Westward Expansion

In the previous activity, you viewed a video about integrating visual and text forms of information. You learned that you need to analyze the information contained in both the text source and the visual source before you are able to effectively integrate the information from both sources. The integration of visual sources of information may include paintings, photographs, charts, graphs, maps or videos. In this activity, you will integrate information about the Louisiana Purchase from text and visual sources, including a video and a map.

Before beginning this activity, download and print The Louisiana Purchase graphic organizer. You will use it to record the information as you analyze the three forms of information located on the website listed below.

The Louisiana Purchase graphic organizer

History.com: Louisiana Purchase Opens a new window (When you go to the website, a black screen with an X in the upper right-hand corner will appear. Click on the X to remove the black screen and to see the map and video.)

After recording your answers on the graphic organizer, complete the following activities.

List the information about the Louisiana Purchase you learned from the text.

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1. The Louisiana Purchase happened in 1803.
2. The United States gained 828,000 square miles.
3. It was purchased from France.
4. It doubled the size of the United States.
5. It stretched from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains and from the Canadian border to the Gulf of Mexico.
6. Part or all of 15 states were created from this land.
7. It is considered one of President Jefferson’s greatest achievements.

What information about the Louisiana Purchase did you gain from the map that was not part of the text information?

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1. The Oregon Country was on the northwestern border of the Louisiana Purchase.
2. Spanish territory bordered the Louisiana Purchase.
3. There were no states bordering the Louisiana Purchase.

What information about the Louisiana Purchase did you gain from the video clip that was not part of the text or the map?

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1. The purchase was for pennies an acre in today’s currency.
2. President Jefferson’s goal was to gain control of the port of New Orleans at the mouth of the Mississippi River.
3. France needed the money to fight Spain.
4. The United States originally offered $2 million and was rejected
5. The United States later offered $10 million and $5 million more to purchase all of the Louisiana Territory.