America Under Thomas Jefferson:
1800-1808
The Louisiana Purchase and the
Lewis and Clark Expedition
From the Series
America's Early Years: 1789-1816
Produced by
Ancient Lights Educational Media
Distributed by...
800.323.9084 | FAX 847.328.6706 | www.unitedlearning.com
This video is the exclusive property of the copyright holder. Copying, transmitting, or reproducing in any form, or
by any means, without prior written permission from the
copyright holder is prohibited (Title 17, U.S. Code Sections
501 and 506).
© 2003 Ancient Lights Educational Media
Table of Contents
Introduction to the Series
. . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Introduction to the Program . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Links to Curriculum Standards . . . . . . . . . .2
Instructional Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Pre-Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Student/Audience Preparation . . . . . . . . . .4
Student/Audience Objectives . . . . . . . . . . .5
Introducing the Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
View the Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Discussion Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Description of Blackline Masters . . . . . . . .7
Extended Learning Activities . . . . . . . . . . .8
Answer Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Script of Narration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
This video is closed captioned.
The purchase of this program entitles the user to the right to reproduce or duplicate, in whole or in part, this teacher’s guide and the
blackline master handouts that accompany it for the purpose of
teaching in conjunction with this program, America Under
Thomas Jefferson: 1800-1808 The Louisiana Purchase and the
Lewis and Clark Expedition. This right is restricted only for use
with this program. Any reproduction or duplication in whole or in
part of this guide and the blackline master handouts for any purpose other than for use with this program is prohibited.
CLASSROOM/LIBRARY
CLEARANCE NOTICE
This program is for instructional use. The cost of each
program includes public performance rights as long as
no admission charge is made. Public performance rights
are defined as viewing of a video in the course of face-toface teaching activities in a classroom, library, or similar
setting devoted to instruction.
Closed Circuit Rights are included as a part of the public
performance rights as long as closed-circuit transmission
is restricted to a single campus. For multiple locations,
call your United Learning representative.
Television/Cable/Satellite Rights are available. Call your
United Learning representative for details.
Duplication Rights are available if requested in large
quantities. Call your United Learning representative for
details.
Quantity Discounts are available for large purchases. Call
your United Learning representative for information and
pricing. Discounts, and some special services, are not
applicable outside the United States.
Your suggestions and recommendations are welcome.
Feel free at any time to call United Learning
at 1-800-323-9084.
America Under Thomas Jefferson: 1800-1808
The Louisiana Purchase and the
Lewis and Clark Expedition
From the Series America's Early Years: 1789-1816
Grades 5-9
Viewing Time: 14 minutes with a one-minute,
five-question Video Quiz
INTRODUCTION TO THE SERIES
This standards-based series of programs for grades 5-9
examines the formative years of the American Republic,
beginning with the presidency of George Washington and
ending with the election of President James Monroe.
These programs focus on key events that shaped the history of the United States. Major topics included are:
• Launching of the American "ship of state."
• The contributions of founding fathers.
• The Louisiana Purchase.
• The War of 1812.
• United States expansion and how it affected American
Indians and foreign powers.
• How industrialization, immigration, expansion of slavery,
and westward movement changed the lives of Americans
and led toward regional tensions.
• The extension, restriction, and reorganization of American political democracy.
INTRODUCTION TO THE PROGRAM
America Under Thomas Jefferson: 1800-1808 is intended for use in grades 5-9. This program examines
important events that occurred during the presidency of
Thomas Jefferson. Topics presented are:
• The election of 1800 and the transition from Federalist
to Democratic-Republican control of the presidency.
1
• Thomas Jefferson's goals as President.
• John Adams's appointment of the "Midnight Judges."
• The Barbary Wars (1801-1815) to protect American
ships from pirates.
• The Supreme Court's ruling in the case of Marbury vs.
Madison.
• The Louisiana Purchase.
• The expedition of Lewis and Clark.
• Jefferson's imposition of trade restrictions with the passage of the Embargo Act of 1807.
• Robert Fulton's steamboat.
• Zebulon Pike's explorations of the Southwest.
LINKS TO CURRICULUM STANDARDS
This program is correlated to the McREL U.S. History
Standards, a compendium of national and state standards (www.mcrel.org/about).
U.S. History: ERA 3 Revolution and the New Nation
(1754-1820s)
Standard 8
Understands the institutions and practices of government
created during the Revolution and how these elements
were revised between 1787 and 1815 to create the foundation of the American political system based on the U.S.
Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
Benchmarks
• Understands the establishment of power and significant
events in the development of the U.S. Supreme Court
(e.g., the role of Chief Justice Marshall in the growth of
the court, Article III of the Constitution, Judiciary Act of
1789, Marbury vs. Madison).
• Understands the development and impact of the American party system (e.g., social, economic, and foreign policy issues of the 1790s; influence of the French
2
Revolution on American politics; the rise of the Federalist
and Democratic-Republican parties; the election of 1800;
the appointment of the "Midnight Ludges").
• Understands influences on the ideas established by the
Constitution (e.g., the ideas behind the distribution of powers and the system of checks and balances; the influence of 18th century republican ideals and the economic
and political interests of different regions on the compromises reached in the Constitutional Convention).
U.S. History: ERA 4 Expansion and Reform (18011861)
Standard 9
Understands the United States territorial expansion between 1801 and 1861, and how it affected relations with
external powers and Native Americans.
Benchmarks
• Understands the factors that led to U.S. territorial expansion in the Western Hemisphere.
• Understands the short-term political and long-term cultural impacts of the Louisiana Purchase (e.g., those who
opposed and supported the acquisition, the impact on
Native Americans between 1801 and 1861).
• Understands the significance of the Lewis and Clark
Expedition (e.g., its role as a scientific expedition, its contributions to friendly relations with Native Americans).
• Understands the causes and consequences of the agricultural and industrial revolutions from 1700 to 1850.
Topics
1. Development of the Supreme Court
2. Development, ideology, and structure of political systems
3. Territorial expansion in the United States, early 19th
century
4. Expansion, exploration, and conquest
3
INSTRUCTIONAL NOTES
Before presenting this lesson to your students, we suggest that you preview the program, review the guide and
the accompanying Blackline Master activities in order to
familiarize yourself with their content.
As you review the materials presented in this guide, you
may find it necessary to make some changes, additions,
or deletions to meet the specific needs of your class. We
encourage you to do so; for only by tailoring this program
to your class will they obtain the maximum instructional
benefits afforded by the materials.
PRE-TEST
Pre-Test is an assessment tool intended to gauge student
comprehension of the objectives prior to viewing the program. Explain that they are not expected to get all the
answers correct. You can remind your students that these
are key concepts that they should focus on while watching the program.
STUDENT/AUDIENCE PREPARATION
Set up a Learning Center with images relevant to the topics presented in this program, such as significant political
leaders; a chart defining characteristics of America's first
political parties; an outline of the Marbury vs. Madison
case; pictures of the Barbary States (Algeria, Morocco,
Tunisia, Libya); a timeline of the Lewis and Clark
Expedition; and highlighted maps depicting sites of important events, boundaries, new states.
4
STUDENT/AUDIENCE OBJECTIVES
After viewing the program and completing the follow-up
activities, students should be able to:
• Explain the meaning of the term "Revolution of 1800."
• Explain why John Adams chose the "Midnight Judges."
• Describe the importance of the case of Marbury vs. Madison.
• Describe America's territorial boundaries and their expansion from 1800 to 1808.
• Discuss the impact of America's expansion on the lives
of Native Americans.
• Trace the route of the Lewis and Clark Expedition and
explain its purpose and significance.
• Describe the events surrounding the Louisiana Purchase.
• Explain why Thomas Jefferson ordered naval vessels to
the Barbary Coast.
• Describe Thomas Jefferson's goals with the Embargo
Act of 1807.
• Explain the importance of Robert Fulton's steamboat.
INTRODUCING THE PROGRAM
Duplicate and administer Blackline Master #1, Pre-Test.
Remind your students that they are not expected to know
5
all the answers. Suggest that they use these questions as
a guide for taking notes on the key concepts while viewing the program. Introduce this program with a discussion.
VIEW THE PROGRAM
Running Time: 14 minutes plus a one-minute, five-question Video Quiz.
Hand out Blackline Master #3, Video Quiz.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
After viewing the program, you may find it helpful to discuss key concepts as a class. You may choose to use
these questions to begin a discussion prior to viewing the
program. You should avoid answering questions directly.
Feel free to delete questions to suit the needs of your
class.
1. The first decade of the 19th century was a time of enormous growth for the United States. How did U.S. territorial expansion and white settlement impact the lives of Native Americans?
2. The founding fathers built a system of checks and balances into the Constitution. How was this system intended to work?
3. What was the significance of the Marbury vs. Madison
case of 1803, and how did the decision in the case affect
the course of U.S. history?
4. What was the purpose of the Embargo Act of 1807?
5. How did the election of 1800 alter the development and
direction of the American government?
6
DESCRIPTION OF BLACKLINE MASTERS
Blackline Master #1, Pre-Test, is an assessment tool intended to gauge student comprehension of the objectives
prior to viewing the program.
Blackline Master #2, Post-Test, is an assessment tool to
be administered after viewing the program and completing additional activities. The results of this as-sessment
can be compared to the results of the Pre-Test to determine the change in student comprehension be-fore and
after participation in this lesson.
Blackline Master #3, Video Quiz, is intended to reinforce
the key concepts of the program following the presentation of the program. Student awareness that a Video
Quiz will be given also helps promote attention to the
video presentation.
Blackline Master #4, Crossword Puzzle, is a puzzle
game based on information presented in the Vocabulary.
Blackline Master #5, Timeline and Activity, is a chronological list of events pertaining to important events that
occurred between 1800 and 1808.
Blackline Masters #6 and #7, Vocabulary List and
Activity, include important names, places, and words
relating to events that occurred at this time in history.
Blackline Master #8, Map Exercise, directs students to
locate geographical features relevant to this program.
7
EXTENDED LEARNING ACTIVITIES
Field trips to historic sites are the best way to savor the
flavor of America's early days. Research papers, oral
reports, news reports, or PowerPoint® presentations could
be done on the following subjects:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Invention and early uses of the steam engine
Explorations of Zebulon Pike
Embargo Act of 1807
The Aaron Burr-Alexander Hamilton Duel
The Revolution of 1800
The Barbary Wars
The Case of Marbury vs. Madison
The Louisiana Purchase
John Marshall and the Supreme Court
Research Project: Have students research and prepare a
diagram comparing the United States in 1800 to 1850,
1900, 1950, and 2000 in terms of all or some of the following items:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
national population
size of the five largest cities
percent of rural versus urban population
average age of the population
average life expectancy for men and for women
literacy
infant mortality
number of states
family size
immigrant population and principal nations of origin
8
ANSWER KEY
Blackline Master #1, Pre-Test
1. False. He was the third U.S. President.
2. True
3. False. It made it illegal for U.S. ships to sail to foreign
ports.
4. False. Jefferson believed in less power for the federal
government and wished to increase states' rights.
5. True
6. True
7. True
8. False. Napoleon sold the Louisiana Territory to the United States for less than three cents an acre.
9. True
10. False. Mass transportation in 1807 was carried out by
ships or horse-drawn carriages. Trains were not in use in
1807.
Blackline Master #2, Post-Test
True or False
1. True
2. True
3. True
4. False. Fort Dearborn was built in Illinois and later grew
into the great city of Chicago.
5. False. The steamboat operated on the Hudson River
between Albany and New York City.
Fill in the Blank
1. Embargo Act of 1807, decrease
2. Sacajawea, Lewis and Clark Expedition
3. Louisiana Purchase
4. Aaron Burr
5. John Marshall, unconstitutional, Marbury vs. Madison
9
Short Answer
Answers will vary, however, but should include some of
the following key points.
1. Up until the election of Thomas Jefferson, the presidency had been in the hands of Federalists. As a Democratic-Republican, Jefferson brought a whole new set of
ideals to the office of President. Jefferson's party
espoused a smaller role for the federal government in the
lives of Americans and increased states' rights along with
the vision of an American nation in which most people
lived on their own small farms instead of industrialized
cities.
2. The Louisiana Purchase of 1803 doubled the size of
the United States for less than three cents an acre. The
United States purchased this land from Napoleon, the
ruler of France. Napoleon needed the money to wage his
wars in Europe.
3. The case of Marbury vs. Madison of 1803 had a significant impact on the judicial branch of government. The
case was brought by a man named Marbury against
Secretary of State James Madison. Marbury was a
"Midnight Judge" appointed by President John Adams
during his last days in office. Madison blocked his judgeship by refusing to grant the official commission Marbury
needed to assume his office. Marbury took the case all
the way to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court ruled
that part of the law under which Marbury had been
appointed was actually unconstitutional because it
authorized the use of powers not permitted by the U.S.
Constitution. This was the first time the Supreme Court
overturned a law enacted by Congress. By doing so, the
judicial branch exercised its right to act as a check on
improper activities in another branch of government.
10
Blackline Master #3, Video Quiz
1. False. Midnight Judges were appointed to preserve the
power of the Federalist Party.
2. False. Lewis and Clark explored far to the north of
Texas.
3. True
4. True
5. False. Burr killed Alexander Hamilton.
Blackline Master #4, Crossword Puzzle
1
2
F U L T O N
O
3
J
U
4
E
F
F
8
L E W I
R
5
P I
K E
6
S
M
I
I
S A N D C L A R K
N
S
9
7
A
E
D
M
A
B
M
10
B A R B A R Y S T A T E S
S
I
O
S
U
R
N
S
R
G
I
R
O
P
P
I
11
Blackline Master #5, Timeline Activity
A. Napoleon crowned emperor of France __1__
U.S. federal offices move to Washington, D.C. __2__
B. War with the Barbary States is declared __1__
Fort Dearborn established __2__
C. End of Lewis and Clark Expedition __2__
Louisiana Purchase __1__
D. Ohio Statehood __1__
Lewis and Clark Expedition begins __2__
E. Importing of slaves made illegal __2__
Total U.S. population is 5.3 million __1__
Blackline Master #7, Vocabulary Activity
1. Monticello
2. John Adams
3. Louisiana Purchase
4. checks and balances
5. duel
Blackline Master #8, Map Exercise
12
SCRIPT OF NARRATION
Introduction: America in 1800
The year 1800 was the dawning of a brand new century,
and with it came the election of Thomas Jefferson, the
third United States president. Under Jefferson, the country would undergo big changes both in its politics and in
its size. In 1800, U.S. territory still ended at the Mississippi River. At that time the American nation was composed of just the thirteen original states plus three new
states—those of Vermont, Kentucky, and Tennessee.
There were five million, three hundred thousand people
living in the United States in 1800 and, out of these, about
900,000 were African-American slaves. Back then the
lands between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River were just starting to fill up with white settlers. However, this region was still home to fairly large
numbers of Native Americans, many of whom had been
driven off their lands in the East. In 1800, half the U.S.
population was under the age of sixteen, and most people lived in the country. In fact, only one in 25 Americans
was a city dweller. And at that time Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was the largest U.S. city with 69,000 inhabitants.
The first year of the 19th century was also the year a
brand new American city, Washington, D.C., first opened
for business as the capital of the United States of
America.
The Revolution of 1800 and "Midnight Judges"
The election in which Thomas Jefferson defeated John
Adams for president has been called the "Revolution of
1800" because that year control of the executive branch
of government shifted from the Federalist to the
Democratic-Republican Party. Up until 1800, Federalists
had always controlled the presidency. After the election of
Thomas Jefferson, a revolutionary new set of ideals,
13
based on a smaller role for the federal government, went
into effect. John Adams realized that the loss of the presidency meant that his party's influence had been drastically reduced. And so he used his remaining weeks in
office appointing judges who held strong Federalist views
so that Federalist ideals would be preserved long into the
future. These appointees came to be called the "Midnight
Judges." One of these men, John Marshall, would serve
as the powerful Chief Justice of the Supreme Court for 34
years. And it was under Marshall's guidance that the U.S.
Supreme Court finally achieved the same level of power
possessed by the executive and legislative branches of
government.
Thomas Jefferson Takes Charge: 1801-1802
Thomas Jefferson took charge of the federal government
in 1801, and he was a man of tremendous ability. Jefferson was the principle author of the Declaration of
Independence, he had served as America's minister to
France, secretary of state, and vice-president. Besides
that, the new president was also a gifted inventor and a
skilled architect. In fact, Jefferson personally designed his
home, Monticello, seen here, as well as this building, the
state capitol of Virginia.
As leader of the Democratic-Republican Party, Jefferson
had a much different vision for the American nation than
the Federalists who had come before him. He aimed to
reduce the power of the federal government, to increase
state's rights and he wanted to see most Americans living
wholesome lives on small farms, instead of struggling in
crowded, industrialized cities. Jefferson actively worked
to abolish certain taxes, to reduce the national debt, and
to pardon people imprisoned under the Federalist's Alien
and Sedition Acts. Furthermore, during his first year in
office, President Jefferson ordered the U.S. Navy into
action off the coast of Africa, the first time in history that
the American military had been sent to fight overseas.
14
The Barbary Wars: 1801-1815
For many years trading ships that sailed off the north
coast of Africa, where the Sahara Desert meets the
Mediterranean Sea, were harassed by pirates from the
Barbary States, today's countries of Morocco, Algeria,
Tunisia and Libya. Trading ships were required to either
pay the Barbary States for "protection," or else have their
cargoes seized and their crews held for ransom. In fact,
by the time Thomas Jefferson took office in 1801, the U.S.
government had already paid out ten million dollars in
"protection" money. That was why President Jefferson
ordered American naval vessels to the Mediterranean
Sea. They included this famous ship, the U.S.S. Constitution. At first the war centered on the city of Tripoli,
whose harbor was blockaded and shelled by U.S. warships. During the blockade, one American ship, the Philadelphia, was captured and then destroyed. The war with
Tripoli ended after four years of fighting, but it wasn't until
1815 that the United States achieved a final victory over
the Barbary States.
The Case of Marbury vs. Madison, 1803
During the early days of the Barbary Wars, Secretary of
State James Madison became involved in one of the most
important legal battles in U.S. history. The case involved
a man by the name of William Marbury, one of the
"Midnight Judges" appointed by John Adams during his
final days as president. Marbury needed an official commission in order to start work as a judge. Madison, however, refused to grant the document and the U.S.
Supreme Court got involved. The high court's decision
was written by another Midnight Judge, Chief Justice
John Marshall. The court ruled that the law under which
Marbury's commission was authorized should be overturned because it permitted certain powers that violated
the Constitution. By declaring the law unconstitutional, for
the first time in history, the Supreme Court had exercised
15
one of the basic checks and balances built into the
Constitution. Because in the case of Marbury vs.
Madison, the judicial branch of government had thrown
out a law enacted by Congress.
The Louisiana Purchase, 1803
In 1803, while the Supreme Court deliberated the case of
Marbury vs. Madison, President Jefferson learned that a
huge area of land west of the Mississippi River called the
Louisiana Territory was once again under the control of
France. Jefferson knew this change could be good for
America and so he sent his close friend, James Monroe,
to Paris in an attempt to buy the then French city of New
Orleans. To Monroe's surprise, France's ruler, Napoleon,
offered to sell the entire Louisiana Territory for 15 million
dollars, a sale that would double the size of the United
States for less than three cents an acre.
As the details of the transaction were being worked out,
Ohio joined the union as the 17th state, and a small outpost called Fort Dearborn was founded on Lake Michigan
that would eventually give rise to the great city of Chicago. A short time later, in March of 1804, the Louisiana
Purchase had been completed, and here in New Orleans,
the French flag came down; and for the first time in history, the flag of the United States began to fly over the vast
Louisiana Territory.
The Lewis and Clark Expedition, 1804-1806
Two months after the U.S. flag was raised in New
Orleans, Thomas Jefferson sent an expedition out to
explore the lands of the Louisiana Territory and the unclaimed Oregon Territory that lay beyond it. Two men,
Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, were selected to
lead the expedition consisting of over 40 explorers. The
Lewis and Clark Expedition left St. Louis in May of 1804.
Traveling in small boats, they headed up the Missouri
River hoping to find an easy route to the Pacific Ocean.
16
That July, although the explorers knew nothing about it,
there was a great national scandal. Aaron Burr, America's
vice-president, shot and killed his political foe, Alexander
Hamilton, in a pistol duel.
Meanwhile, after travelling 1000 miles (1600 km) Lewis
and Clark decided to encamp for the winter in what is now
North Dakota. And that was where they met a NativeAmerican woman named Sacajawea, who agreed to
guide them to the Pacific. In the spring the expedition
headed west again. They passed huge herds of buffalo,
skirted around the Great Falls of the Missouri River,
crossed the Rocky Mountains, and navigated down
streams that flowed into the mighty Columbia River. The
explorers paddled through this deep rocky gorge that cuts
through the Cascade Mountains. And finally in November
of 1805, they reached the Pacific Ocean.
In the woods in what is today Oregon the explorers constructed a log fortification they called Fort Clatsop. Here
they suffered through a long, wet winter and planned their
return journey. The expedition left Fort Clatsop in March
of 1806 and headed east. And when they reached the
Rocky Mountains, the explorers split into two groups and
followed different routes back to the Missouri River. In
August, the groups reunited and by late September they
had reached St. Louis.
The Lewis and Clark Expedition proved to be very important because it boosted U.S. claims to the Oregon Territory; but even more importantly, the explorers had provided the government with a treasure-trove of detailed
information about the American West.
Robert Fulton, Zebulon Pike, and the Embargo Act of
1807
The year after the triumphal return of Lewis and Clark,
17
1807, several events occurred that were important in
shaping the course of American history. The first happened here on the Hudson River where the world's first
commercially successful steamboat service began to
operate between Albany and New York City. Although
Robert Fulton, the man that started this service, was not
the first to use a steam engine for transportation, Fulton's
steamboat designs inspired the large riverboats that
became a popular form of mass transportation a few
decades later.
1807 was also the year that explorer Zebulon Pike returned to the United States after leading a two-year expedition that had crossed the plains of Kansas, entered the
Rocky Mountains of Colorado, and passed down through
the Spanish territories of New Mexico and Texas.
The third big event of the year was the passage of a tough
law that prohibited American ships from sailing to foreign
ports called the Embargo Act of 1807. By placing severe
restrictions on trade through an embargo, President
Jefferson hoped to force a halt to foreign interference with
U.S. shipping. But what happened instead was that the
embargo on trade almost completely paralyzed the
American economy.
And such was the state of the nation during the election
year of 1808 that saw James Madison elected as the
fourth President of the United States.
18
Video Quiz
1. True or False? During his last weeks in office, John
Adams appointed "Midnight Judges" to preserve the
power of the Democratic-Republican Party.
2. True or False? Lewis and Clark explored Texas.
3. True or False? In the case of Marbury vs. Madison, the
Supreme Court overturned a law enacted by Congress.
4. True or False? The first time America's military fought
overseas was during the Barbary Wars.
5. True or False? Vice-President Aaron Burr killed John
Adams in a pistol duel.
19
20