Louisiana Purchase

Louisiana Purchase

​Unit 5: Westward Expansion

Draw

Shade in the area that makes up the United States after the American Revolution.

1803

The United States owns most of the land from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River. But if you cross the Mississippi, you are standing on land owned by another country—France. 

Multiple Choice

What country owns the land in between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains?

• France

• Britian

• United States

• Spain

1803

France owns all the land west to the Rocky Mountains. That huge area is called Louisiana and is about

as big as the United States at this time. 

Draw

Trace the Mississippi River.

Circle the Rocky Mountains.

Jefferson

President Thomas Jefferson, the third president, wants to buy this land from France. 

Multiple Choice

Who is the third president of the United States?

• George Washington

• John Adams

• Thomas Jefferson

Jefferson

 He wants American farmers to more easily use the port of New Orleans. He has written a letter to the French government, and he has sent two men to France to try to buy New Orleans. 

Port of New Orleans

a port is a town or city built around a place where ships can stop to load and unload people and goods. 

President Jefferson wanted to buy land around New Orleans and the Mississippi River because he wanted American farmers to be able to use the port of New Orleans and the Mississippi River to buy, sell, and trade goods. 

Multiple Choice

Why would Thomas Jefferson want to buy land that has a river port?

• trade took place by airplanes

• trade took place by trains

• trade took place by boats

Louisiana Purchase

At first, Napoleon says he will not sell any land. But he needs lots of money to fight the war against Great Britain. So he changes his mind and says the United States can buy New Orleans and all of Louisiana for $15 million. This may sound like a lot of money, but it is a very low price for all that land. 

Open Ended

Why did Napoleon sell the land to Thomas Jefferson?

Multiple Choice

What was the name of the deal when President Jefferson bought a large amount of land from France?

• The New Deal

• Louisiana Purchase

• Declaration of Independence

The two men sent to France by President Jefferson say yes to the deal, which is called the Louisiana Purchase. President Jefferson hears the good news on the night before the Fourth of July. Soon after, America takes control of New Orleans. 

What was the "Louisiana Purchase"?

• In 1803 France offered to sell their lands in North America to the United States.

• France needed money to continue their war against the British​

• France sold the Louisiana Territory to the U.S. for 15 million dollars.

• This became known as the "Louisiana Purchase"​

Multiple Choice

After the Louisiana Purchase, who controlled the Port of New Orleans

• America

• England

• France

Open Ended

Why did President Jefferson want to buy the Port of New Orleans?

The Impact on Native American Tribes

• Forced Relocations: Displacement and loss of ancestral lands

• Treaty Violations: Broken promises and unfair treatment

• Loss of Autonomy: Impacts on tribal sovereignty and self-governance

Expansion of Slavery

Trivia: The Louisiana Purchase in 1803 doubled the size of the United States, but it also led to the expansion of slavery. The new territory acquired allowed for the spread of slavery into the western states, intensifying the divide between the North and the South. This ultimately contributed to the tensions that led to the American Civil War.

Controversies and Criticisms

• The Constitutionality Debate: Some argued that the purchase was unconstitutional as it did not explicitly grant the President the power to acquire foreign territory.
• Native American Displacement: The purchase led to the displacement of Native American tribes from their ancestral lands.
• Expansion of Slavery: The acquisition of new territory raised concerns about the expansion of slavery and its impact on the balance of power between free and slave states.