Jefferson and U.S. Westward Expansion

In what ways was the new nation transformed and molded by white westward movement?

How were democratic institutions affected by movement? Were they extended?  Strengthened? Or changed?

What was Jefferson's vision for an Empire of Liberty?  How was it to be achieved?

How did westward expansion and territorial acquisition exacerbate or affect regional tensions?  Why?

What historical clues help us understand American ideas about westward expansion?

What do you already know that can help us? Puritans: divine right to the land Puritans: covenant, N.E. town, everyone has right to piece of land

for family Puritans: new lands for family, western frontier, importance of land,

not primogeniture Chesapeake: land hunger, tobacco, cash crops Bacon’s Rebellion: Native Am. Attacks, revolt for land = white

males, regardless of class, got political rights Expansion = issues of slavery, freedom, work, whose control over

issues?

Native Am. Resistance, Pontiac Issues of frontier, causes of Rev., Treaty of Paris ending Am. Rev. doubled

size of U.S. Gold fever: searching for riches on

frontier

Pages, (bottom of) 205-207

Pages, 237-240

What were republican (Democratic-Republican) views on the west?

What were Jefferson’s ideas on the west?

How did republican ideas of the west affect American history?

Document: J. Hector St. John de Crevecoeur’s “What Is an American?”

Main ideas:

Document: Thomas Jefferson’s “Notes on the State of Virginia”

Main ideas:

Pages, 251-253

What are your views on the ideas of an empire of liberty?

What is an empire? Do you see any problems arising from

this goal? Any conflicts? Contradictions? Can you have an empire of liberty?

What was the experience of Native Americans already living in newly acquired U.S. territories?

Were different tribes able to withstand U.S. encroachment?

Were they able to provide a united front?

What problems did they face in resisting U.S. settlers?

Pages, 269-270

How and why were westward expansion and slavery connected?

What were the main issues and battlegrounds of slavery/freedom in the west?

Pages, 293-296

Pages, 298-299

Document, Letter, Jefferson to Holmes, 1820:

Main points:

Link to PBS, Ken Burns, Lewis and Clark: The Journey of the Corps of Discovery