Thomas Jefferson had been interested in exploring the west well before the 1803 Louisiana Purchase from France . ... The exploration would provide a wealth of information on everything from flora and fauna to geography to the inhabitants.
What was Jefferson hoping to find in the West?
On January 18, 1803, President Jefferson sent a confidential letter to Congress asking for $2,500 to fund an expedition to the Pacific Ocean. He hoped to establish trade with the Native American people of the West and find a water route to the Pacific .
What were Jefferson's goals in settling the West?
To Jefferson, westward expansion was the key to the nation's health: He believed that a republic depended on an independent, virtuous citizenry for its survival, and that independence and virtue went hand in hand with land ownership , especially the ownership of small farms.
What did Jefferson hope to find from the exploration?
Jefferson hoped that Lewis and Clark would find a water route linking the Columbia and Missouri rivers .
Why did Jefferson want the West?
Thomas Jefferson had been interested in exploring the west well before the 1803 Louisiana Purchase from France . ... Believing the United States needed to expand west to help ensure its survival and prosperity, he jumped at the chance to buy Louisiana from France's Napoleon Bonaparte.
What did Thomas Jefferson want for America?
The principal author of the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson was a proponent of democracy, republicanism, and individual rights , motivating American colonists to break from the Kingdom of Great Britain and form a new nation; he produced formative documents and decisions at both the state and national levels.
Why was Thomas Jefferson eager for Lewis and Clark to explore the West?
Why was Thomas Jefferson eager for Lewis and Clark to explore the West? He wanted to move his settlers there before anyone else did . He wanted people to be farmers and this land was perfect for that.
What were the 5 reasons for 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 was the westward expansion important?
In spite of these enormous human costs, the overwhelming majority of white Americans saw western expansion as a major opportunity. To them, access to western land offered the promise of independence and prosperity to anyone willing to meet the hardships of frontier life.
Why was Jefferson interested in the Louisiana Territory?
President Thomas Jefferson had many reasons for wanting to acquire the Louisiana Territory. The reasons included future protection, expansion, prosperity and the mystery of unknown lands . ... President Jefferson knew that the nation that discovered this passage first would control the destiny of the continent as a whole.
Why did Thomas Jefferson want New Orleans?
Jefferson feared that the French wanted to establish an America empire that would restrict access from the northwest to the rest of the United States. 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.
How did Jefferson attempt to assure that the West would be accessible?
To assure that it would remain open, Jefferson decided to try to buy it from the French . ... Jefferson had spent much time teaching Lewis all the things Lewis would need to know if he led an expedition up the Missouri River, through the Indian territories, and across the mountains.
What did Thomas Jefferson do?
Who was Thomas Jefferson? Thomas Jefferson was the primary draftsman of the Declaration of Independence of the United States and the nation's first secretary of state (1789–94), its second vice president (1797–1801), and, as the third president (1801–09), the statesman responsible for the Louisiana Purchase.
What did Thomas Jefferson fight for?
Although he was an advocate for individual liberty and at one point promoted a plan for gradual emancipation of slaves in America, he owned slaves throughout his life. ... Jefferson inherited some 175 slaves from his father and father-in-law and owned an estimated 600 slaves over the course of his life.
What did Jefferson believe in?
Thomas Jefferson believed strongly in religious freedom and the separation of church and state . While President, Jefferson was accused of being a non-believer and an atheist.
What did Jefferson prove his point?
Jefferson's “point” in the Declaration of Independence is that the British, through their actions, have broken the social contract that legitimizes government . Therefore, the colonists are justified in declaring their independence and taking their place alongside other nations.
What seems to be Jefferson's main concern in exploring the new territory Why would this be a concern?
Louisiana Purchase:What was Jefferson's main concern of exploring new territory? To find new water routes . Best water communication across continent.
What were four reasons settlers moved west?
The Americans settled West for new land, to escape religious persecution, for gold, adventure , and it was their “right”/ manifest destiny.
What were the three main reasons for expansion?
Reasons the U.S. tried to influence other nations: (1) Economic (2) Military (3) Moral. The primary reason the U.S. expanded its influence in foreign countries: Economic reasons – industrialization in the late 1800s increased the need to trade with other countries .
Why did settlers move west?
Pioneers and settlers moved out west for different reasons. Some of them wanted to claim free land for ranching and farming from the government through the Homestead Act . Others came to California during the gold rush to strike it rich. Even others, such as the Mormons, moved west to avoid persecution.
How did the westward expansion change the United States?
In the mid-19th century, the quest for control of the West led to the annexation of Texas and the Mexican–American War . ... 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 was westward movement?
westward movement, the populating by Europeans of the land within the continental boundaries of the mainland United States , a process that began shortly after the first colonial settlements were established along the Atlantic coast.
How did Jefferson learn what was in the Louisiana Territory?
President Thomas Jefferson learned about the Louisiana territory by sending the Lewis and Clark expedition to explore it .
What are 3 important facts about Thomas Jefferson?
- He was a (proto) archaeologist.
- He was an architect.
- He was a wine aficionado.
- He was a founding foodie.
- He was obsessed with books.
What did Thomas Jefferson stand for?
Thomas Jefferson was the third President of the United States . ... Although he kept slaves, Jefferson is famed as a champion of political and religious freedom. Jefferson loved liberty in every form and he worked for freedom of speech, press, religion, and civil liberties.
Was Thomas Jefferson a good leader?
Thomas Jefferson was a strong supporter of allowing all people : the common man, the wealthy, and even slaves to be treated equally. He wrote the Declaration of Independence, fought for a U.S. Bill of Rights, and advocated for an amendment to end slavery.
How did Thomas Jefferson help with the Louisiana Purchase?
On October 20, 1803, the Senate ratified a treaty with France, promoted by President Thomas Jefferson, that doubled the size of the United States. ... He also understood the potential military danger France posed if they controlled the Mississippi River .
What was Thomas Jefferson's view on Napoleonic Wars?
Jefferson continued, by warning that while the destruction would be heaviest on those immediately engaged in the war, even those nations pursuing peace will “not be exempt from all evil”. So Jefferson laid out his 7 principles of neutrality regarding the Napoleonic wars.
What are Jeffersonian ideals?
Jefferson advocated a political system that favored public education, free voting, free press, limited government and agrarian democracy and shied away from aristocratic rule. Although these were his personal beliefs, his presidency (1801-1809) often veered from these values.
Why did the United States want to purchase New Orleans and West Florida?
Acquisition of Louisiana was a long-term goal of President Thomas Jefferson, who was especially eager to gain control of the crucial Mississippi River port of New Orleans . ... The Louisiana Purchase extended United States sovereignty across the Mississippi River, nearly doubling the nominal size of the country.
Why did Jefferson want to control the Mississippi?
There were several reasons why Thomas Jefferson believed it was important for the United States to control the Mississippi River. The Mississippi River was very important to western farmers . They used the river to transport their crops so they could get their crops to markets where they could be sold.
Why is Thomas Jefferson a hero?
Thomas Jefferson is a hero because he demonstrated bravery and selflessness by writing the Declaration of Independence , thereby putting his life at risk. Jefferson also dedicated his life to serving the American people and increasing personal freedoms.
Did Jefferson have a wife?
Martha Jefferson , née Martha Wayles, (born October 30 [October 19, Old Style], 1748, Charles City county, Virginia [U.S.]—died September 6, 1782, Monticello, Virginia), the wife of Thomas Jefferson, third president of the United States (1801–09).
