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Thomas Jefferson Webquest
Directions: Today you will complete a webquest to learn about the presidency of
Thomas Jefferson. You will use the links to complete the questions. Tomorrow, we will
review this information and summarize it in chart form.
Inaugural Address
http://www.heritage.org/initiatives/first-principles/primary-sources/jeffersons-firstinaugural-address
The Presidential Election of 1800 caused much conflict between the Federalist and
Republican parties.
 How did Jefferson try to decrease the tensions in his inaugural address?

Provide a quote that reflects this effort.

Why is Jefferson’s speech so significant in the history of the United States?
Louisiana Purchase
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/history/us/1800/louisianapurchase/index.shtml
In _________ President Jefferson bought the Louisiana Territory from ____________.

What did this do to the size of the United States?

What river did the United States gain control of as a result of this purchase?

Who was sent to explore the Louisiana Territory?

The Constitution does not say that presidents can buy land from foreign countries.
How might this be a problem for Jefferson (think of how his view of the
Constitution)?
Lewis and Clark Expedition
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/explorers/page/l/lewisandclark.shtml
 Why did Jefferson send Lewis and Clark into the Louisiana Territory?

How did their journey benefit the United States for years to come (what type of
information did the trip provide)?

Which branch of government do you think had to approve and fund the
expedition? Why?
The Cumberland Road
http://www.cumberlandroadproject.com/
 Why is the Cumberland Road significant?
http://memory.loc.gov/cgibin/ampage?collId=llsp&fileName=037/llsp037.db&recNum=955
Scroll down to the section on the Cumberland Road.
 What two places was the road to connect?

Who out west do you think would benefit most from the road?

How does this reflect Jefferson’s view on the economy?
The Embargo Act
The Napoleonic Wars were taking place in Europe, and both countries passed laws prohibiting
trade with the other nation, or any nation who might be friendly to them. This hurt American
trade so Jefferson responded with the Embargo Act.
http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/wwww/us/embargoactdef.htm

What did the Embargo Act say?
Aside from improving trade, Jefferson hoped to stop the British practice of
impressment.
http://suite101.com/article/the-embargo-act-of-1807-a47980
 What is impressment?

Was this act successful? What group do you think it hurt the most?