Westward Expansion

Thomas Jefferson In 1775, Jefferson was elected to the Continental Congress. He was picked to write the Declaration of Independence. Third president of the United States Sent Lewis and Clark on an Expedition to find a water route through the west. He guided the purchase of the Louisiana Territory from France.

Louisiana Purchase France and England were at war and Napoleon needed money. Napoleon blocked US ships from using the French ports in hopes of stirring up the US to buy the land. President Jefferson sent a representative to France to attempt to buy a piece of New Orleans. Instead, the United States government was able to buy much more land than they had expected    In 1803, the United States bought 500,000,000 acres of land piece known as the Louisiana Purchase.  With this one purchase, Napoleon gained the money he needed to fight a war with England, and the United States gained enough land to double in size. 

Lewis and Clark Meriwether Lewis (1774 - 1809) Born in Albemarle County Virginia He joined the US Army and rose to the rank of Captain in 1800. Became President Thomas Jefferson's private secretary in 1801. In 1807, as reward for his hard work, he was appointed governor of the Louisiana Territory.

Lewis and Clark William Clark 1770 - 1838 Born in Caroline County Virginia. Clark served in the militia. Clark was recruited by Lewis to help lead the "corps of discovery" ordered by President Thomas Jefferson. Clark’s duties included record keeping of the voyage. Clark also created maps of the uncharted area for future explorers. Clark published the journals from the expedition He served as governor of the Missouri Territory.

Lewis and Clark Expedition Thomas Jefferson asked congress to fund an expedition to find a water route to the Pacific Ocean. Lewis and Clark were chosen and called themselves the Corps of Discovery. Left from St. Louis, Missouri in 1804. Had help from Sacagawea and the Native Americans. Had many hardships traveling through rivers, mountains and the snow. Saw and recorded many new animals and plant life that had never been seen before. Trip took 2 ½ years but never found the water route.

The Alamo The Mexican government owned and ruled over Texas. The people did not want to be run by the Mexican government. James Polk wanted to acquire the land Battle broke out at the Alamo. The battle lasted 12 days and many men died. The Alamo was considered another American Revolution. Texas finally became a state on December 29, 1845

The Oregon Trail The Oregon Trail began in Independence, Missouri and crossed over two thousand miles of plains and mountains, finally ending in Oregon City, Oregon. The journey took four to six months and the travelers faced many hardships Many forts were built to protect the pioneers on the Oregon trail. They also provided a place for travelers to buy supplies and send mail to friends and family back east. The Oregon Trail extended through Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Idaho and Oregon, while also touching parts of Washington and Iowa. It was also in this area that the trail split and the California trail began. The California trail was started after Gold was discovered in California in 1848. Many people were lured to California by dreams of striking it rich. People traveled west for more space, religious freedom, free and cheap land, farming, having their own business and gold.

The Oregon Trail For hundreds of thousands of settlers, the Oregon Trail was the only practical path to the western areas of the United States. Beginning in Missouri, the trail snaked through Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Idaho and Oregon, while also touching parts of Washington and Iowa. About 10 percent of those who took the 2,000-mile trek west died along the route, but those who successfully navigated the trail were rewarded with wide open expanses on which to begin a new settlement.

The Oregon Trail

California Gold Rush Gold was discovered in 1848 by James Marshall In 1849 huge amounts of prospectors came to California They were called the 49ers Boom towns were developed People came and claimed land and began digging They used shovels, pans, picks and sluices to dig for gold Cities were developed and people were coming from all over the world to live in the United States as a result of the Gold Rush Only some people struck gold and became rich. Others went back to the east.