was vital for western farmers.

From New Orleans they were unloaded and sent by ship to markets on the East Coast.

The French Threat► In 1802, the Spanish suddenly changed their

policy. American goods were no longer allowed into or

past New Orleans. Jefferson finds out that Spain and France made a

secret agreement transferring the territories ownership to France.

Napoleon Bonaparte not only wanted to have Empires in Europe but in America as well.

Jefferson authorizes Robert Livingston to offer as much as $10 million for New Orleans and West Florida in order to control the territory believing that France had also gained Florida as part of the secret deal.

Revolt in Santo Domingo►Napoleon intended to use Santo

Domingo as a naval base to control an American Empire.

►A revolt inspired by the French Revolution and led by Toussaint-Louverture (TOO-SA-LOO-vuhr-TYUR) allowed the colony to become independent. It involved slaves and laborers. In 1802, Toussaint is captured by troops

sent by Napoleon but they could not regain control.

By 1804, the French were driven out and the country regained its original name of Haiti.

The Nation Expands► Without Santo Domingo, Napoleon has little use for

Louisiana.► The French needed money to fund Napoleon’s plan

for war with Britain and immediately show interest in selling it to us. French foreign minister Charles de Talleyrand informed the

American diplomats that the entire Louisiana territory is up for sale.

Livingston and James Monroe (Jefferson’s new special representative) were taken by surprise.

They accepted the offer that went far beyond what they were authorized to do but the offer was too good to pass up.► It was purchased for $15 million.

► Jefferson was pleased by the purchase as the new territory would provide cheap and abundant land for farmers for generations to come.

The Nation Expands►However, Jefferson was concerned

whether the purchase was legal. (What authority did he have to make the purchase?) He is urged by Livingston to accept the

deal before Napoleon changes his mind. Jefferson decided his treaty-making

powers allowed for the purchase and the Senate approved in 1803.

►With the purchase of the Louisiana Territory the size of the United States doubled.

Lewis and Clark► Jefferson persuaded Congress to sponsor an

expedition to learn more about the Louisiana Territory (even before it was bought) thinking it a scientific venture. Congress approved but more so for its commercial interest. Meriwether Lewis, 28, and William Clark, 32, were to lead

the expedition west and kept a journal documenting what they saw.

They had a well rounded group and were eventually joined by Sacagawea, who served as a Native American guide.

They gathered information on people, plants, animals, and the geography to the west.

They made it all the way to the Pacific Ocean (18 months and nearly 4,000 miles later) and returned using different routes by 1806.

They provided inspiration to a nation of people eager to move westward.

Pike’s Expedition►Zebulon Pike was another man

Jefferson sent to explore the wilderness. He led two separate expedition in 105 and

1807. He traveled along the Mississippi River

valley into the region that is now the state of Colorado.

He finds a mountain and names it Grand Peak (Today, known as Pike’s Peak)

►He gets captured by the Spanish during his expedition but was eventually released.

Federalists Plan to Secede►The Federalist opposed the Louisiana

Purchase. Believed the new states carved out of the

territory would become republican, reducing their power.

►A group of Federalists from Massachusetts began plotting to secede (withdraw) from the Union. They wanted New England to form a separate

“Northern Confederacy.” but in order to succeed needed all of New England including New York.

They turned to Aaron Burr, who had been cast aside by Republicans for refusal to withdraw from the election of 1800.

They gave him their support when he ran for governor of New York in 1804.

Burr and Hamilton►Alexander Hamilton never trusted Aaron

Burr. Now he became concerned of rumor’s concerning

Burr leading New York out of the Union and accuses him of plotting treason.

►This may have caused Burr the election, and so he challenges Hamilton to a duel. In 1804, both men armed with pistols, met at

Weehawken, New Jersey. Hamilton hated dueling and pledged not to shoot

at his rival, but Burr did not feel the same way. Burr fires and hits Hamilton, seriously wounding

him, and as a result dies the next day. Burr wanting to avoid arrest flees.