Louisiana Purchase Dbq Essay

The Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark expeditions were big turning points in American history because of the ability to settle into new lands and to start new businesses and farms in new places. When Thomas Jefferson bought the entire Louisiana territory from Napoleon it was a huge advantage to our economy. It enabled us to start new businesses and farms, thus making us a much richer and more powerful country. Since it enabled America to start new farms it fed into Jeffersons philosophy of wanting a more agricultural economy. This purchase helped our trading significantly, we could trade much easier with different countries because we had access to the Mississippi River. When Jefferson purchased the Louisiana territory from Napoleon he did not really even know what he was buying, except for the size of the territory. So, he sent a group of explorers to document and map out the entire Louisiana territory, this expedition was led by two men named Lewis and Clark. They founded many new animals and set an example for the Americans that would later on settle these areas for how to live in each certain area of the Louisiana purchase. . The Louisiana Purchase followed by Lewis and Clarks expedition were both big investments that payed off huge for America.

The United States had bought a huge unknown piece of land, and there were many questions about this land. Two men named Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were going to answer these questions.

Within this group, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were among the leaders. The Corps of Discovery followed the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers where they were able to make it to the Pacific Ocean. In total, the journey lasted two and a half years and resulted in only one fatality. This expedition helped lead the Americans to leave claim on the Oregon Territory and the population of the Northwest Territory

Jefferson provided Lewis and Clark with many supplies. He provided nothing short of the best quality materials of the time. This included clothing, firearms, rations, and other various equipment. He not only provided them with materials, but also with workers and sailors to aid them along in their journey. There was also a slave named York. Jefferson instructed Lewis and Clark to put on record any possible resources which could sustain further settlement along the lines. The Louisiana Purchase had almost doubled the size of the nation. It was 1803 when they made the intelligent investment.

Both, Lewis and Clark, kept a journal about what they saw, what they learned from the Indians, which tribes lived where, and what food was in that area. This was very important information because nobody knew what to expect when they bought Louisiana. The Indians on the other hand, after their expedition, were scared because they did not want their land taken

Jefferson also made lewis another offer to lead an expedition into the land West of the mississippi. Already eager to know more about these lands, Jefferson’s interest in the area increase of the Louisiana Territory from France in 1803. Jefferson asked lewis to gather information about the plants, animals, and people of the region. Lewis jumped at the chance and selected old friend William Clark to join him as mander of the

In addition to the spread westward, massive amounts of land were gained with the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. The Louisiana Purchase conquered possession on territory west of the Mississippi River that stretched from the Gulf of Mexico to Canada (Roark, 249). President Jefferson came to the reasoning of the US needed to further explore the newly inherited parts of the land added. Acquisition of the Louisiana Territory virtually doubled the territorial extent of the United States, giving the new nation what then seemed to be almost limitless room for expansion. It also made possible the nation’s later expansion to the Pacific Ocean (Loos). Meriwether Lewis and William Clark went on an expedition to later on explore the trans – Mississippi West.

Besides that, Thomas Jefferson had a big interfere that France might dominate New Orleans and soon with other states nearby. Therefore, in order to improve trade market,get more goods as well as get easier access to Mississippi River, he decided to buy New Orleans from Napoleon. Louisiana was purchased to reduce the power of Spain from nearby colony. From the 15 states of Louisiana Purchase, US wanted to get resources such as gold,silver , copper which were used for jewelry mainly ,investing and money. Timber and lumber is vital for manufacturing and economy. Louisiana captivated Americans from 13 colonies to West for bigger opportunies as it gave more land for construction and plantation. Also, United States was able to navigate and study the climate or plants along the Mississippi River and Missouri River. Last and foremost, Manifest destiny which means God has given right to eduacate the outsiders caused the colonists started to explore more land in West. Throughout the thinking of Napoleon, Napoleon thought it’s a right to sell New Orleans because he chose not to have a war with British or US. Also, the slave rebellion made Napoleon to raise on his hackles. Therefore, it was beneficial that he sold New Orleans and earned more profits rather than lost in the war with death and

The intended audience for this journal is President Thomas Jefferson. Thomas Jefferson our third president of the United States of America asked Lewis and Clark to gain information about the Indian tribes along the Mississippi river. He wanted Lewis and Clark to; “inform the natives government’s acquisition, establish friendly relations with them, and record their languages and ways” and lastly he asked them to see if they could find a viable trade route along the Mississippi. (Lewis, 1)

Harrison” written in 1803. Jefferson states “To promote this disposition to exchange lands, which they have to spare and we want, for necessities, which we have to spare and they want, we shall push our trading uses” (189). Jefferson explains the fact that both cultures have a need for materials the other one has in excess, and saw and opportunity to form a double sided trade that benefited both sides. He acknowledged the growing poverty within the Native American societies, and proposed that amicable trade and non violent relations with the white Americans would be the natives best option for the survival and preservation of their own kind. On the other hand, he also believed that peaceful relations with the natives were in his own people's best interest, and that forming sincere friendships and honest relations with the Native Americans was the best way to receive any land or materials they wanted through trade. Jefferson hoped that through this policy a beneficial relationship would arise on both sides, and that this would help create a more cohesive and peaceful

Exploration has always been a central theme in the development of the United States. The Louisiana Purchase, in 1803, made the government more eager to expand west. The newly acquired lands were in need of exploration. A team needed to be established to survey and document the new territory. The Lewis and Clark expedition would answer the unknown questions of the west. The expedition would not have been successful without the leadership, determination, discipline of the Corps of Discovery, and the cooperation of the Native Americans. President Jefferson wanted the leader to have the same passion and intensity toward the discovery of the west as he possessed. Jefferson hand-

The influence of the “Manifest Destiny” and the possible economic rewards were the driving force behind Jefferson’s desire to send Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to go on a three year expedition westwards to the Pacific Ocean in August of 1803. While the journey to the West provided Lewis and Clark was one that was both fascinating and difficult, the journey back home was one that was filled with obstacles. Some of the difficulties faced on the journey home can be attributed to the climate and topography of the land which are recorded in the journals of Lewis and Clark.

many different ports for trading. This also helped the United States Navy, with all these

In the second part of his letter to Harrison, Jefferson wrote, “The crisis is pressing. Whatever can now be obtained must be obtained quickly. The occupation of New Orleans, hourly expected, by the French, is already felt like a light breeze by the Indians.” This excerpt shows Jefferson’s fear of the Indians becoming bold and attacking Americans under the guise of French protection. He knew that after France repossessed Louisiana, that the Indians would be even less likely to move off their lands.

In 1800 Thomas Jefferson was elected president. With the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, Jefferson had the vision of the United States growing from sea to sea. However, it was unknown what was out there. Jefferson planned an exploratory expedition and called upon Meriwether Lewis to lead it. Jefferson was very interested in what was in the west lands. Much was involved in the carrying out of this expedition; the preparations for this trip, what happened during their long journey west, and the return home. This expedition was very important in the development of the United States.