Introduction

=//** Lewis and Clark Webquest **// //** Journey to a New Frontier **// =

In the years following the Revolution, Americans were looking to expand. The United States consisted of only 17 states by the early 1800’s and with populations increasing and natural resources decreasing, many people were looking to the west, which was largely uninhabited and still pristine in its nature. In 1803 the territory between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains was ceded in ownership from Spain to France. When United States President Thomas Jefferson, who was interested in obtaining control of New Orleans and it’s port learned of this trade, he sent James Monroe to France to aid American Minister Robert Livingston in negotiating the purchase of New Orleans with France’s leader Napoleon Bonaparte.

Napoleon, who needed money to wage war between France and Great Britain, agreed to sell not only the land around the city New Orleans, but also all of the Louisiana Territory for $15 million. After little deliberating Monroe and Livingston accepted this offer and the purchase of the land known as Louisiana was made. With this amazing acquisition, The United States doubled in size, adding 830,000 square miles and an untold abundance of fertile farmland and natural resources.

The addition of this new land brought great opportunity for Americans. Thomas Jefferson and congress needed the land mapped out reports on resources. In the spring of 1804, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark headed the exploration, traveling up the Missouri River and west to the Pacific Ocean. Along the way the explorers made note of native tribes, animal specimens, and useful plants they encountered. They also made a map of the rivers, mountains and passes through which they navigated.