Louisiana Purchase Dbq Analysis

The Louisiana Purchase today, is considered one of the greatest things an acting president has ever done. However, when Jefferson did buy the territory, it was viewed by many of his fellow Republicans as Federalistic, and an act of viewing the Constitution very loosely. Many claimed that he was abandoning his political principles, which he had fought for so strongly in the past. However, amid all the claims of his betrayal of his political principles by buying the territory without consulting congress, it is clear that he didn’t abandon them, because he did it for an agrarian expansion, and because he believed that it was best for Americans. Both of these reasons are two of the main ideals of the Republican

The Louisiana Purchase opened a window of opportunity to the Americans, as the purchase expanded the nation further west. Evidently, the purchase of this land mass created a need for new technology and transportation. Throughout the period of 1800-1853, changes in technology and transportation further developed the Northern and Northwestern states, while the Southern states continued with a similar way of life aided by advancements in technology and transportation. Advances in technology and transportation dictated the opportunities presented to Northern and Northwestern society and settlement, but preserved continuity in Southern labor systems.

Jefferson had secured agreement form the ambassadors of England, France, and Spain that their counties would not try to interfere with Lewis and Clark expedition. The explorers met with Osage Indians on their way of expedition but the Indians were peaceful. For unknown to Leis and Clark, the Spanish had reneged on the promise of safe conduct given to Jefferson by the Spanish ambassadors. Yrujo had warned his Spanish men that American were taking toward the South Sea and he urged commandant Salcedo general of Viceroyalty of New Spain to arrest Lewis and his followers and to seize all the documents that may be found on them. Then Salcedo encouraged his Indian allied to attack Lewis and Clark, but Comanches Indians never found them. The Lakotas was invited to the council by a French-Canadian interpreter who had lived among them and the first meeting with the Lakota was done well. I think Lewis and Clark could have exacted amicable relations if they were acting on their own because they both worked under the order of Jefferson to explore.

In the early 1800’s, The United States and Spain had continuously argued with the Native people. The Louisiana Territory was purchased from France in the year 1803, Americans continued to push farther west for fertile land that could be used for farming. Due to overcrowding of eastern cities like New York City and Boston many settlers moved out west for a new start. It allowed for colonists to spread out and own untouched fertile land. When white settlers arrived they had realized that most of the land acquired from the territory was occupied by Native Americans for thousands of years. For decades Americans had thought that the land west of the Appalachian Mountains were unoccupied, but they were wrong. There were many tribes that had occupied this land. This included tribes like, The Choctaw, Cherokee, and The Chickasaw. In a sense, Americans had violent outbreaks with the Natives the minute the colonists’ had arrived in the United State. As the colonists’ tried to establish complete dominance and superiority over the Indians, ongoing heated debates over land ownership, and demanding requests to satisfy greed made forceful attacks between the groups unavoidable.

Since neither the United States nor Native Americans would give up their goals, the government of United States figured that to win Native Americans and get all they wanted, government needed to spend lots of money and time. The United States tried to figure out a peaceful way to communicate with Native Americans. The new workable system fell to President George Washington’s first Secretary of War Henry Knox (p. 10).Henry Knox brought a new relation between Americans and Native Americans. Knox and Washington believed that the “uncivilized” Indian life was based on them not knowing better. On the other hand, their inferiority was cultural not racial (p. 11). In 1791 they announced the Cherokees may be led to a greater civilized society instead of remaining hunters. So women started to weave cloth, these Cherokee planters became rich, and the first law established in 1808 was about preventing the theft horses, also Cherokees invented a system for writing the Cherokee language.

Before the Eastern World knew that the America’s were there, natives to the American lands were already here and thriving. As the land was discovered, more and more people from the European side of the Hemisphere traveled across the Atlantic Ocean to stake a claim for land in this newfound world. Throughout these Europeans settling in, and making new homes and lives for themselves these natives stayed to their own ways, and were slowly pushed westward. The problems between the Indians and now Americans were brought to the forefront as the population of the states grew, and there was a need for expansion. When the Louisiana Purchase was struck between the United States and France, the land previously inhabited by the natives were now under the control of the United States government. As the population continued to climb in numbers, individuals along with the United States government decided to take actions for the removal of these natives. Throughout the book, The Long, Bitter Trail, Andrew Jackson and the Indians by: Anthony F.C. Wallace, the events leading up to, during, and the effects of the Indian Removal Act of 1830. Individuals such as Andrew Jackson along with the government used different methods to remove these Indians from the southeastern lands of the United States. Starting in the beginning of the 1800’s,

"The utmost good faith shall always be observed towards Indians, their lands and property shall not be taken from them without their consent, and in their property rights and liberty, they shall never be invaded or disturbed." Thus Thomas Jefferson describes U.S. policy towards Native peoples concisely, and with the proper grace of a Virginian gentleman. No ambiguity or contradiction seems to exist in Jefferson's words, and nothing but good will towards Native-Americans seems to be instilled in Jefferson's rhetoric. But in observing Jefferson's curt follow-up to the statement above, "unless in just and lawful wars authorized by Congress," a turnabout appears, leaving one at a loss as to a tangible United States

When we look back into history, we are now able to fully comprehend the atrocities the Indians faced at the hands of the historic general and President, Andrew Jackson. It can be seen as one of the most shameful and unjust series of political actions taken by an American government. However, as an American living almost 200 years later, it is crucial to look at the motives possessed by Andrew Jackson, and ask whether he fully comprehended the repercussions of his actions or if is was simply ignorant to what he was subjection the natives to. We must also consider weather he truly had the countries best interest in mind, or his own.

Thomas Jefferson was a firm believer in limited government on a personal level, but he pushed his personal opinions to the side in realization that the future of the nation should be put first. He accomplished this by the purchase of the Louisiana territory. This purchase from France, whom Thomas Jefferson had close diplomatic ties, added a massive amount of land for the rapidly growing American population to grow on. Although he was not actually a framer of the Constitution, he was actively involved in politics that led up to these matters. Jefferson recognized that although not all things were explicitly described in the Constitution, the president has the power to take matters into his/her own hands and help to guide the country to growth and prosperity.

Imagine being taken out of your home and told that you must leave to a new, foreign land and leave the only thing that you know. This is what Native Americans during Andrew Jackson’s presidency had to live through. America was growing rapidly, expanding into the lower south of the U.S. During the 19th century white settlers moving into the area, were faced with Native Americans living on the land. These settlers were looked upon as a major obstacle for expansion of the United States. Driven by gold fever and the ideas for new business, the settlers were looking towards the government to help them take the land away from the Natives. Presidents had acknowledged the issue of Natives and whites coexisting and the problems that would be addressed, but it wasn’t until Andrew Jackson stepped into American history that a change would’ve be made.

In this agreement, nearly a quarter of a century before Cherokee removal was a major issue, the inevitable removal of the tribe was already established. No Cherokee was told of this agreement nor did they approve it. After the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, the removal of the Cherokees to the West was possible however public support was not with the government. Since the Cherokee’s had fought with the United States against the Creek Indians, the

To start off, in the first document, the Letter to the Cherokee Nation, from President Andrew Jackson, he stated, “You cannot survive in your present residence. Every year will increase your difficulties…” From this, the reader can infer Jackson is indirectly forcing Native Americans off their land by saying that they have no chance of prospering, they shouldn’t even try, and that they should just obey and relocate. Everyone has the right to land, and no one can take it away from them, according to the basic rights of freedom. Finally, in document two, stated by the Cherokee Nation of Indians in the Letter to Congress, “The letter says we will be horribly punished if we refuse to go along with the treaty.” Like stated before, the Native Americans’ inalienable rights endowed by their Creator were violated due to the fact that they were forced off of their land. The fact that Native Americans were forced off their land, not by choice, is corroborated in both

In the second part of his letter to Harrison, Jefferson wrote, “The crisis is pressing. Whatever can now be obtained must be obtained quickly. The occupation of New Orleans, hourly expected, by the French, is already felt like a light breeze by the Indians.” This excerpt shows Jefferson’s fear of the Indians becoming bold and attacking Americans under the guise of French protection. He knew that after France repossessed Louisiana, that the Indians would be even less likely to move off their lands.

Through this weeks lecture, there are many questions asked that allow for room to reflect and process the information we are being taught today and what we may be able to remember from past education. When asked to reflect on what I specifically remember in regards to Thomas Jefferson and the Louisiana Purchase, I must admit it was not so much focused on the purchase of the land and what that meant for the future, rather it brought many topics, such as, was this purchase constitutional, was it simply creating more debt, a start to an inevitable war with Spain, or even an expansion of slavery. However, it is now understood that the Louisiana Purchase was not only the largest purchase of land, it was also the cheapest. Once the country nearly

The United States perspective on the Native people has drastically changed from President to President. “George Washington originally started the ‘Indian Civilization Campaign’, which encouraged the Native people to adopt Western-European culture along with Christianity.” (Sturgis, pg 5) The United States was to recognize the Native groups as the owners of the land they inhabit, with the rights to sell or retain them. This ideology was later adopted and implemented by Thomas Jefferson who believed that it was, “established by Jus gentium for America, that a white nation settling down and declaring that such and such are their limits, makes an invasion of those limits by any other white nation an act of war, but gives no right of soil against the native possessors.” (Sturgis, pg 5)