Size Does Matter: The Expansion of America

In Chapter 7, Wulf writes about the journey of Lewis (and Clark, but Lewis is the “star) to the new territory purchased by America from France at a bargain price, I mean really, it doesn’t get a

ny better than 3 cents an acre, talk about a Costco Wholesale type of deal but I digress. This purchase of this vast territory is one of the most important things done during the presidency of Thomas Jefferson, and even to use to paraphrase a quote from the book, this purchase have the potential to make him immortal through his legacy. So all he has to do is not screw it up!! And this is where Lewis comes in, Lewis (who is almost portrayed as being Jefferson’s “man-crush) is sent by Jefferson to go research the new lands, but one of the top priority of the trip is to study the plants (and animals, but mainly plants) in these new lands. Jefferson believed it was important to learn more about unknown native plant species to see if they could be cultivated and used as crops in the future. The funniest thing I came across this chapter was on pg 168: “At the same time, he would convince the Native American to adopt the republican ideal of farming and cede their lands to the United States” HELLO does anybody see the foreshadowment to the Trail of Tears?!?! I guess I might be the only one. Another interesting thing I came across from this chapter is the impression that it killed Jefferson that he could not go on this trip to the new territory. I believed he felt that he could have made a “better Lewis” or a least a “better Clark”, personally I think he would made a better Clark, but then again I don’t think Jefferson would have made a good companion on a botanical trip of this nature.

The trip itself, of course was a huge success. According to the book, Lewis and Clark had seen some pretty nice landscapes that were basically never seen by human eyes before and were indescribable; I bet they wish the invention of a camera would have come early to their time period…OH WELL. One of the most interesting thing that I read from this chapter that took place during the trip was how periodically Lewis and Clark sent back seeds from some of the unknown plants they came encounter with to Jefferson. And Jefferson being the person he is did not keep the seeds but he dispersed them among the farmers so they could be quickly planted.

The expedition to these uncharted territories may have been everything Jefferson had dreamed of at the beginning of the chapter (before Lewis and Clark went on the Journey). The scenery, plants, and animals in the new territory served as an extension to the foundation of this newly created nation. This first expedition was only the start of something big that will plunge America forward to establishing itself as the powerhouse it currently is.