The Louisiana Purchase “The greatest real estate deal in history.”

Everything Flows Through New Orleans New Orleans

But… New Orleans was owned by Spain Spain was suspicious of the USA Spain wanted to discourage the westward movement of American citizens So Spain would close New Orleans from time to time to American shipping Therefore the US needed to settle New Orleans situation with Spain But then Spain gave New Orleans and Louisiana to France…

Key Figures in the Louisiana Purchase

Thomas Jefferson Third President of the United States Founder of the Democratic- Republican Party Sent Robert R. Livingston and James Monroe to negotiate with the government of France for the purchase of New Orleans

Napoleon Bonaparte Ruler of France One of the greatest military commanders in history Acquired New Orleans and Louisiana from Spain in 1802 BIG Had BIG plans for the Americas But when he couldn’t reconquer Haiti… He sold Louisiana to USA! So why couldn’t he reconquer Haiti?

Toussaint L’Ouverture Leader of slave rebellion in Haiti Father of Haitian Independence Messed up Napoleon’s big plans for Americas Because of this guy…

So Napoleon is ready to sell off everything in America… Just when these guys show up Robert R. Livingston James Monroe Appointed resident minister at the court of Napoleon by President Jefferson Told to try to buy New Orleans from Napoleon, but don’t spend more than $5 million Negotiated the Louisiana Purchase with the French Studied law under the governor of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson Eventually became fifth President of the United States Jefferson sent him to France to help Livingston negotiate the purchase of New Orleans But they got even more…

The Louisiana Purchase Purchased from France in 1803 for about $15 million City of New Orleans ($4 million) Land that extended from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains ($11 million) Land area totaled 820,000 square miles or 524,800,000 acres Cost about 3 cents an acre! Doubled the size of the USA 1803 All the land that drains into the Mississippi River from the west

Louisiana Purchase Land that is now all or part of 15 different states 1803

Lewis and Clark Expedition Meriwether Lewis William Clark U.S. Congress appropriated $2,000 to fund an expedition to explore the Louisiana Territory, Jefferson appointed Lewis to lead the Corps of Discovery Clark, an Army buddy of Lewis, was asked to serve as co-commander Both were from Virginia and well known by President Jefferson

Lewis and Clark Expedition Sent to study the Indian tribes, botany, geology, Western terrain and wildlife in the area Traveled up the Missouri River and told to search for a water route to the Pacific (NW Passage) Expedition lasted 28 months and covered more than 8000 miles

Accomplishments of Lewis and Clark Explored and mapped farthest reaches of Louisiana Purchase Discovered the source of the Missouri River Traveled down Clearwater, Snake and Columbia Rivers to the Pacific Ocean Proved there was no Northwest Passage First United States citizens to travel across the continent Gave the United States an undisputed claim to the “Oregon Country” (Pacific Northwest) Made (most of) us football and baseball fans, rather than hockey fans