The Louisiana Purchase
Ch. 9 Sec. 2
I. Western Territory
A. Settlers in the less settled areas of the Northwest Territory and in Kentucky and
Tennessee were pioneers. The loaded their belongings onto Conestoga wagons and made
the long, difficult journey over the Appalachian Mountains to the area west of the
Mississippi River known as Louisiana Territory.
Conestoga wagon- sturdy vehicle topped with a white canvas, used to move
west.
1. Louisiana Territory- a large area belonging to Spain. Extended from New Orleans
to the Rocky Mountains in the west, and was undefined to the north.
2. Many pioneers settled near the rivers that fed into the Mississippi River. The
Spanish allowed the settlers to sail on the lower Mississippi and trade in New Orleans.
Farmers could unload goods to then be shipped and sold in the East.
B. In 1802 Spain changed its policy and refused to allow American goods to pass through
New Orleans. Jefferson later confirmed that Spain had transferred the Louisiana Territory
to France in a secret agreement. The U.S. was fearful and surprised that Napoleon
Bonaparte wanted to increase his empire in Europe and the Americas.
Napoleon Bonaparte- leader of France that acquired and then sold the Louisiana
Territory to the U.S.
C. Jefferson authorized the minister to France to offer as much as $10 million for New
Orleans and West Florida.
D. Because of unrest in Santo Domingo (now Haiti and the Dominican Republic),
Napoleon had to cancel his plans for America. He sent troops to crush the revolt against
French rule. Toussaint-Louverture, and former enslaved African, led the revolt. He helped
drive the British and Spanish from the island and end slavery there. The French captured
him but did not regain the island.
II. The Nation Expands
A. America bought the Louisiana Territory from France, not just New Orleans. The French
needed money for Napoleon's war against Britain. Negotiations settled on a price of $15
million for the territory. The size of the United States doubled.
B. The United States ratified the treaty with France in October 1803 to make the Louisiana
Purchase legal. Jefferson was concerned because the Constitution said nothing about
acquiring new territory.
C. Jefferson was interested in knowing more about the lands west of the Mississippi River.
Jefferson saw the expedition as a scientific adventure, while Congress was interested in
commercial possibilities and places for future ports.
D. Meriwether Lewis and William Clark- were sent by Jefferson to explore the new
territory gained in the Louisiana Purchase.
Lewis and Clark Expedition
1. Lewis and Clark put together a crew and left from St. Louis in 1804.
2. They kept a journal of information on plants, animals, people, and geography.
3. A Shoshone woman, Sacagawea, joined the group as a guide.
4. After traveling nearly 4,000 miles in 18 months, they reached the Pacific Ocean.
They spent the winter there and traveled back along different routes.
D. Lieutenant Zebulon Pike- sent by Jefferson to explore the wilderness.
1. Led 2 expeditions into what is now Colorado.
2. He found a snowcapped mountain he called Grand Peak. Today it is called Pikes
Peak.
E. A group of Federalists who opposed the Louisiana Purchase planned to secede from
the Union. They were concerned the new territory would become agricultural and
Republican, and because it was so large they would lose power.
secede- to leave or withdraw
III. Burr and Hamilton
A. The Federalists wanted to form a Northern Confederacy including New York. To get the
New York support, the Federalists supported Aaron Burr for governor of New York.
B. Alexander Hamilton, who never trusted Burr, had heard rumors that Burr had secretly
agreed to lead New York out of the Union. Burr lost the election and blamed Hamilton.
C. Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel with armed pistols. It took place in July 1804 in
Weehawken, New Jersey. Hamilton fired first and missed (intentionally?). Burr then fired
and mortally wounded Hamilton. Hamilton dies the next day. Burr then fled.