Printed Page 248 Chapter Chronology
Opportunities and Challenges in the West
Why was Spain concerned that France sold the Louisiana Territory to the United States?
Jefferson set aside his cautious exercise of federal power to take advantage of an unexpected offer from France to buy the Louisiana Territory. The president sent four expeditions into the prairie and mountains to explore this huge acquisition of land. The powerful Osage of the Arkansas River valley responded to overtures for an alliance and were soon lavishly welcomed by Jefferson in Washington City, but the even more powerful Comanche of the southern Great Plains stood their ground against all invaders. Meanwhile, the expedition by Lewis and Clark, the longest and northernmost trek of the four launched by Jefferson, mapped U.S. terrain all the way to the Pacific Ocean, giving a boost to expansionist aspirations.