How did the Louisiana Purchase change the US why was Thomas Jefferson eager for Lewis and Clark to explore the west?

Answer 1

The Louisiana Purchase in 1803 significantly expanded the United States' territory, doubling its size and providing vast resources and land for settlement. It also reinforced the idea of Manifest Destiny, the belief that the U.S. was destined to expand across the continent. Thomas Jefferson was eager for Lewis and Clark to explore the West to gather scientific knowledge, map the new territory, and establish trade routes, as well as to assert American presence and sovereignty over the newly acquired lands. The expedition aimed to foster relationships with Native American tribes and assess the region's potential for agriculture and economic development.