PEOPLE

Napoleon Bonaparte

. Emperor of France

. Lost sugar colony Saint-Domingue (Haiti) to slave rebellion

. Had expected Louisiana Territory to supply food to Saint-Domingue

. When he lost Haiti, sold Louisiana Territory to U.S. for a low price

William Clark

. Co-leader of Corps of Discovery

. Journeyed across continent, 1804-1806

. Emotionally steady companion for Meriwether Lewis

Meriwether Lewis

. Co-leader of the Corps of Discovery

. Journeyed across continent, 1804-1806

. More erratic and brilliant than William Clark

. Skilled in navigation, diplomacy, botany, geology

. Made governor of Louisiana Territory but committed suicide in 1809

Robert Livingston

. New York political leader

. Thomas Jefferson's ambassador to France

. Negotiated Louisiana Purchase in 1803

Thomas Jefferson

. Virginia planter and third president of the United States

. Drafted Declaration of Independence

. Oversaw Louisiana Purchase and Lewis & Clark Expedition

Toussaint Louverture

. Ex-slave who became ruler of Haiti during revolution

. Captured by French, died of pneumonia in captivity

. Made possible Louisiana Purchase by taking Haiti from French control and eliminating Napoleon's interest in New World empire

Sacagawea

. Shoshone Indian woman

. Translator for Lewis and Clark

. Her relation to Shoshone chief allowed Corps to obtain horses, enabling them to cross Rockies

EVENTS

1801 Toussaint Louverture Proclaimed Governor-General of Saint-Domingue

. Rebel slave leader declared loyalty to France but claimed control over Haiti

. Napoleon attempted but failed to restore slavery a year later; Louverture deported in 1802

. Haitian forces defeated French army to win independence, 1804

1803 Louisiana Purchase

. Livingston and James Monroe concluded negotiations with French

. U.S. representatives had only been authorized to purchase New Orleans, but in wake of Haitian debacle Napoleon offered entire territory for 3 cents an acre

. Purchase doubled size of US

. Thomas Jefferson thought it was unconstitutional to go through with the purchase, but proceeded anyway

1803 Launch of Lewis & Clark Expedition

. Overland journey from U.S. to Pacific coast

. Explorers ordered to map travel routes, establish relations with Indians, document flora and fauna

1804 Lewis & Clark Winter at Fort Mandan

. Made camp near villages of 4,500 friendly Indians on banks of Missouri River

. Temperature reached -45 degrees in December

1805 Lewis & Clark Reach Pacific Ocean

. Traveled last leg of journey down Columbia River in canoes provided by Nez Perce Indians

. Spent rainy winter encamped at Fort Clatsop at mouth of Columbia River

GROUPS

Corps of Discovery

. Official name of Lewis & Clark's expedition

. Composed of 35 enlisted men, five civilians, one dog

. Resorted to violence against Indians only once, when two thieves were shot

. Journey a major scientific and diplomatic success

Shoshone Indians

. Indian tribe based near Rockies

. Renowned for horsemanship

. Provided Lewis & Clark with horses needed to cross Rockies, thanks to presence of Sacagawea (a Shoshone woman) on the expedition

Nez Perce Indians

. Provided Lewis & Clark canoes to reach mouth of Columbia River

CONCEPTS

Sugar

. Exceptionally valuable commodity during 18th century

. Made West Indies colonies producers of great wealth for European empire

PLACES

Louisiana Territory

. Vast territory in center of North American continent, stretching from modern state of Louisiana to Montana

. Planned by Napoleon to serve as source of food and supplies to slaves on Haitian sugar plantations

. After Haitian Revolution, Napoleon saw Louisiana as worthless and sold it to U.S. for 3 cents an acre

. Doubled the size of U.S. at time of Louisiana Purchase

Saint-Domingue (Haiti)

. French sugar colony in the Caribbean

. Most valuable colony in the world at time of 1791 slave rebellion

. Won independence after 13 years of fighting

. Loss of Haiti made France abandon Louisiana Territory