CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 6 CHAPTER ONE EUROPEAN EXPLORATION AND SETTLEMENT OF LOUISIANA 10 CHAPTER TWO THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE 25 CHAPTER THREE LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION 38 CHAPTER FOUR WESTWARD EXPANSION AND ITS EFFECTS 52 CONCLUSION 68 TIMELINE 70 GLOSSARY 72 FOR MORE INFORMATION 74 BIBLIOGRAPHY 77 INDEX 78
INTRODUCTION In the mid-1800s there arose in the United States a political and philosophical belief that it was the country’s divinely assigned mission to expand westward across North America In the process it would spread democratic and Protestant ideals This belief was called Manifest Destiny John O’Sullivan a journalist used the phrase in an 1845 editorial about the annexation of Texas in which he spoke of America’s manifest destiny to overspread the continent allotted by Providence for the free development of our multiplying millions This was probably the first use of the phrase manifest destiny but the roots of the concept can be traced much further back to the colonial period One of the grievances that led to the American Revolution was the attempt by Britain to prevent colonists from settling beyond the Appalachian Mountains As soon as the Revolution had been won the new government of the United States started making plans for the addition of new states The American frontier moved in stages After the Revolution pioneers gradually crossed the Appalachians and went into the Ohio and Mississippi river valleys Then in the mid-1800s they ventured across the Mississippi River and into the West 6
The Louisiana Purchase and Westward Expansion
The Louisiana Purchase was the largest acquisition of land in United States' history and fueled the American drive for westward expansion.
About This Book
By: Jeremy Klar
Illustrated by:
Published by: Rosen Publishing provided by Britannica
