Web Quest- Louisiana Purchase and Lewis Clark PDF

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PVCC US HIS 121

Unit 3: Early Republicanism

WebQuest- Louisiana Purchase/Lewis & Clark

Share or email to me at [email protected] Part I: Read the following article and answer the two questions that follow. In 1800, many Americans were moving west. Almost one million Americans lived between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River. A lot of them were farmers. There were not many roads in this part of the country. Farmers had a hard time selling the plants and animals that came from their farms. Because of this, they used the Mississippi River to ship their goods. They would put the items on boats. Then they would send the boats down the river. The goods would go to New Orleans. At New Orleans, the goods would be put on ships and taken to other ports. Spain was in charge of New Orleans until 1800. In 1800, Spain signed a treaty with France. France was then in charge of New Orleans. President Thomas Jefferson was very worried. The French ruler may stop Americans from using the port. Jefferson was right to be worried. The ruler of France wanted to use the port for his own country. He also hoped to start his own empire in North America. Part of the plans included Haiti. Unfortunately for the leader in France, the slaves in Haiti decided to revolt. The slaves managed to drive France out of the country. Haiti then declared its independence. The ruler of France was not happy. His plans to have an empire in America had not worked as he had hoped. After losing Haiti, he gave up on the plan. He also needed money to pay for wars in Europe. These wars had been very expensive. The time was perfect for America to make a move. Jefferson decided to try and buy New Orleans. He wanted to make sure that Americans would always be able to use the port. Two men went to France to try and buy the port and part of Florida. Jefferson told them they could spend no more than ten million dollars to buy the land. At first, France did not want to sell the land. But suddenly France said that the United States could buy all of the Louisiana Territory, not just New Orleans. The men were stunned. President Jefferson had told them to buy New Orleans. At first, they weren't sure what to do. They decided that President Jefferson would be happy to have the chance to buy all of the territory. The United States paid fifteen million dollars to buy the land. This meant that the land cost less than three cents an acre. The United States bought more than five hundred thirty million acres. This one action doubled the land of the United States. It is about twenty - two percent of the land in the United States today. In April of 1803, a treaty between the two countries was signed. Jefferson told the American people about it in July of that year. At first, Jefferson wasn't sure that it was legal. The Constitution did not say that a president could buy land. In the end, Jefferson decided it was all right. The president has the power to make treaties. The United States Senate approved the treaty. The land now belonged to the United States. Congress made plans for the new territory. It said the president could use the military if it was needed. Plans were also started for people to explore the large, new territory. These plans would soon lead to the Lewis and Clark expedition. In December of 1803, a ceremony was held in New Orleans. The French flag was lowered from a flagpole. In its place went an American flag. Soon, more and more Americans would move into this new territory. At first, most people stayed close to the east. But before long, more people were moving closer to the Rocky Mountains. Buying this land was probably the greatest thing that President Thomas Jefferson did. It would also lead to more trouble. Native Americans would not be happy with the number of Americans moving into land they felt was theirs. They would begin to fight back. Mexico would also become unhappy with the number of Americans who would move into land they thought belonged to them. Even with all of this trouble looming in the future, the purchase of this land would help the United States grow into a strong, independent country. 1. Why was the Louisiana Purchase important for the United States?

2. How might the United States be different today if President Jefferson had not bought the Louisiana Territory?

PVCC US HIS 121 Unit 3: Early Republicanism WebQuest- Louisiana Purchase/Lewis & Clark Part II: Using the article above and information below compose a paragraph addressing this prompt: “Did President Jefferson make the correct choice when he authorized the purchase of Louisiana without Congressional approval? Reasons to support the Louisiana Purchase 1. The United States would double in size as a country. 2. France is ready to sell now, we cannot wait and argue over what the Constitution says. 3. We will become a stronger nation because we will have more resources and trade opportunities. 4. It is an opportunity to become friends with the Indian nations in the territory and learn about them. 5. We will control the Mississippi River, and the entire river all the way from the north to New Orleans. 6. We will learn more about the lands and resources of the area and this can only help our society. 7. Controlling this huge area of land will only expand the American ideas of freedom and liberty. Reasons to oppose the Louisiana Purchase 1. The Constitution does not give the President any authority to buy lands. 2. If we ignore the Constitution on this subject, what is next? 3. As we expand into this territory, conflict with Native people is inevitable 4. Trying to control the Mississippi River and New Orleans will only lead to conflict with other nations later on. Are we strong enough to defend our interests? 5. It is a large piece of land that is hard to control. 6. You speak of expanding freedom and liberty; yet, you are not paying attention to the Constitution!

Paragraph: I am looking for a clear thesis that directly addresses the prompt and at least 3 supports.

PVCC US HIS 121 Unit 3: Early Republicanism WebQuest- Louisiana Purchase/Lewis & Clark Part III: Read the following excerpts and quick review. Use both to answer the following questions. Louisiana Purchase Quick review In 1800, when the armies of French ruler Napoleon Bonaparte moved across Europe, pressuring Spain into a corner, the Territory of Louisiana (New Orleans) and a huge slice of land controlled by Spain in the now central United States (an estimated 827,987sq miles in size) was ceded back to France by Spain via the Treaty of San Ildefonso. On April 1, 1803, the United States of America was comprised of lands east of the Mississippi River, including a handful of states (17), and the Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Mississippi Territories. At that time, besides the French Territory of Louisiana; modern-day Florida was still governed by Spain, and in the far west, excluding the British-controlled Oregon Country in the northwest, all available lands were still in the hands of Spain. In 1801, U.S. President Thomas Jefferson began his pursuit of just the French City of New Orleans (French Orleans Territory) in an effort to gain control of Mississippi River access; his $10 million offer was initially rejected by the French. Over the next year Napoleon was actively involved in his growing European military campaign against Britain, as well as other political conflicts in the Americas; apparently stretched-thin, he tired of his Louisiana Territory (and needing focus and funds) he finally wavered, and on April 30, 1803 he authorized the sale of the entire French Territory of Louisiana for $15 million, which included the City of New Orleans; justifiably, President Jefferson was jubilant. The nation-changing Louisiana Purchase subsequently almost doubled the size of the United States overnight. This massive transfer of land included all of present-day Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa; most of Colorado, South Dakota, Montana and Wyoming, as well as significant parts of North Dakota, Minnesota, Texas and Louisiana. Parts of it also extended into what is now Canada for a short period of time. Eventually Spain ceded (lost) all of its territories to the United States, beginning in Florida in 1819, as the modern-shape of the U.S.A. finally came together. 1.) What did the Treaty of San Ildefonso accomplish?

2.) How large was the Louisiana Territory?

3.) Why did Thomas Jefferson want the city of New Orleans?

4.) How much money did Napoleon sell the Louisiana Territory to the U.S. for?

5.) What did the purchase of Louisiana do to the size of the United States?

from The Journals of Lewis and Clark During their expedition to the West, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark kept detailed journals. Published in 1814, the journals chronicle the progress of the expedition and provide a unique glimpse at life in the West in the early 1800s. As you read this excerpt, think about the kinds of information gathered by the expedition. Monday, April 1st,1805, This morning there was a thunder storm, accompanied with large hail, to which succeeded rain for about half an hour. We availed ourselves of this interval to get all the boats in the water, At four o'clock pm. It began to rain a second time, and continued till twelve at night. With the exception of a few drops at two or three different times, this is the first rain we have had since the l5th of October last.

PVCC US HIS 121

Unit 3: Early Republicanism

WebQuest- Louisiana Purchase/Lewis & Clark

Tuesday. The wind was high last night and this morning from N. W. and the weather continued cloudy. The Mandans killed yesterday twenty-one elk, about fifteen miles below, but they were so poor as to be scarcely fit for use. Wednesday. The weather is pleasant thought here was a white frost and some ice on the edge of the water. We were all engaged in packing up our baggage and merchandise. Thursday, The day is clear and pleasant though the wind is high from N. W. We now packed up in different boxes a variety of articles for the president, which we shall send in the barge. They consisted of a stuffed male and female antelope with their skeletons, a weasel, three squirrels from the Rocky mountains', the skeleton of the prairie wolf, those of the white and gray hare, a male and female blaireau, or burrowing dog of the prairie, with a skeleton of the female, two burrowing squirrels, a white weasel, and the skin of the louservia, the horns of the mountain ram, or big-horn, a pair of large elk horns, the horns and tail of the blacktailed deer, and a variety of skins, such as those of the red fox, white hare, martin, yellow bear obtained from the Sioux; also, a number of articles of Indian dress, among which was a buffalo robe, representing a battle fought about eight years since between the Sioux and Ricaras against the Mandans and Minnetarees, in which the combatants are represented on horseback. It has of late years excited much discussion to ascertain the period when the art of painting was first discovered: how hopeless all researches of this kind are, is evident from the foregoing fact, It is indebted for its origin to one of the strongest passions of the human heart; a wish to preserve the features of a departed friend, or the memory of some glorious exploit: this inherits equally the bosoms of all men either civilized or savage. Such sketches, rude and imperfect as they are, delineate the predominant character of the savage nations. If they are peaceable and inoffensive, the drawings usually consist of local scenery and their favourite diversions, If the band are rude and ferocious, we observe tomahawks, scalping-knives, bows, arrows, and all the engines of destruction. Also sent were a Mandan bow and quiver of arrows; also some Ricara tobacco-seed and an ear of Mandan corn; to these were added a box of plants, another of insects, and three cases containing a burrowing squirrel, a prairie hen, and four magpies, all alive. Friday. Fair and pleasant, but the wind high from the northwest: we were visited by a number of Mandans, and are occupied in loading our boats in order to proceed on our journey. From Nicholas Biddle, ed., The Journals of the Expedition under the Command of Capts. Lewis and Clark, Volume One (New York: The Heritage Press, 1962),109-110.

l. Name three items gathered by the Lewis and Clark expedition that were sent to President Jefferson.

2. Why do you think members of the Lewis and Clark expedition gathered these particular items?

3. Why was the Lewis and Clark expedition considered a massive success?

4. What impact on America in the East do you think these published accounts had on the West?...