Thomas Jefferson’s presidency marked a significant reorientation of the American government toward Republican ideals, emphasizing limited federal power and westward expansion. A central focus of this era was the Louisiana Purchase, which was facilitated by France’s military failures during the Haitian Revolution. Napoleon Bonaparte originally intended to use the territory as a food source for sugar-producing colonies, but the resilient Haitian resistance and devastating tropical diseases forced him to abandon his North American ambitions. Consequently, the United States acquired a vast expanse of land for fifteen million dollars, nearly doubling the size of the nation and securing control of the Mississippi River. To understand this new acquisition, Jefferson commissioned the Lewis and Clark expedition to conduct scientific research, map water routes to the Pacific, and establish relations with Indigenous tribes. Although the explorers faced numerous challenges and struggled to document their findings fully, their journey solidified American claims to the Pacific Northwest.