The Louisiana Purchase

Beginning of nineteenth century the crucial period for the USA in the expansion of its size as well as the period which had a lasting impact on its economic, cultural and political makeup since it helped to reduce the number of colonial interests the USA had to take into account in its internal commerce. The trauma of war of 18th century was still fresh in people memory, America was eager nation for its expansion and had already expanded beyond the original thirteen colonies in 1800’s. Now this was the time to get the land to the west of Mississippi river known as Louisiana. Thomas Jefferson our new president had a vision to add the Louisiana to America’s existing land holding. This expansion towards the west would serve the most important …show more content…
With the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, the United States purchased approximately 828,000,000 square miles of territory from France, thereby doubling the size of nation.2 The failure of France to put down a slave revolution in Haiti, the impending war with Great Britain and probable British naval blockade of France, and financial difficulties may all have prompted Napoleon to offer Louisiana for sale to the United States.3 The main aim of obtaining Louisiana territory was to find a route to open up new opportunities of trade for America. Most of the Louisiana territory was unknown, which played America’s advantage, allowing it to advance territorial claim that were only in its best …show more content…
When he became President, he asked the congress to fund an expedition through the Louisiana Purchase. He selects Meriwether Lewis to lead the Corps of Discovery, and Meriwether selected William Clark to be his partner. Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark and 31 other persons comprised the “Permanent Party” of the 1804-1806 Lewis and Clark Expedition. Although many individuals were associated in the expedition only 33 members comprised the permanent party. Finally, on May 14, 1804 we departed and made our way up from Camp Dubois, the 1803-1804 winter camp on the east side of the Mississippi near the mouth of the Wood River.5 Over the course of the expedition, we came into contact with nearly 50 Native American tribes “Arikara” were the first native tribe we encountered. Captain Lewis establish routine for subsequent Indian councils: hand out peace medals, 15-star flags, and gifts; parade men and show off technology (magnets, compasses, telescopes, Lewis’s air gun) and gave speech saying Indians have new “great father” far to the east and promising future of peace and prosperity if tribes don’t make war on whites or other tribes.6 During our travel we also encountered the fierce Lakota Sioux in September 1804 where they demanded one our boat as toll for moving further upriver. A fight nearly ensues with Lakota Sioux, but it was defused by the diplomacy of a chief named Black Buffalo.7 Moving into the Great Plains, we

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Louisiana Purchase