Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of American History: American Presidency: Jefferson's Resolution
Reviews Thomas Jefferson's decision to acquire the Louisiana Territory.
Discovering Lewis & Clark
Discovering Lewis & Clark: The Louisiana Purchase
Website detailing the events leading up to the Louisiana Purchase and the actual deal that took place.
University of Maryland
Howard County History Labs: Westward Expansion
Lesson plan assesses historical thinking skills by providing two primary sources on Thomas Jefferson's views on the constitutionality of the Louisiana Purchase.
Ohio State University
Osu History Teaching Institute: Thomas Jefferson and the Louisiana Purchase
Eighth graders will explore via primary sources, the success of Lewis and Clark's expedition, and develop skills in analyzing documents and artifacts.
iCivics
I Civics: Louisiana Purchase (1803)
In this map-based lesson, students learn the historic importance of the Mississippi River, why the U.S. was determined to maintain access, and how the United States acquired the land that made up the Louisiana Purchase.
US National Archives
Our Documents: The Louisiana Purchase Treaty (1803)
A fantastic site from the Our Documents group that allows visitors to see an original copy of the Louisiana Purchase Treaty of 1803. This treaty allowed the United States to purchase a tract of land west of the Mississippi River that was...
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Us History: 1800 1848: Jefferson and the Turn of the 19th Century
Read about Thomas Jefferson and his most influential action as president, the Louisiana Purchase.
Digital History
Digital History: The Louisiana Purchase
Find out about the serendipitous sale of the whole of the Louisiana Province by Napoleon to the Americans for $15 million dollars.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Westward Expansion: The Louisiana Purchase
Read about the fortuitous purchase made that doubled the size of the United States. See why Napoleon was willing to sell the land, and find out about the quandary Thomas Jefferson was in as he had to go against his strict construction...
US National Archives
Nara: American Originals: Louisiana Purchase Treaty
Wonderful NARA site that provides pictures of the original treaty and agreements of the Louisiana Purchase. Brief introduction discusses the amount of land purchased and the cost per acre described by the Purchase.
Library of Congress
Loc: America's Story: Louisiana Purchase
This Library of Congress timeline series discusses the Louisiana Purchase.
Other
Gateway New Orleans: Louisiana Purchase
Read a description of the terms of the Louisiana Purchase. There is a map to show the land that was included in this deal.
The History Cat
The History Cat: Us History: Louisiana Purchase
Covers two topics related to the growth of the new United States - the Louisiana Purchase and the settling of the Great Plains. How the Louisiana Purchase came about as a result of a decision by Napoleon is explained. The Great Plains...
Siteseen
Siteseen: American Historama: Louisiana Purchase, 1803
Provides the history of the events leading up to the Louisiana Purchase, the negotiations, the treaty, and the Constitution, together with numerous facts about the event.
Huntington Library
Huntington Library: The Corps of Discovery: The Lewis and Clark Expedition [Pdf]
In this lesson, 5th graders learn about westward expansion and the Lewis and Clark expedition. Includes background information for the teacher. Students explore primary and secondary resource readings on the Louisiana Purchase, President...
OpenStax
Open Stax: Partisan Politics
By reading this section of a chapter on "The New Republic", students will be able to identify key examples of partisan wrangling between the Federalists and Democratic-Republicans, describe how foreign relations affected American...
Scholastic
Scholastic: Grolier: Lewis and Clark: Louisiana Purchase
A summary of one of the largest land purchases in history, the Louisiana Purchase.
Curated OER
Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Clip Art Etc: Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson (April 13, 1743 - July 4, 1826) was the third President of the United States (1801-1809), the principal author of the Declaration of Independence (1776), and one of the most influential Founding Fathers for his promotion...
Louisiana Department of Education
Louisiana Doe: Louisiana Believes: English Language Arts, Grade 12: Undaunted Courage
Students explore ideas prominent throughout westward expansion and American literature: myth versus reality. The texts present various perspectives of the West. Students consider the idealism and romance of the American spirit versus the...
PBS
Pbs: Louisiana Purchase: April 30, 1803
This PBS site provides images of all pages of the original Louisiana Purchase, with a transcript.
Discovering Lewis & Clark
Discovering Lewis & Clark: America in 1803
This section of the larger Discovering Lewis & Clark website explores in detail America in 1803 and delves into the Louisiana Purchase, Thomas Jefferson, and political geography among other topics.
US National Archives
Docsteach: Lewis & Clark's Expedition to the Complex West
This activity can be used as an introduction or for a closer study of the Lewis & Clark Expedition. Students will learn that the United States purchased the Louisiana Territory in 1803 and President Thomas Jefferson sent Lewis and...
Ducksters
Ducksters: History: Louisiana Purchase for Kids
Kids learn about the Louisiana Purchase which is when President Thomas Jefferson bought land west of the Mississippi from the French.
Digital History
Digital History: Jeffersonians in Office [Pdf]
This is a great overview of both the Jefferson Administration and the Madison administration. Read about the Louisiana Purchase, trade problems, the War of 1812, and the downfall of the Federalists. A great resource. [pdf]