1. Thomas Jefferson, the Louisiana Purchase and Lewis and Clark

2. Thomas Jefferson Some reasons that the election of Thomas Jefferson as president is significant: It transferred the power of the president to another political party: Federalist to Republican. It was a peaceful transfer of power.

3. The Louisiana Purchase In 1803, Jefferson had the opportunity to expand the territory of the U.S. by purchasing land from France. Jefferson felt that by doubling the size of the United States, he could form the “empire of liberty” that was his vision for the nation.

4. Lewis and Clark’s Expedition In 1803, Jefferson dispatched an expedition headed by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to explore this vast frontier. Jefferson instructed them to engage in scientific studies along the way and to document native culture. The travelled from St. Louis all the way to the Pacific Coast by way of rivers and mountains. They relied on a Native American female interpreter named Sacajawea

5. Ticket Out How was the purchase of the Louisiana Territory from France significant for the United States?