Thomas JeffersonThomas JeffersonThe Louisiana Purchase

Thomas Jefferson

Quick Facts:Quick Facts:

• Wrote the Declaration of Wrote the Declaration of IndependenceIndependence– (1776)(1776)

• Party: Democratic-Republican Party: Democratic-Republican • Served two terms: 1801-1805 and Served two terms: 1801-1805 and

1805-18091805-1809• Philosophy: Federal government Philosophy: Federal government

should be small and not interfere should be small and not interfere in people’s lives (in people’s lives (laissez-fairelaissez-faire).).

• Slave ownerSlave owner

Jefferson’s PlanJefferson’s Plan

• Thomas Jefferson sent Thomas Jefferson sent representatives to France to try to representatives to France to try to buy the city of New Orleans from buy the city of New Orleans from Napoleon Bonaparte.Napoleon Bonaparte.

• Jefferson offered $10 Million for the Jefferson offered $10 Million for the city of New Orleans.city of New Orleans.

• His negotiators were shocked when His negotiators were shocked when the French offered the French offered ALLALL of the of the Louisiana Territory for only Louisiana Territory for only $15 $15 MillionMillion!!

NB

The Louisiana PurchaseThe Louisiana Purchase

13 Colonies13 Colonies

17831783

Mississippi RiverMississippi River

Louisiana Purchase (1803)Louisiana Purchase (1803)

New OrleansNew Orleans

Such a Deal!Such a Deal!

• Jefferson could not pass up such a Jefferson could not pass up such a good deal:good deal:– 530,000,000 acres for $15 million530,000,000 acres for $15 million– It worked out to only It worked out to only 3 cents an acre!3 cents an acre!– The city of Newburgh would cost The city of Newburgh would cost

$70.65 at that price.$70.65 at that price.

Importance of the Louisiana Importance of the Louisiana PurchasePurchase

•It It doubleddoubled the size of the U.S. the size of the U.S.•It gave the U.S. control of the It gave the U.S. control of the Mississippi River and the port of Mississippi River and the port of New Orleans.New Orleans.

Was it constitutional?Was it constitutional?

• Jefferson worried that the Jefferson worried that the Constitution did not give the Constitution did not give the president the power to buy president the power to buy territory.territory.

• How did he justify the purchase?How did he justify the purchase?– The Constitution gives the President The Constitution gives the President

the power to make treaties with other the power to make treaties with other nations.nations.

• The Senate ratified the treaty in The Senate ratified the treaty in 1803.1803.

Lewis and ClarkLewis and Clark

Jefferson asked his Jefferson asked his personal secretary, personal secretary, Merriwether Lewis to Merriwether Lewis to explore the Louisiana explore the Louisiana Territory.Territory.

Lewis asked a friend, Lewis asked a friend, William Clark, to be co-William Clark, to be co-leader on the expedition leader on the expedition they called the Corps of they called the Corps of Discovery.Discovery.

The mission of the Corps The mission of the Corps of Discovery: to explore of Discovery: to explore and report back to and report back to Jefferson on animals, Jefferson on animals, resources, and to map a resources, and to map a route to the Pacific Ocean.route to the Pacific Ocean.

Some Members of the Some Members of the ExpeditionExpedition

MerriwetheMerriwether Lewisr Lewis

WilliamWilliamClarkClark

SacagaweaSacagawea

Clark also brought his slave, Clark also brought his slave, YorkYork. York was a full . York was a full member of the Corps of member of the Corps of Discovery but was returned Discovery but was returned to slavery afterwards.to slavery afterwards.

A Native American translator, she had a baby on the trip.

May 14, 1804 to September 23, May 14, 1804 to September 23, 18061806

Pgs. 286-287

““Gateway to Gateway to the West”the West”

Western ExplorationWestern Exploration

Pg. 284Pg. 284

WildlifeWildlife

The buffalo The buffalo once roamed once roamed the Great Plains the Great Plains by the millions.by the millions.

They were They were hunted almost hunted almost to extinction to extinction but are making but are making a comeback.a comeback.