A WebQuest is an educational research activity in which students collect information. Most of the information comes from the World Wide Web. It was first invented by Bernie Dodge and Tom March at San Diego State University in 1995 who describe it in the following statements. "A WebQuest is an inquiry-oriented activity in which most or all of the information used by learners is drawn from the Web. WebQuests are designed to use learners' time well, to focus on using information rather than looking for it, and to support learners' thinking at the levels of analysis, synthesis and evaluation."

America 's Louisiana Purchase

A Noble Bargain, A Difficult Journey

A WebQuest for 7-12 Grade Social Studies

Designed for

Louisiana Public Broadcasting

http://www.osagecounty.org/maps/1892atlas/1892atlas.html

Introduction | Background | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion | Standards

Introduction

The Louisiana Purchase is considered the greatest real estate deal in history. The ratification of the treaty by the Senate on October 20, 1803, by which the United States of American acquired an area more than 828,000 square miles, doubled the size of the United States and opened up the continent to its westward expansion. The Louisiana Purchase helped transform the United States from a seemingly irrelevant country into a powerful country.

The story of the way in which the United States acquired Louisiana is complicated, involving power, politics, intrigue and suspicion. Your mission is to become experts on the Louisiana Purchase.

Background

Teacher will show LPB video clips “ America ’s Louisiana Purchase : A Noble Bargain, A Difficult Journey.” 

Task

Was the Louisiana Purchase a bargain or a wasteful expense?

You or you and your partner will research, write (produce), and edit one of the following:

1)      Video

2)      Script

3)      Trivia Book

4)      Play

The Process

Students will investigate their background material to create awareness of past events and the significant role historical figures played in the purchase and exploration of the Louisiana Territory. Results should cover the causes, effects, and impacts of selected events surrounding the Louisiana Purchase.

Find your specific role and follow the given links to complete your research.

Biographer

A biography is more than a list of impersonal facts like birth, education, work, relationships and death. It delves into the emotions of experiencing events. Biographies analyze and interpret the events in a person’s life. Your job is to record information about at least five of the cast of major characters involved in the Louisiana Purchase . Focus on specific topics or accomplishments surrounding the Louisiana Purchase . What makes this person special or interesting? What events led to this person’s role in the LA Purchase? Did this person take risks and/or get lucky? Where did this person live? What was this person’s impact on history? Did this person make any mistakes or bad decisions? What did this person accomplish?

http://www.sec.state.la.us/purchase/players-a.htm

http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h513.html

http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h664.html

http://etext.virginia.edu/jefferson/biog/lj29.htm

http://www.arkansasheritage.com/in_the_classroom/lesson_plans/lapurchase/cast_of_characters_lap_final.pdf

http://www.tlaupp.com/LPTerritory.html#anchor2541585

http://www.nps.gov/archive/jeff/LewisClark2/Education/LouisianaPurchase/LPPrincipalCharacters.htm

http://www.nps.gov/archive/jeff/LewisClark2/Education/CurriculumGuideMain.htm

http://www.monticello.org/jefferson/biography.html

http://www.library.csi.cuny.edu/dept/history/lavender/jefflett.html

http://www.sos.louisiana.gov/purchase/players-a.htm

Reporter

Your job is to record the impact of the Louisiana Purchase for the world, the United States, and future states. Take a chronological perspective of significant events and countries involved. What major events lead to the purchase? What are the main reasons Napoleon decided to sell the land to the United States? Analyze the key effects of the Louisiana Purchase on US historical development. Look at the relationship the US had with Great Britain and France and how American used those two countries’ hatred for each other to benefit American growth. How did the purchase affect the size of the United States? How has the United States emerged as a world power?

http://lsm.crt.state.la.us/cabildo/cab4.htm

http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/diplomacy/france/fr1803m.htm

http://www.nps.gov/archive/jeff/LewisClark2/Circa1804/Heritage/LouisianaPurchase/LouisianaPurchase.htm

http://www.pbs.org/lewisandclark/inside/idx_cir.html

http://gatewayno.com/history/LaPurchase.html

http://www.louisianapurchase2003.com/

http://nebraskastudies.org/0400/frameset.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana_Purchase

Surveyor

Your job is to examine the measure and maps of the many square miles of land in the Louisiana Purchase. Define the borders of the Louisiana Purchase. Compare the size of the United States before the purchase and after. How many square miles of land was included in the purchase? If the selling price was $15,000,000 how much did each square mile cost? When did the purchase take place? List all the states that were eventually carved out the purchase. Define border conflicts. Discuss the confusion and conflicts between the United States and Spain over East and West Florida.

http://www.sec.state.la.us/purchase/purchase-index.htm

http://lsm.crt.state.la.us/cabildo/cab5.htm

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/activities/01/lewis_map_4.html

http://www.crt.state.la.us/tourism/studentbrochure/purch.htm

http://www.pbs.org/lewisandclark/archive/idx_map.html

http://www.lib.virginia.edu/small/exhibits/lewis_clark/ch4-24.html

http://www.uoregon.edu/~atlas/america/interactive/map05.html

http://www.earlyamerica.com/earlyamerica/maps/louisianapurchase/colormap.htm

http://www.jmu.edu/madison/center/main_pages/madison_archives/life/secretary/la_purchase/history.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana_Purchase

http://lsm.crt.state.la.us/education/activity4.htm

http://www.sos.louisiana.gov/purchase/1803-1810.htm

http://www.sonofthesouth.net/texas/louisiana-purchase.htm

Explorer

From Sea to Shining Sea : Westward growth. What wonderful things might be found in the great northwest?

Your job is to broaden your knowledge and appreciation of America’s westward growth. Why was the expedition of Lewis and Clark important to the United States in the early 1800s? What did it mean for the country? What did Lewis and Clark do to prepare for their journey? Interpret a map of the west as it was known at the time. What did President Jefferson ask Lewis to accomplish? What were some of the obstacles the Lewis and Clark expedition encountered on its journey?

http://www.pbs.org/lewisandclark/

http://www.pbs.org/lewisandclark/inside/idx_cir.html

http://www.pbs.org/lewisandclark/archive/idx_map.html

http://www.pbs.org/lewisandclark/inside/equip.html

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/lewisandclark/

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/activities/01/lewis_map_4.html

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/activities/01/lewis_map_3.html

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/activities/01/lewis_story_1.html

http://www.library.csi.cuny.edu/dept/history/lavender/jefflett.html

http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/trr001.html

http://www.edgate.com/lewisandclark/

http://www.lewis-clark.org/content/content-channel.asp?ChannelID=54

http://www.nps.gov/archive/jeff/LewisClark2/Education/CurriculumGuideMain.htm

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/features/97/west/

http://lewisandclarktrail.com/

http://www.nde.state.ne.us/SS/lewisandclark.html

http://lewisandclarkjournals.unl.edu/

Historian

Your job is to gather information and to piece together a story with evidence from the past. You will assume a historian role to report on the people of Louisiana and their feelings during the time of the Louisiana Purchase. Assess how the Louisiana Purchase affected the lives of various inhabitants of the Louisiana Territory. How did people feel about becoming an American state? What were the effects of cultural diffusion and the growing cultural diversity of Louisiana? Discuss language and cultural barriers.

http://www.uni.edu/schneidj/webquests/standard9/MICHELE/The%20ManifestDestiny.html

http://www.sec.state.la.us/purchase/purchase-index.htm

http://www.lapurchase.org/history.html

http://louisdl.louislibraries.org/lapur/Pages/home.php

http://www.gatewayno.com/history/louisiana.html

Anthropologist

Anthropology consists of the study of humanity. It is concerned with all institutions of all societies. Assess how the Louisiana Purchase affected relations with Native Americans. Tell about the interactions with a minimum of five of the American Indian tribes. Describe how they lived:  food, clothing, shelter, location, customs, weapons and tools, etc. How did early state and federal policies influence Native American tribes? What brought about the downfall of Native American Indians?

http://lsm.crt.state.la.us/cabildo/cab2.htm

http://www.pbs.org/lewisandclark/native/index.html

http://www.uni.edu/schneidj/webquests/standard9/BRENDA/brenda.html

http://www.lewis-clark.org/content/content-channel.asp?ChannelID=59

http://www.uark.edu/depts/contact/na.html

http://www.uark.edu/campus-resources/archinfo/Timeline.pdf

http://louisdl.louislibraries.org/lapur/Pages/home.php

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/browse/ListSome.php?category=Native%20American%20History

Politician

Your job is to understand the short-term political and long-term cultural impacts of the Louisiana Purchase. Analyze how the Louisiana Purchase influenced politics, economic development, and the concept of Manifest Destiny. How did the President violate the Constitution by making the Louisiana Purchase? Compare the arguments advanced by Democratic-Republicans and Federalists regarding the acquisition of Louisiana. Compare Napoleonic Law and English Common.

http://www.sec.state.la.us/purchase/debate.htm

http://www.sec.state.la.us/purchase/purchase-index.htm

http://lsm.crt.state.la.us/cabildo/cab5.htm

http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/diplomacy/france/fr1803m.htm

http://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/jb_date.cgi?month=10&day=20&x=19&y=8

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana_Purchase

http://lsm.crt.state.la.us/education/activity4.htm

http://www.sos.louisiana.gov/purchase/negotiation.htm

Evaluation

Generic Scoring Rubric

Conclusion

While the Louisiana Purchase resulted in the addition of a large mass of land to the United States , it also contained the seeds of a multitude of conflicts. Confrontations developed between Native Americans and European immigrants, political parties, sectional and national advocates. A noble bargain or a wasteful expense?

Designed by

Dr. Julie Angers

Julie Angers holds a Ph.D. from Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA with concentrations in Educational Leadership, Research & Counseling and Adult Education. She is a dedicated, resourceful education professional with a proven ability to provide strategies that can substantially increase the knowledge and teaching skills of teachers. She has 12 years of achievement in technology teaching and training with a professional development focus.

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