LOUisiana Purchase
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During 1803, Thomas Jefferson purchased approximately 828,000 square miles from France, which is known as the Louisiana Purchase. This was a valuable and wise purchase since it nearly doubled the size of the United States.The only reason France was willing to sell a great amount of land was because Napoleon had pushed France through many wars putting France in great debts. Ever since the late 1780's, Americans had been moving and exploring westward into the Ohio rover and Tennessee River valleys, and these settlers depended on access to the Mississippi River. Although the United States feared that France would soon dominate the Mississippi River and the access to the Gulf of Mexico. Therefore the United States negotiated the Louisiana Purchase in 1803.
Click the link below to watch a video on more information on the Louisiana Purchase.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q16OZkgSXfM
Click the link below to watch a video on more information on the Louisiana Purchase.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q16OZkgSXfM
Lewis & Clark
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What does Lewis and Clark have to do with the Louisiana Purchase? In 1803, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark led a group of 40 highly skilled frontiersmen, on a expedition across North America to discover the Northwest Passage, establish peaceful relations with many Native American Tribes, map out the land, collect information on the flora, fauna, weather patterns and natural resources about the west. "The aim of your mission is to explore the Missouri River and those of its principal tributaries, by their course and by linking it with the Pacific Ocean, may offer the most direct and practical fluvial communications across the country to commercial ends." - Thomas Jefferson. As they went on there expedition they traded and stayed with many Native Americans, kept a detailed journal of all there findings, and picked up a young girl named Sacajawea. Sacajawea was picked up into their group when crossing the Rocky Mountains. Sacajawea served as a interpreter and guide through there expedition.It took the Corps of Discovery exactly two years, four months and ten days to travel from their winter camp near St. Louis, to the Pacific Ocean, and back again to St. Louis. Lewis and Clark have played a key role in expanding our nation and history.
Click the link below for a video on more about the Lewis and Clark!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29T_40F_Urc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29T_40F_Urc