Since the first European settlements existed on the New World, there has existed an unstoppable impulse for settlers to travel westward. With little to no regard for law or the well being of the original inhabitants of the land, white settlers pushed west as far as they could pertaining to the time. To compensate for the eagerness of the settlers, the residing government often tried to pass laws to secure the preoccupied frontiersmen on their expansion. Many had adapted the Puritan belief of providence and that these settlers were destined by God to expand as far as they could. The idea of Godly providence had transformed by the time of the 1800’s as Manifest Destiny, or the belief that the United States was destined by God to rule across the
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The election of 1800 had tremendous effects on the nation 's government due to the major shift of power from Federalist to Democratic-Republicans. The Democratic-Republican party believed in more power for the states, a weak federal government, and many had agricultural interests. Jefferson was at the head of the philosophies of the Democratic-Republicans, holding most if not all of their ideas as his own. Jefferson believed in a weak central government for all branches, including the presidency. However, despite Jefferson’s opposition towards the powers of the President, while in office, he purchased the Louisiana Territory. This act was a direct contradiction of his beliefs and that of the Democratic-Republicans, meaning there was a driving force Jefferson possessed that led him to purchase the land. While this force could possibly be from the simple bargain of the Louisiana Purchase, it points to a central belief: Manifest Destiny. Jefferson’s vision of the United States stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific was so strong, it made Jefferson challenge his own beliefs on government and led him to do an act which Jefferson would directly dispute if his vision of Manifest Destiny was not so vivid, leading him to make one of the biggest deals ever made in any …show more content…
The plan for the expedition was to travel up the Mississippi, using it to cross the Rockies, until they could reach the Columbia River using multiple river and paths. The Colombia would then lead them almost directly to the Pacific coast in modern day Oregon. While he did not keep his intentions secret, he also understood the ramifications of what he was doing by creating an expedition past the borders of the Louisiana territory. The westernmost border of the Louisiana Territory was in present day Montana and Idaho and beyond that consisted of Oregon Country. The Oregon Territory at the time of 1808 was controlled by Spain, Russia, Britain, and the United States. However, only the United States and Britain would continue control over the region by the 1820’s. Any form of invasion or concquering, which some might consider the Lewis and Clark expedition was, would be invading land belonging to multiple countries. Jefferson could have potentially started conflicts with any of these countries and also the Native American land which they will be trespassing on. However, Jefferson still sent the two men on a journey which would bring a permanent change to the United States and also fulfill Jefferson 's vision of
The election of 1800 had tremendous effects on the nation 's government due to the major shift of power from Federalist to Democratic-Republicans. The Democratic-Republican party believed in more power for the states, a weak federal government, and many had agricultural interests. Jefferson was at the head of the philosophies of the Democratic-Republicans, holding most if not all of their ideas as his own. Jefferson believed in a weak central government for all branches, including the presidency. However, despite Jefferson’s opposition towards the powers of the President, while in office, he purchased the Louisiana Territory. This act was a direct contradiction of his beliefs and that of the Democratic-Republicans, meaning there was a driving force Jefferson possessed that led him to purchase the land. While this force could possibly be from the simple bargain of the Louisiana Purchase, it points to a central belief: Manifest Destiny. Jefferson’s vision of the United States stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific was so strong, it made Jefferson challenge his own beliefs on government and led him to do an act which Jefferson would directly dispute if his vision of Manifest Destiny was not so vivid, leading him to make one of the biggest deals ever made in any …show more content…
The plan for the expedition was to travel up the Mississippi, using it to cross the Rockies, until they could reach the Columbia River using multiple river and paths. The Colombia would then lead them almost directly to the Pacific coast in modern day Oregon. While he did not keep his intentions secret, he also understood the ramifications of what he was doing by creating an expedition past the borders of the Louisiana territory. The westernmost border of the Louisiana Territory was in present day Montana and Idaho and beyond that consisted of Oregon Country. The Oregon Territory at the time of 1808 was controlled by Spain, Russia, Britain, and the United States. However, only the United States and Britain would continue control over the region by the 1820’s. Any form of invasion or concquering, which some might consider the Lewis and Clark expedition was, would be invading land belonging to multiple countries. Jefferson could have potentially started conflicts with any of these countries and also the Native American land which they will be trespassing on. However, Jefferson still sent the two men on a journey which would bring a permanent change to the United States and also fulfill Jefferson 's vision of