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 ► 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  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  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  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.