The Louisiana Purchase (Cornerstones of Freedom Second Series)

Rating:
Summary: The Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis & Clark Expedition
Review: Actually, this book in the Cornerstones of Freedom series is not only about the Louisiana Purchase but also about the Lewis & Clark Expedition that explored the new territory. Gail Sakurai establishes the political situation both in the United States and in Europe that led to Napoleon Bonaparte agree to sell the Louisiana Purchase to the United States, despite having already signed a treaty with Spain to trade it for Tuscany. Young readers will learn the details about the negotiations, more so than they ever will from an American History textbook, as is the case with the travels of Lewis & Clark. For me the true heroes are Robert Livingston and James Monroe, who exceeded the orders given them by Congress to sign the treaty that effectively doubled the size of the United States. Hard to believe this was something of a controversial endeavor. "The Louisiana Purchase" is illustrated with mostly historic paintings and engravings, although is a nice photograph of the Louisiana Purchase Treaty with Thomas Jefferson's signature. A map in the back of the book shows the thirteen states that would be admitted to the Union over the next century whose territory fell within the purview of the Louisiana Purchase.

Rating:
Summary: The Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis & Clark Expedition
Review: Actually, this book in the Cornerstones of Freedom series is not only about the Louisiana Purchase but also about the Lewis & Clark Expedition that explored the new territory. Gail Sakurai establishes the political situation both in the United States and in Europe that led to Napoleon Bonaparte agree to sell the Louisiana Purchase to the United States, despite having already signed a treaty with Spain to trade it for Tuscany. Young readers will learn the details about the negotiations, more so than they ever will from an American History textbook, as is the case with the travels of Lewis & Clark. For me the true heroes are Robert Livingston and James Monroe, who exceeded the orders given them by Congress to sign the treaty that effectively doubled the size of the United States. Hard to believe this was something of a controversial endeavor. "The Louisiana Purchase" is illustrated with mostly historic paintings and engravings, although is a nice photograph of the Louisiana Purchase Treaty with Thomas Jefferson's signature. A map in the back of the book shows the thirteen states that would be admitted to the Union over the next century whose territory fell within the purview of the Louisiana Purchase.