The Louisiana Purchase

Moving Westward After we gained use of the Mississippi

River through Pickney’s Treaty, thousands of settlers began moving westward

The use of the river was vital to their economic survival

Some U.S. territories declared statehood

Kentucky and Tennessee became states by 1800

Spain allowed Americans to move goods freely in their territory in 1802

The French Threat In 1802, President Jefferson learned that

Spain agreed in a secret meeting to transfer the Louisiana Territory to France’s possession

Jefferson also believed the France also gained Florida

It was known that Napoleon Bonaparte had plans to create empires in the United States which was a threat to Americans

French control would put American trade along the Mississippi River at risk

The Louisiana Purchase- Congress authorized Robert

Livingston to offer as much as $2 million for New Orleans and West Florida in order to gain control of the territory

Napoleon wanted a Western Empire, but after losing Santo Domingo (now Haiti) he realized he had no use for Louisiana.

Napoleon also needed money for pay for his war against Britain so he had a French

official offer the whole Territory to Robert Livingston and James Monroe

Louisiana Purchase They did not have the authority to accept,

but it was too good to pass up. It would provide:

Cheap land for farmers Give United States control of the Mississippi

River After days of negotiation, they agreed on a

price of $15 million (about $0.03 an acre) Jefferson worried such a large purchase

would not be legal, the Constitution mentioned nothing about acquiring land

Louisiana Purchase

Jefferson thought about seeking a constitutional amendment, but there was no time

He decided the government’s treaty-making powers allowed him the right

Senate approved the purchase in October 1803

It doubled the size of the United States

The Lewis and Clark Expedition

Jefferson chose Captain Meriwether Lewis to lead an exploration of the Louisiana Country.

Lewis chose William Clark to accompany him.

Expedition began in the summer of 1803 They were sent to document their findings

about the territory’s people, plants, and animals

They also hoped to find the fabled Northwest Passage- an all water route across N. America

Lewis and Clark Expedition Also brought along York, an enslaved African

American and Clark’s longtime companion He was especially helpful in building ties with

Native Americans who were drawn to him because they had never seen someone like him

They encountered many Native American groups

A Shoshone women, names Sacagawea joined them as their guide

18 months later, they made it to the Pacific Ocean never finding the Northwest Passage

Zebulon Pike and the Southern Route Zebulon Pike- explorer trying to find

the sources of the Arkansas and Red Rivers

Pike described the great plains as a treeless desert. This caused many Americans to think the plains region was useless for farming

Discovered Great plains, Rocky Mountains, and part of the Rio Grande

Federalist Plan to Sucede Federalists in the Northeast were troubled by the purchase.

They feared Westward Expansion would weaken New England’s power in political and economic affairs

Federalists in Massachusetts plotted to secede, or withdraw, from the Union

They wanted New York to secede with them and Aaron Burr was who they needed to help.

Hamilton v. Burr• Hamilton was concerned

about the succession

• Hamilton accused Burr of treason

• Burr was having setbacks in his political career which he blamed Hamilton for

• Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel

• The met in Weehawken, NJ in July 1804

• Hamilton hated dueling, it was illegal but popular among upper- class

• Hamilton pledged not to shoot at Burr, but Burr made no such pledge

• Burr aimed to shoot Hamilton and he was successful

• He seriously wounded Hamilton who died the next day

• Burr fled to avoid arrest