Louisiana Purchase & Westward Expansion (U.S. History)

Vocabulary flashcards covering terms related to the Louisiana Purchase, westward expansion, and early exploration (Lewis & Clark, Pike, Haiti) from the notes.

Louisiana Purchase

1803 U.S. purchase of the Louisiana Territory from France for $15 million; secured access to the Mississippi River and doubled U.S. territory.

Westward Expansion

Early 1800s migration of thousands of Americans west of the Appalachian Mountains toward the Mississippi River.

New Orleans

An important port city for exporting American products to European markets and a key gateway to trade.

Mississippi River

Major river used to move farm products to eastern markets.

Louisiana Territory

Vast region from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains; controlled by Spain, then sold to France, and finally to the U.S.

Spain's control of the West

Spain controlled New Orleans and Louisiana but gradually opened trade through the area before trading Louisiana to France.

Napoleon Bonaparte

French Emperor who planned empires in Europe and the Americas; needed money to fund wars and viewed Santo Domingo as strategically important.

Saint-Domingue

French colony on Hispaniola; site of the Haitian Revolution.

Haitian Revolution

1791–1804 slave revolt in Saint-Domingue that challenged French rule and reshaped plans for the Caribbean and the Americas.

Toussaint L’Ouverture

Leader of the Haitian Revolution who unified enslaved people into a disciplined fighting force.

Sacagawea

Daughter of a Shoshone chief who aided Lewis and Clark as interpreter, carried her baby, helped negotiate horses, and identified edible plants.

Meriwether Lewis

Chosen by Jefferson to lead the Lewis & Clark Expedition; 28 years old.

William Clark

Co-leader of the Lewis & Clark Expedition; accompanied by his enslaved companion York.

York

Clark’s enslaved companion who traveled with Lewis and Clark and sought freedom.

Lewis & Clark Expedition

Exploration of the Louisiana Territory (1804–1806) to map the land and search for a Northwest Passage.

Northwest Passage

Mythical water route through North America that explorers hoped to find.

Pike’s Expedition

Lt. Zebulon Pike’s expeditions (1805–1807) to explore headwaters of the Arkansas and Red rivers and to inspect New Mexico.

Pike’s Peak

Snowy peak discovered by Pike; later named Pike’s Peak.

Robert R. Livingston

U.S. ambassador to France who, with James Monroe, negotiated the Louisiana Purchase.

James Monroe

U.S. diplomat who helped negotiate the Louisiana Purchase.

Jefferson’s constitutional justification

Jefferson argued the Louisiana Purchase was constitutional under the treaty power.