The Louisiana Purchase and Westward Expansion

Mr antoines

Louisiana Territory

The land added to the United States under President Jefferson's leadership.

Mississippi River

A crucial waterway for American settlers to transport products to eastern markets.

New Orleans

A vital port located at the mouth of the Mississippi River.

Spain

The country that controlled New Orleans and Louisiana before the transfer to France.

France

The country that received Louisiana from Spain under a secret treaty.

Louisiana Purchase

The agreement approved by the Senate on October 20, 1803, which doubled the size of the United States.

15 million

The amount the U.S. paid to France for the Louisiana territory.

Meriwether Lewis

The former Army Captain chosen by Jefferson to lead the expedition to explore the western territory.

William Clark

The friend of Meriwether Lewis who was chosen to be the co-leader of the expedition.

Lewis and Clark expedition

The name of the expedition set out in May 1804 to explore the western territory.

Sacagawea

A young woman who joined the Lewis and Clark expedition as a translator and guide.

1805

The year Lewis and Clark reached the Pacific Ocean.

Zebulon Pike

A young army officer sent on a mission in 1806 to find the starting point of the Red River.

Red River

Considered by the U.S. to be part of the Louisiana Territory's western border with New Spain.

Pikes Peak

The mountain that Zebulon Pike tried to reach the summit of during his exploration.

Southwest

The region described in Pike's report, offering many Americans their first insights about it.

expedition

A journey undertaken by Lewis and Clark to explore the western territory.

valuable information

The knowledge collected by Lewis and Clark about western plants and animals.

1806

The year Zebulon Pike was sent on his mission.

buffalo's

The animals Lewis and Clark made contact with during their expedition.

journals

Records kept by the men during the Lewis and Clark expedition.

foreign power

Jefferson's concern about the potential closure of access to New Orleans.

Haiti

The French colony used by Napoleon as a supply base for his North American ambitions.

Napoleon

The powerful ruler of France who aimed to rebuild France's empire in North America.

closed

What Spain did to New Orleans just before handing it over to France.

buy

What President Jefferson asked the U.S. ambassador to France to do regarding New Orleans.