The Louisiana Purchase

Chapter 9 Section 1

What was the importance of the purchase

and exploration of the Louisiana Territory?
Jefferson Takes Office
Chapter 9 Section 1

By 1800,
more than
one million
settlers lived
The tide of westward settlement
between the
sped up in the years after America’s
independence. Appalachian
Mountains
and the
Mississippi
River.

Jefferson Takes Office

Chapter 9 Section 1
Jefferson learned that Spain had secretly
given its Louisiana Territory to France.

Jefferson feared
that France would If this happened,
French territory
become dominant westward expansion of
in America, as it the United States
was becoming in would be blocked.
Europe.

Jefferson Takes Office

Jefferson1 decided to try to buy New Orleans from the French.
Chapter 9 Section

He sent James When they arrived in

Monroe and France, they
The French had
discovered thatbeen
the
Robert Livingston
driven from
situation their
had shifted
to Paris to make
colony on Haiti.
yet again.
a deal.

Without Haiti, France would have trouble

defending Louisiana in the event of a war.
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Chapter 9 Section 1

Also, war between France and Britain was

looming.

Britain France

Napoleon needed money for the war.

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Chapter 9 Section 1 Because of France’s situation, Monroe and
Livingston received a surprising offer.

France offered to sell the entire Louisiana Territory!!

New Orleans

Jefferson Takes Office

Chapter 9 Section 1

Jefferson
hesitated
to approve
the Was it
purchase. constitutional?

In the end, Jefferson decided that the purchase

was constitutional because the President is able to
make treaties with foreign countries.
Jefferson Takes Office
Chapter 9 Section 1

After buying the

Louisiana Territory in
1803, Thomas Jefferson
was eager to have it
explored and mapped.

Jefferson Takes Office

 Chapter 9 Section 1

In 1803, Jefferson convinced Congress to fund a

western expedition.

He chose two army officers to lead the exploration.

Meriwether
William Clark
Lewis

Jefferson Takes Office

Chapter 9 Section 1 Look for a
waterway from
Report back
the Mississippi
on the natural
to the Pacific Make
features of the
Ocean. contact with
region.
Native
Americans.

Goals of the western

expedition

Jefferson Takes Office

Chapter 9 Section 1

Jefferson Takes Office

 In your reflection section:
• Lewis & Clark had specific tasks asked of them by Jefferson; including:
• Map the land
• Find a waterway to the Pacific
• Establish diplomatic relationships with the native tribes.
• Additionally, they had the task of completing their journey and bringing their
team back alive.

Imagine you had been chosen to be part of the Corps

of Discovery (their team):
What skills do you possess that would have proven
useful to their survival and the accomplishment of
their goals?