Transcript Chapter 10 Lesson 2 *The Louisiana Purchase and Exploration

Essential Question:
Why were the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and
Clark Expeditions significant for the United States?
 In 1800 the “West” meant the area between the
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Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River
Several U.S. territories soon declared statehood.
Kentucky and Tennessee became states by 1800.
Ohio became a state in 1803.
The Pacific Coast region and the Oregon country
attracted increasing attention.
In California, Spain had 21 missions from San Diego
to San Francisco.
Russian settlements just north of San Francisco
could be found all the way to Alaska.
 Great Britain also claimed land in the Pacific Coast
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Region.
As you know, Spain controlled the Mississippi River and
the Port of New Orleans.
The port was originally controlled by France. After the
French and Indian War, France turned over the
Louisiana Territory – including the Port of New Orleans,
to Spain.
In a secret treaty in 1800, Spain returned the Louisiana
Territory and port to Napoleon of France.
He planned to colonize the American territory with
French Colonies!
 The threats to the free navigation of the
Mississippi River and the use of the port at
New Orleans, brought America to the brink of
war!
 Angry Westerners in America called for war
against both Spain and France.
 President Jefferson, trying to avoid war,
offered to buy New Orleans from France.
 Jefferson received a surprising offer back from
Napoleon….. He asked if the United States wanted to
buy not only New Orleans, but the entire Louisiana
Territory which was larger than the United States at
that time!
 What motivated Napoleon to offer the sale of all of the
Louisiana Territory?
 He was alarmed by America’s fierce determination
to keep the Port of New Orleans open.
 A French Colony in the West Indies Islands suffered
a revolt led by Toussaint L’Ouverture a man who
freed slaves and put himself in charge of the island.
France suffered great losses from this revolt.
 The war between France and Great Britain was very
costly, and Napoleon valued American money more
than the land.
 Jefferson was thrilled with Napoleon’s offer!
 On April 30, 1803 , the Louisiana Purchase
- the purchase of the Louisiana territory
from France was approved for $15 million –
about 3 cents per acre!
 The purchase doubled the size of the United
States.
 Americans knew very little about the
territory
 Since 1802, President Jefferson planned an expedition
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to explore the Louisiana country.
Jefferson chose a young officer Captain
Meriwether Lewis to lead the expedition.
Lewis was well qualified, trained in geography,
mineralogy, and astronomy. He was an expert hunter.
Meriwether Lewis chose his close friend, William
Clark to select and oversee a volunteer force for
the expedition.
William Clark, was skilled at building forts, drawing
maps, and leading expeditions.
 Lewis and Clark set out in the summer of 1803, on the Lewis
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and Clark Expedition – trip to explore the Louisiana
territory. By winter, they reached St Louis, located on the
western bank of the Mississippi River.
St Louis was just a sleepy town with 180 houses! It would
become the gateway to the West.
The expedition stayed in St Louis for the winter.
In March 1804, the American flag flew over St Louis for the
first time.
In May 1804, the explorers and 40 others set out from St Louis
heading up the Missouri River.
By October of 1804, they reached what is present day North
Dakota.
 In the spring of 1805, Sacagawea ,a Shoshone Indian
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woman with her husband and baby joined Lewis
and Clark.
Sacagawea possessed language skills and a knowledge
of geography which was of great value to Lewis and
Clark.
When the expedition approached the Rocky
Mountains, they were on Shoshone land.
The chief traded horses to Lewis and Clark.
The Shoshone helped the expedition cross the Rocky
Mountains.
 In November of 1805, over 2 years after the
expedition began, they reached the Pacific
coast.
 They spent the winter and then returned to
St Louis.
 The Lewis and Clark Expedition brought
back a wealth of scientific and geographic
information.
 They also learned that an all water route
across the continent did not exist.
 Lewis and Clark explored the northern part of
the Louisiana Purchase.
 In 1806, an expedition led by Zebulon Pike , left St. Louis on a southerly route.
 Pike’s mission was to find the sources of the
Arkansas and Red Rivers.
 Pikes’ party of two dozen men headed
westward across the Great Plains.
 When they reached the Arkansas River, they
followed it toward the Rocky Mountains.
 Pike saw the Rocky Mountain peak which would later
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bear his name – Pike’s Peak.
He failed in his attempt to climb it, so they turned
south hoping to find the Red River.
Instead, they found the Rio Grande River! It was in
Spanish territory.
The expedition was arrested by Spanish troops!
They were later released, and returned to the United
States.
Although they never found the Red River, they came
back with valuable information about the Great Plains
and the Rio Grande River.