Main Idea Why It Matters Now Thirteen more states were eventually organized on the land acquired by the Louisiana Purchase. Jefferson purchased the Louisiana Territory in 1803 and doubled the size of the United States. Map

In 1800’s the western border of the United States was the Mississippi River 1

France, Spain, England and Russia all had claims on lands in the west 2

Jefferson believed the port city of New Orleans was the key to controlling North America 3

LOUISIANA PURCHASE was huge piece of land in the middle of North America. France sold it to the United States in 1803 for $15 million 4

Napoleon wanted to sell the land because he was worried about colonies 5 and needed money to fight the war with England

What factors might have led Napoleon to sell the Louisiana Territory? Causes Determination of Americans to use port at New Orleans Losses suffered by France in Caribbean colonies Costly war in Europe Effect Napoleon sells Louisiana Territory

The Louisiana Purchase was bought for $15 million – about 3 cents an acre (about a football field) 6

Jefferson chooses MERIWETHER LEWIS and WILLIAM CLARK to lead an expedition into the unknown territory 7

The CORPS OF DISCOVERY set out from St Louis in the summer of

The expedition includes about 40 people 9

Jefferson gave the Corps 3 main goals: 1) Discover if there is a Northwest Passage to the Pacific through the Missouri River 10

2) Set up good relations with the Native Americans in the area 10

3) Journal and take notes on the animals and wilderness of the area 10

The Corps stayed in a Mandan village in present day North Dakota 11

SACAGAWEA was a 17 year-old woman who helps the Corps as an interpreter on the expedition 12

The Corps found there was no Northwest Passage, they formed good relationships with some of the Native Americans and did record the animals and nature 13

ZEBULON PIKE explores the southern part of the Louisiana Purchase in

What groups might dispute European land claims in the West? Why was New Orleans important to Americans? How did Sacagewea help Lewis and Clark?