Transcript What factors might have led Napoleon to sell the Louisiana Territory?

Main Idea
Jefferson purchased the Louisiana
Territory in 1803 and doubled the size
of the United States.
Why It Matters Now
Thirteen more states were eventually
organized on the land acquired by the
Louisiana Purchase.
Map
1
In 1800’s the
western border
of the United
States was the
Mississippi
River
2
France, Spain, England and Russia
all had claims on lands in the west
3
Jefferson believed the port city of
New Orleans was the key to
controlling North America
4
LOUISIANA PURCHASE was
huge piece of land in the middle of
North America. France sold it to
the United States in 1803 for $15
million
5
Napoleon wanted to sell the land
because he was worried about
colonies
and needed
money to fight
the war with
England
What factors might have led Napoleon to sell the
Louisiana Territory?
Causes
Determination of
Americans to use
port at New Orleans
Effect
Losses suffered by
France in Caribbean
colonies
Napoleon sells
Louisiana Territory
Costly war in
Europe
6
The Louisiana Purchase was
bought for $15 million – about 3
cents an acre (about a football
field)
7
Jefferson chooses MERIWETHER
LEWIS and WILLIAM CLARK to
lead an expedition into the
unknown territory
8
The CORPS OF
DISCOVERY set
out from St Louis
in the summer of
1804
9
The expedition includes about 40
people
10
Jefferson gave the Corps 3 main
goals:
1) Discover if there is a Northwest
Passage to the Pacific through the
Missouri River
10
2) Set up good relations with the
Native Americans in the area
10
3) Journal and
take notes on
the animals and
wilderness of
the area
11
The Corps stayed in a Mandan
village in present day North
Dakota
12
SACAGAWEA was
a 17 year-old
woman who helps
the Corps as an
interpreter on the
expedition
13
The Corps found there was no
Northwest Passage, they formed
good relationships with some of the
Native Americans and did record
the animals and nature
14
ZEBULON
PIKE explores
the southern
part of the
Louisiana
Purchase in
1806
• What groups might dispute European land claims
in the West?
• Why was New Orleans important
to Americans?
• How did Sacagewea help Lewis and Clark?