The Louisiana Purchase

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Transcript The Louisiana Purchase

V54
Expedition – a journey undertake by a group for
exploration
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P. 94 – 95
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The Louisiana Purchase
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Survey?
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American Settlers Move West?
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The Early American Frontier?
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Postcard from the Past?
How do exploration and expansion transform ideas, culture, and society?
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As the emperor of France, Napoleon Bonaparte had conquered much of
Europe
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He also wanted to strength the French empire in North America
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His plan involved using the French colony of Haiti as a supply base.
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He wanted to use the island to send troops and supplies to Louisiana
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However, slaves under the leadership of François-Dominique Toussaint
L’ouverture overthrew the colonial government there
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When Napoleon sent troops to take the island back, his troops were
defeated
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Without Haiti, Napoleon’s plan to build a North American empire in
Louisiana ended
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New Orleans
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It provided a major port for international
and domestic trade.
The Louisiana Purchase roughly doubles
the size of the United States.
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Jefferson was a strict constructionist, and
the Constitution did not mention the
purchase of foreign lands. He also did not
like spending large amounts of public
money.
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Purpose: learn more about the Native
Americans in the West and the land they
lived on, and to see if there were a river
route to the Pacific Ocean.
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Challenges: traveling through uncharted
areas, no ability to receive new supplies,
transportation difficulties, insects, and fear
of hostile attack.
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Achievements: learned about western
lands and paths, made contact with many
Native Americans groups, and collected
data about western plants and animals.
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Before handing over Louisiana to France,
Spain had closed New Orleans to American
shipping, which hurt American farmers.
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Napoleon offered to sell the entire
Louisiana Territory for $15 million.
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Spain trades Louisiana to France  Spain
closes New Orleans to the United States 
Jefferson instructs Livingston and Monroe
to try and buy New Orleans from France 
France offers to sell all of Louisiana
because of setbacks in Haiti and a war
against Great Britain  The United States
buys Louisiana for $15 million.
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Why was Haiti important to Napoleon’s plans for
Louisiana?
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What happened when Robert Livingston offered
to buy New Orleans from France?
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What is the significance of the Louisiana
Purchase?
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Jefferson was troubled by the decision to buy
Louisiana? Did he do the right thing? Why?
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Create a wanted/hero poster for
Thomas Jefferson.
 If you think he did the wrong thing
by purchasing Louisiana, you will
create a wanted poster.
 If you think he did the right thing
by purchasing Louisiana, you will
create a hero poster.
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You should include:
 A sketch of what the person
probably looks like
 3 reasons why the person was a
hero or villain
 A made-up quote from a fictitious
person living at the time showing
what people might have said about
this person
 A reward amount, if appropriate
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Should Thomas Jefferson have bought
Louisiana? Why?