Chapter 10, Lesson 2 Louisiana Purchase
Westward 1800, US went as far as Mississippi River West of Miss. River was Spain’s Pioneers traveled in wagons, used rifles & axes Set up farms along rivers flowing into Miss. Sent their goods down to New Orleans for shipping to East Coast
French Threat Spain had allowed us to travel & trade in Louisiana France & Spain agreed to let France have it Alarmed Jefferson Robert Livingston, minister to France was told he could offer $2 million for West FL & New Orleans
Napoleon Bonaparte Dreamed of a western empire Santo Domingo a great naval base Toussaint L’Ouverture led enslaved African rebels in a revolt against plantation owners Rebels won & set up Gov’t Napoleon tried to take back but by 1804, French were gone
Napoleon Needed $ to finance war w/ Britain Offered to sell Louisiana, took Livingston & James Monroe by surprise, no authority Constitution didn’t say we could buy it Jefferson felt treaty power allowed Purchased for $15 million Senate approved Oct,
Lewis & Clark Jefferson wanted to explore west, water route across N. America Spring 1804, expedition left St. Louis Meriwether Lewis, Jeff’s private Sec is leader William Clark, friend of Lewis brought a slave, York York helped befriend Natives
St Louis
Lewis & Clark Encountered many Natives Shoshone woman Sacagawea helped guide 18 months, 4,000 miles reached Pacific Ocean Valuable info about people, plants, animals, geography of west Inspired people to move westward
Pike’s Expedition Lt. Zebulon Pike explores twice Upper Miss. River valley Colorado, snow-capped mts: Pike’s Peak We learned about Great Plains, Rocky Mts, Rio Grande, Texas
Secede LA purchase not liked by Federalists feared it would weaken New England’s political & economic power Plotted to secede-withdraw from the Union & become “Northern Confederacy” Needed to include NY Asked Aaron Burr to support
Hamilton & Burr Hamilton concerned about secession Didn’t trust Burr, accused him of treason Burr suffered political setbacks, blamed Hamilton, challenged him to duel Armed w/ pistols, met in NJ July 1804 Burr shot Hamilton, died the next day Burr not arrested, continued as VP