Early American Early American ExplorationExploration

To understand the why To understand the why early explorers headed early explorers headed west, lets examine the west, lets examine the circumstances of the circumstances of the

times. times.

Administration of Thomas JeffersonAdministration of Thomas Jefferson

A Republican takes overA Republican takes over

• As a Republican, Jefferson made As a Republican, Jefferson made changeschanges

1. abolished internal taxes1. abolished internal taxes

2. reduced govt. spending2. reduced govt. spending

3. cut national debt in ½3. cut national debt in ½

4. scaled down the army4. scaled down the army• Appointed as many Republicans Appointed as many Republicans

as possible!as possible!

• Before Adams left office Before Adams left office he secured the Judicial he secured the Judicial branch in the hands of branch in the hands of the Federaliststhe Federalists

• Judiciary Act of 1801Judiciary Act of 1801-Reduced Supreme -Reduced Supreme Court from 6 to 5 Court from 6 to 5 JusticesJustices-Created more federal -Created more federal courtscourts-Midnight -Midnight appointments:appointments:last minute last minute appointments to new appointments to new courts (all Federalists)courts (all Federalists)

Judicial BranchJudicial Branch

• Father of the Father of the Supreme CourtSupreme Court

• Midnight Midnight appointmentappointment

• Chief JusticeChief Justice• Revolutionized the Revolutionized the

Supreme CourtSupreme Court- established it as a - established it as a legitimate branch of legitimate branch of government = to government = to othersothers

• How?How?

John MarshallJohn Marshall

Marbury v. MadisonMarbury v. Madison18031803

William Marbury appointed as Justice of

the Peace in the midnight appointments

James Madison new secretary of state:

refuses to deliver the appointment

Court’s DecisionCourt’s Decision• Declared the Judiciary Act of 1789 (act of Declared the Judiciary Act of 1789 (act of

Congress) unconstitutionalCongress) unconstitutional

- - Constitution does not give leg. power to Constitution does not give leg. power to make make executive officers perform these services executive officers perform these services

• Marshall and the SC had defined their power of Marshall and the SC had defined their power of

Judicial ReviewJudicial Review: the power of the SC to : the power of the SC to declare an act of Congress unconstitutionaldeclare an act of Congress unconstitutional

• Marshall is responsible for making the Judicial Marshall is responsible for making the Judicial Branch equal to the other two branchesBranch equal to the other two branches

Louisiana PurchaseLouisiana PurchaseJefferson wanted the Land for his Republican dream of a Jefferson wanted the Land for his Republican dream of a

Nation filled with Farmers!Nation filled with Farmers!

The FactsThe Facts

• Jefferson buys land Jefferson buys land from Napoleonfrom Napoleon- port of New - port of New Orleans was closed Orleans was closed to us and we to us and we wanted accesswanted access

• $15 million$15 million• Mississippi River to Mississippi River to

Rocky MountainsRocky Mountains• Doubles the size of Doubles the size of

the Countrythe Country

Is This Constitutional?Is This Constitutional?

• Jefferson believes in Strict Jefferson believes in Strict Construction of ConstitutionConstruction of Constitution

- - does not give the authority to buy does not give the authority to buy landland

• The Constitution gives the Pres. the The Constitution gives the Pres. the right to make treatiesright to make treaties

- - this can be the excuse to buy the this can be the excuse to buy the landland

Lewis Lewis and and

Clark Clark ExpeditiExpediti

onon

1804-1804-18061806

“If therefore there is anything under those circumstances, in this enterprise, which would induce you to participate with me in it’s fatigues, it’s dangers and it’s honors, believe me there is no man on earth with whom I should feel equal pleasure in sharing them as with yourself.”

Lewis to Clark, June 16, 1803

“[I] cheerfully join in in an ‘official character’ as mentioned in

your letter and partake of all the Dangers Difficulties & fatigues,

and I anticipate the honors & rewards of the result of such an

enterprise should we be successful in accomplishing it.”

Clark to Lewis, July 17, 1803

The Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark ExpeditionThe Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark Expedition

Who went with Lewis and Clark?Who went with Lewis and Clark?

Sacagawea and Jean Baptiste (Pomp)Sacagawea and Jean Baptiste (Pomp)

• GuideGuide• TranslatorTranslator• Indicator of peaceIndicator of peace• Encounter her tribe, her brother is now chief: Encounter her tribe, her brother is now chief:

gives needed horses and suppliesgives needed horses and supplies

YorkYork• Clark’s Clark’s

slaveslave

• Viewed as a Viewed as a novelty by novelty by the Nativesthe Natives

- color- color

- strength- strength

They made treaties with the Indians and traded with them for

supplies.

1919thth Century Trade Items Century Trade ItemsGlass beads (especially blue and white, red vermillion paint, Glass beads (especially blue and white, red vermillion paint, awls, needles, fishhooks, cloth, guns, hatchets, metal knives, awls, needles, fishhooks, cloth, guns, hatchets, metal knives,

etc.etc.

They kept detailed journals They kept detailed journals on new plants and animalson new plants and animals

They saw land and They saw land and experienced things experienced things

that no other that no other European had.European had.

SignificanceSignificance• Doubled US & US claims to Pacific Doubled US & US claims to Pacific

NWNW• Fur TradeFur Trade• Scientific AchievementsScientific Achievements– PlantsPlants– AnimalsAnimals

• Indian relations (civilization and/or Indian relations (civilization and/or removal)removal)

• GeographyGeography– Mapps (with the help of)Mapps (with the help of)– Zebulon Pike, Stephen LongZebulon Pike, Stephen Long

Who is Zebulon Pike?Who is Zebulon Pike?

•an American brigadier an American brigadier general and explorer for general and explorer for whom Pikes whom Pikes Peak in Colorado is named.Peak in Colorado is named.

•  led the Pike Expedition to led the Pike Expedition to explore and document the explore and document the southern portion of southern portion of the Louisiana territory the Louisiana territory 

Zebulon Pike was charged with Zebulon Pike was charged with finding the sources of the finding the sources of the

Arkansas and Red Rivers, and Arkansas and Red Rivers, and brought back valuable brought back valuable

descriptions of the Great Plains descriptions of the Great Plains and the Río Grande River Valley.and the Río Grande River Valley.

Zebulon PikeZebulon Pike

What about John C. What about John C. Freemont?Freemont?

Who?

Another important Explorer!

•Led multiple surveying expeditions through the Led multiple surveying expeditions through the western territory of the United States and western territory of the United States and beyond. beyond.

In 1838 and 1839 he assisted Joseph Nicollet in In 1838 and 1839 he assisted Joseph Nicollet in exploring the lands between the exploring the lands between the Mississippi and Missouri riversMississippi and Missouri rivers

John C. FreemontJohn C. Freemont

•Congress published Congress published Frémont's "Report and Frémont's "Report and

Map" Map"

it guided thousands of it guided thousands of overland immigrants to overland immigrants to Oregon and California Oregon and California

from 1845 to 1849from 1845 to 1849

John C. FreemontJohn C. Freemont

•  In 1849 Joseph Ware published his In 1849 Joseph Ware published his Emigrants' Emigrants' Guide to CaliforniaGuide to California, which was largely drawn from , which was largely drawn from Frémont's report, and was to guide the forty-niners Frémont's report, and was to guide the forty-niners

through the California Gold Rush. through the California Gold Rush. 

John C. FreemontJohn C. Freemont

QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?