Long before he became the third president of the United States, Thomas Jefferson had dreamed of sending explorers across North America. … He hoped
to establish trade with the Native American people of the West and find a water route to the Pacific
.
What were the main reasons for the westward expansion?
- Gold rush and mining opportunities (silver in Nevada)
- The opportunity to work in the cattle industry; to be a “cowboy”
- Faster travel to the West by railroad; availability of supplies due to the railroad.
- The opportunity to own land cheaply under the Homestead Act.
Why did Jefferson want to expand westward?
In 1784, Jefferson opposed the extension of slavery into the northwest territory, but he later supported its westward extension because
he feared that any restriction of slavery could lead to a civil war and an end to the nation
.
What was Jefferson’s policy on westward expansion?
Westward expansion began in earnest in 1803. Thomas Jefferson negotiated
a treaty with France in which the United States paid France $15 million for the Louisiana Territory – 828,000 square miles of land west of the Mississippi River
– effectively doubling the size of the young nation.
What was Thomas Jefferson’s view on expansion?
Motivated partially in a belief that Americans needed an adequate amount of space in order to avoid corruption and evil,
3
Jefferson purchased the Louisiana territory from France for 15 million dollars; in short, Jefferson
believed expansion would avoid conflicts found in European cities
.
How did Thomas Jefferson find out about the West?
Thomas Jefferson acquired an interest in western exploration early in life. While president, Jefferson successfully
acquired the Louisiana Territory from France
in 1803 and sent the Lewis and Clark Expedition (1803–1806) on a mapping and scientific exploration up the Missouri River to the Pacific. …
What was Thomas Jefferson looking for?
Thomas Jefferson was the
primary draftsman of the U.S. Declaration of Independence
, the nation’s first secretary of state and the second vice president (under John Adams). As the third president of the United States, Jefferson stabilized the U.S. economy and defeated pirates from North Africa during the Barbary War.
What was the impact of the westward expansion?
This expansion led to
debates about the fate of slavery in the West
, increasing tensions between the North and South that ultimately led to the collapse of American democracy and a brutal civil war.
What are 3 reasons for Manifest Destiny?
There are three basic themes to manifest destiny:
The special virtues of the American people and their institutions
.
The mission of the United States to redeem and remake the west in the image of the agrarian East
.
An irresistible destiny to accomplish this essential duty
.
Why did settlers move west?
Pioneer settlers were sometimes pushed west
because they couldn’t find good jobs that paid enough
. Others had trouble finding land to farm. … Pioneer settlers were sometimes pulled west because they wanted to make a better living. Others received letters from friends or family members who had moved west.
What was life like during the westward expansion?
The daily life of people living on the frontier was
filled with hard work and difficulties
. Once a farmer cleared the land, built a cabin and a barn, and planted his crops, he still had a lot of chores that needed to be done each day. In order to survive, the entire family needed to work.
Why was American expansion not justified?
The United States expansion abroad was bad because it was based on the economic exploitation of people and resources from other countries. Expansion abroad was not justified
because the United States infringed on the rights of other free people
.
How did Thomas Jefferson view rights?
As he did throughout his life, Jefferson strongly believed that
every American should have the right to prevent the government from infringing on the liberties of its citizens
. Certain liberties, including those of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition, should be sacred to everyone.
Why should Thomas Jefferson be remembered?
Thomas Jefferson is remembered for being
the primary writer of the Declaration of Independence
and the third president of the United States.
Was the westward expansion good or bad?
Does the good of Westward Expansion
outweigh the bad
? The good outcomes outweighed the bad. Americans were able to obtain more resources such as land and gold which created more income. It allowed the population to spread out so cities weren’t over populated and opened up more opportunities for jobs.
Why did Thomas Jefferson want New Orleans?
At first Jefferson only wanted
to purchase the city of New Orleans to ensure American access to the Mississippi River and trade routes to the eastern America
. The French offered to sale the entire Lousiana Territory instead of just the city of New Orleans. This purchase enabled the vast expansion of the United States.
