1. The Louisiana Purchase

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

11. 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

12. 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.

13. 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