The Louisiana Purchase (1803)

Pinckney's Treaty

Oct 27, 1795

Full Title: Treaty of Friendship, Limits, and Navigation Between Spain and the United States American merchants could use the New Orleans to store goods for export. Americans also used this right to transport products such as flour, tobacco, pork, bacon, lard, feathers, cider, butter, and cheese across the entire Mississippi.

Third Treaty of San Ildefonso

Oct 1, 1800

Full Title: Preliminary and Secret Treaty between the French Republic and His Catholic Majesty the King of Spain, Concerning the Aggrandizement of His Royal Highness the Infant Duke of Parma in Italy and the Retrocession of Louisiana A secret treaty between France and Spain in which Spain returned Louisiana to France.

Monroe and Livingston travel to Paris to Negotiate

Jan 1, 1803

James Monroe and Robert R. Livingston travel to Paris to negotiate the purchase of the %u201CIsle of Orleans%u201D (New Orleans) and West Florida. Jefferson appointed James Monroe minister extraordinary and plenipotentiary to serve with Livingston, who was the United States Minister to France.

Congress approves Western Exploration

Feb 28, 1803

Congress approves President Jefferson's Western Exploration Project and the Corps of Discovery are created.

Talleyrand proposes to Livingston a purchase of Louisiana

Apr 11, 1803

The French foreign minister Charles Maurice de Talleyrand asks Livingston what the United States would give for all of Louisiana.

The Louisiana Purchase

Apr 30, 1803

U.S. bought Lousiana for $15,000,000 from France. The Louisiana Purchase, extending from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Moutains and from the Gulf of Mexico to British North America, doubled the size of America, increasing it by about 828,000 square miles.

Clark establishes Camp Wood

Dec 1, 1803

The camp functioned to train Corps members and was set up at the meeting Mississippi and Missouri Rivers.

Team leaves Camp Wood

May 14, 1804

They meet Lewis and other recruits in Missouri.

First offical American council with Western Native Americans

Aug 3, 1804

The Corps meets with the Oto and Missouri tribes.

Corps reach present day North Dakota, build Fort Mandan and meet Sacagawea

Oct 1, 1804

Fort Mandan served as a winter home for the team. Sacagawea was famous for assisting the Corps across the Great Plains and helping to build an understanding of Native American culture.

Corps leave Fort Mandan and journey into unknown territory

Apr 7, 1805

The corps enter territory unknown to anyone but Native American tribes.

Team reaches end of Missouri River

Aug 17, 1805

Corps reach the end of the navigable portion of the Missouri River near the Rocky Moutains.

Corps reach the Pacific Ocean

Nov 1, 1805

via the Columbia River.

Team builds Fort Clatsop

Dec 1, 1805

Located on the Columbia River, on the border of Washington and Oregon.

Corps begin the journey home

Mar 23, 1806

Team arrives home

Sep 23, 1806