The Jeffersonian Era

Louisiana Territory and Purchase

• France sold the Louisiana Territory to the United States in 1803.
• The acquisition of this territory was known as the Louisiana Purchase, significantly expanding the U.S. landmass.

Essex Junto and Secession

• The plot of the Essex Junto to secede from the United States was foiled by President Thomas Jefferson.
• This group, composed of Federalist leaders, sought to detach New England from the rest of the nation.

Lewis and Clark Expedition

• The Lewis and Clark Expedition was led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark.
• Their journey aimed to explore the newly acquired Louisiana Territory and find a route to the Pacific Ocean.

Inauguration and the White House

• Thomas Jefferson was the first president to be inaugurated in Washington, D.C., in 1801.
• He was also the first to live in the completed White House.

Jefferson's View on Government Powers

• Thomas Jefferson believed in a limited interpretation of the Constitution, arguing that the government should only exercise powers explicitly granted by it.
• Jefferson often expressed concern about the potential overreach of federal authority.

States Traveled by Lewis and Clark

• The Lewis and Clark expedition traveled through the present-day states of North Dakota and Oregon on their journey to the Oregon coast.

Impact of the Lewis and Clark Expedition

• The expedition dispelled myths and inaccuracies about the western territories through detailed notes and maps.
• Their findings contributed greatly to the understanding of the geography and resources of the region.

Pike's Expedition

• Pike's Expedition, led by Zebulon Pike, was approved by President Jefferson shortly before Lewis and Clark's return.
• They traveled through what is now Colorado, mistakenly identifying the headwaters of the Red River while building a fort.