Thomas Jefferson & Louisiana Purchase

• Essential Question: What were the benefits and consequences of President Jefferson’s decision to buy New Orleans and the resulting Louisiana Purchase?

In 1800, France and Spain were negotiating

for ownership of Louisiana territory, a vast region between the

Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains.

Louisiana Purchase background:

• France & England at war Napoleon needs $• Port of New Orleans closed to Americans

– Jefferson realizes importance of New Orleans to America

• Jefferson sends Robert Livingston & James Monroe to buy territory from Napoleon

• U.S. buys about for $15 million from Napoleon

Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte of France, who had gained control of the Port of New Orleans and the Louisiana territory, and who was desperate for money,

sold the entire Louisiana territory (828,000 square miles) to the United States for $15

million- about three cents per acre.

Louisiana Purchase doubles size of United States

Louisiana Purchase

Positive:•Doubles area of United States•New Orleans port city now open to United States•Mississippi river connects interior to Gulf Mexico

Negatives:•Land not really France’s to sell

– Leads to years of Native American wars

•Issue of slavery– Issue of

REPRESENTATION (3/5 compromise)

North v South tension

Meriwether Lewis William Clark

Jefferson chose Captain Meriwether Lewis to lead an

exploration into the Louisiana territory. Lewis in turn

recruited his friend Lieutenant William Clark to oversee a volunteer force called the

Corps of Discovery.

The Corps of Discovery came to be known as the Lewis and

Clark expedition.

The goal of the Lewis and Clark expedition was to

establish good relations with the Native Americans and try to find a northwest passage

across the United States.

In 1805 Lewis and Clark were joined by the 17-year-old

Shoshone wife of a French trapper named Sacajawea who

proved an invaluable ambassador to other Native

American tribes.

Lewis and Clark expedition: crossed the U.S. from the Missouri

River to the Pacific Ocean and brought back a wealth of scientific and geographic information. The expedition also

revealed that a northwest water passage did not exist.

Impact of Western exploration from 1804-1807

• Accurate maps

• Growth of the fur trade

• Mistaken view of the Great Plains

Map of Lewis and Clark's Track, Across the Western Portion of North America, published 1814

James Madison & The War of 1812

Essential QUESTION: How did President Madison’s actions, related to protecting American ships and settlers, affect the

United States during this period of American History?

James Madison & War of 1812: some background

James Madison:

•“Father of Constitution”

•Author of Federalist Papers

•But helps Jefferson start Democratic – Republican Party

•Sec. of State to Jefferson

War of 1812:

•US shipping was being harassed, and cargo was seized.

•Impressment: English navy taking U.S. sailors and making them fight for them on their ships

•England at war with Napoleon

•England also backing Indians in North America

What was Madison’s role leading up to The War of 1812?

• Non-Intercourse Act– Forbade trade with France and Britain; however

President could reopen trade when either France or Britain lifted restrictions

• War Hawks– Southern congressmen favored war, even

though it hurt the east

What are some major events leading to The War of 1812?

• Economic Diplomacy Fails– Embargo Act of 1807 halted

all trade with Europe

– Embargo is a government ban on trade with other countries

– Embargo was unpopular in port cities, especially in the North

What were some of the benefits of going to war with Britain?

• To allow reopening of trade

• National Pride

• To stop the impressment of sailors

• CANADA!!!

What were some drawbacks to going to war?

• Not everyone in the US wanted to go to war• Military was small

– Standing Army was small– Militia comprised most of our forces, and they did not

like to fight outside of their state borders– Navy was quite small only 22 ships

• Britain was a great Superpower and could crush us like a bug and we could lose territory that was gained in the Treaty of Paris or the Louisiana Purchase

Declaration of War

• June of 1812 Madison asked Congress for declaration of war

• Vote was split along regional lines

• War started with Invasion of Canada

Key Battles

• US Burns York (now Toronto)– US figured the Canadians would welcome the

Americans and quickly join the US to expel Britain from North America…this did not happen

• Perry Defeated the British on Lake Erie– This gave the US control of Lake Erie

• Britain Blockades the Eastern Seaboard– This prevented shipping from leaving, and made the

war more unpopular in the Northeast

The Roof is on Fire…• In August 1814, British

Forces Sailed into Chesapeake Bay and capture Washington D.C.

• They burn the White House and the Capitol

• Madison and Congress Barely escape

Oh Say Can You See…

• Unlike D.C., Baltimore was Ready for the British

• The City militia inflicted heavy casualties on the British

• After bombarding Fort McHenry on September 13, 1814 The British abandon the attack

• Francis Scott Key witnessed the bombardment and penned a poem which becomes the National Anthem.

Treaty of Ghent

• Treaty was Negotiated in Europe and was signed on Dec. 24, 1814 ending the war of 1812

• The War ended in a stalemate, where no party gained or lost any territory.

• The issue of impressment was not addressed, but faded on its own.

Battle of New Orleans

• Fought after the treaty was signed (but not ratified)

• Why was New Orleans important?

• Pirates and Frontiersman fought alongside US troops

• Made Andrew Jackson a National hero and household name

• Ensured treaty ratification

If The War of 1812 ended in a tie, why was it important?

• Gave the United States a National Identity (Rise of Nationalism)

• America gains respect of other nations• Creates a hero in Andrew Jackson and the Western

Frontiersmen– Inspires more westward movement

• Republican Party gains footing and starts pushing their agenda– Federalists opposed the war that actually ended up benefiting

America and increasing nationalism– Looks good for Republicans