Download The Lewis and Clark Expedition

Source: This map was downloaded from the Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection of the University of Texas at Austin.
This map is Territorial Growth 1810 from the U.S. National Atlas, 1970.
Napoleon’s Failed attempt to conquer the world
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Napoleon had dreamed of an empire in the New World
After losing the French and Indian war, the port of New Orleans was
turned over to Spain, but in a secret treaty, they returned it to France
and Napoleon planned to colonize the American territory.
Just before turning it over to France, Spain closed the port to American
shipping.
Three-eighths of the shipping of the U.S. was conducted through this
port and the US threatened to go to war with France and Spain.
Napoleon’s had just lost an attempt to colonize the West Indies,
(Toussaint L’Ouverture) and lost interest in colonizing the Americas.
He decided to offer the sale of all of Louisiana to the United States for
$15 million.
Because Jefferson was a strict
contitutionalist, he was troubled.
The constitution did not say
anything about the President’s
right to buy land BUT, his idea of
a republic of small farms needed
land to expand.
 Jefferson would end up using the
Elastic Clause [Article I, Section
8, Clause 18] that he despised.
 Ironically the Federalist argued
against the purchase. Their main
concern was the addition of
more voters for the Jeffersonian
Republicans.
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The Louisiana Territory
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The U.S. doubled its size
and acquired 800,000
square miles for three cents
per acre
The U.S. received the
western half of the richest
river valley in the world
We were guaranteed the
Mississippi waterway to the
Gulf of Mexico included
New Orleans
It would pave the way for
the westward expansion of
the United States
The Lewis and Clark Expedition
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The plan for the expedition was actually laid out before
the actual purchase was made.
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The leaders of this “Corps of Discovery” would be
Meriwether Lewis and William Clark.
◦ Lewis was a former army captain who had been an assistant to
President Jefferson.
◦ Clark had fought as a military man against Indians of the Ohio Valley.
• Sacagawea, a Shoshone female,
became scout and translator when
the group reached Bismarck, South
Dakota for the winter. She would be
crucial in helping the expedition
succeed.
The group set out in May of 1804 from a spot near St. Louis.
 The trail extended from the Missouri River through the Rockies and along the Columbia River to
the Pacific Ocean.
 The expedition would give basis for the U.S. claim to Oregon. It would open the West to trade and
exploration.
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Lewis and Clark were to
dispel the mysteries of the
West.
◦ Woolly mammoths, unicorns, and
seven-foot tall beavers.
◦ Some maps showed California as an
island.
◦ There was still hope for finding a
“northwest passage”
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And record what actually WAS
there.
◦ Make maps.
◦ Record landforms and bodies of
water.
◦ Recorded plant and animal life in the
Louisiana area.
Zebulon Pike was sent out
to search the headwaters of
the Mississippi River to find
the origin of the Missouri
River.
 Pike set out in August of
1805 from Fort Bellfontaine,
near St. Louis.
 Between 1806-1807, Pike
went into Colorado and
New Mexico.
 Pike sighted Pike’s peak in
Colorado.
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www.wallpaperdave.com/pike.htm
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How did the Louisiana Purchase
contribute to the economic growth of the
United States?
1812
Although The
Louisiana Purchase
opened up more
trade opportunities
for the United States,
it would lead to
problems with Britain.
Causes of War of 1812
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England partially blockaded American
ports
◦ Only allowed some American ships to bring
provisions to Europe which angered France
and put American merchants in a difficult
position.
◦ American sea trade suffered
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British Impressment of Sailors
◦ British kidnapped American sailors to
work on British ships.
Embargo Act of 1807
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Instead of declaring war, Jefferson ceased
foreign trade completely
Embargo Act of 1807
◦ American ships are not allowed to sail to
foreign ports.
◦ Closed American ports to British ships
It was a disaster and is repealed just before
James Madison takes over as President.
Madison Declares War!
England didn’t really want to go to war
with US because they were already
fighting France
 British announced they wouldn’t interfere
with US trade, but US did not get the
information until several weeks after
declaring war. (Mail was slow!)
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WAR OF 1812…in brief!
In the beginning, England is also at war
with France.
 Us Navy although small, won great
victories.
 British burned the Capitol building and
President’s mansion and attacked Fort
McHenry
 In December, 1814, dozens of British ships
and 7500 British troops approached
Louisiana.
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Battle of New Orleans
Americans put together an
army under the command
of General Andrew Jackson.
 Jackson was victorious!
 Although it made Jackson a hero, the battle
was unnecessary.
 The Treaty of Ghent, which ended the war,
had been signed two weeks earlier on
Christmas Eve.
 Slow mail (AGAIN)!
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FUN FACT!
During one of the battles (Fort McHenry),
Francis Scott Key wrote “The Star
Spangled Banner”.
 He watched the all night battle and was
encouraged at dawn, when he saw the flag
still flying, to express his pride in song.
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Effects of War of 1812
Increased patriotism
 Broke the strength of the Native
Americans (they had sided with the
British)
 MOST IMPORTANTLY
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◦ The interruption of trade forced Americans
to make their own goods.
◦ This encouraged the growth of US
manufacturers and will lead to the Industrial
Revolution.
CLOSING QUESTION
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Would you agree that the War of 1812
should be called the “Second War for
Independence”? Explain your answer.