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The Louisiana Purchase. The Continental Divide. Great Britain. Russia. United States. Spain . France. The Nation Looks West. By 1800 about 1,000,000 farmers lived between the Appalachians and the Mississippi River Cheapest way to get supplies to Atlantic Coast was Mississippi River
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The Louisiana Purchase The Continental Divide
Great Britain Russia United States Spain France
The Nation Looks West • By 1800 about 1,000,000 farmers lived between the Appalachians and the Mississippi River • Cheapest way to get supplies to Atlantic Coast was Mississippi River • Stored supplies in New Orleans while waiting for ships • Who controlled the Mississippi? • Spain and US on good terms • PinkneyTreaty gave us use of the Mississippi River and New Orleans (“right of deposit”) Spain!
Seriously, Senor? • Meanwhile…Spain signs a secret treaty agreeing to sell Louisiana Territory to France • Right of deposit denied to US • Napoleon poised to conquer Europe • Looking to expand French empire into North American • Jefferson becomes fearful… • Spain was weak • France was not weak
Jefferson’s Response • Sends James Monroe and Robert Livingston to Paris to negotiate the purchase of New Orleans and the immediately surrounding areas.
I See London, I See France… • I see you have no chance: • Haiti (French colony) stages a successful revolution and overthrows French colonial rule • Haiti is no longer a springboard into N. Amer. • France needs money to fight war in Europe (Britaion) • Result: Napoleon looks to “dump” Louisiana
Such a Deal! • Jefferson wants to buy west Florida and New Orleans for $10,000,000 • France sells Louisiana to the U.S.A. for $15,000,000 • Less than 4 cents/acre • 2011: $233 million, 43 cents/acre • The U.S.A. doubles in size • Spans Mississippi River – Rocky Mountains • Big Question: IS THIS CONSTITUTIONAL? • Remember, T. Jeff was highly opposed to these sorts of actions – undermined states rights and led to “big government” and not strictly aligned with the constitution!
How did Jefferson justify the purchase of Louisiana Territory? Treaties
The Lewis and Clark Expedition1804-1806 • Congress provided money ($2,500) for a team of explorers to study the new lands • 2 captains – Meriwether Lewis & William Clark • 38 enlisted men • Handful of civilians (French fur traders • Sacagawea serves as interpreter of the Shoshone language
Objectives of the Expedition • Map a route to the Pacific • Develop friendly relationships with Indians • Study resources, climate, animals, etc. • In 1804 Meriwether Lewis and William Clark led one of the most historic American Expeditions
Supplies for the Expedition • Mathematical Instruments: • surveyor’s compass • hand compass • telescope • Camp Supplies: • hatchets • two dozen tablespoons • mosquito curtains • 10 1/2 pounds of fishing hooks and fishing lines • 12 pounds of soap • 193 pounds of "portable soup" • Presents for Indians: • 12 dozen pocket mirrors • 4,600 sewing needles • tomahawks that doubled as pipes • vermilion face paint • 33 pounds of tiny beads of assorted colors • Clothing: • 45 flannel shirts • Arms and Ammunition: • 15 prototype Model 1803 muzzle-loading .54 caliber rifles • 500 rifle flints • 176 pounds of gunpowder packed in 52 lead canisters • 1 long-barreled rifle that fired its bullet with compressed air, rather than by flint, spark and powder • Medicine and Medical Supplies: • 50 dozen Dr. Rush’s patented "Rush’s pills" • 1,300 doses of physic • 3,500 doses of diaphoretic (sweat inducer) • Traveling Library: • Barton’s Elements of Botany • Antoine Simon Le Page du Pratz’s History of Louisiana • Richard Kirwan’s Elements of Mineralogy • A map of the Great Bend of the Missouri River