Building our Country

Author’s Note:  This is a piece that I wrote for a social studies project.  We had to research a certain event that influenced the westward expansion back in the early 1800’s.  This piece goes back all the way back to the late 1600’s.  I am working on  punctuation in dialog and using the proper footnote to cite information in this piece.

1682 -  Gulf of Mexico/ Louisiana

A French explorer named Robert Cavelier Sieur de La Salle had just found a new land while he was exploring.  He and his crew hit land in the southern part of America.

“Land Ho,” shouts Robert Cavelier Sieur de La Salle, as his crew finally sees land (Richard).

“Help me slow the boat down Robert,” Jon Buck de Steven said.

As they pull the boat up to land, these Frenchmen don’t know what to do with this new country  Everyone hopped out of the boat and began running in every which direction to find out what this new land has to offer.

“Look at this river,” Luke John II said.

“Ya,” Robert said, “I don’t see the end at all, I wonder how far it goes?”

The French explorers took a long amount of time exploring the land they just found ; eventually they all ventured back to the boat where they meet Captain Robert.

“I think that first order of business is to name this great land,” Robert said. “Any ideas?”

“How about Louisiana, after our great King Louis XIV?” said Luke John (Richard).

“Then that is what it is, Louisiana after the great King Louis XIV,” Robert said.

1714  -  Louisiana

It has been over 30 years since the French found this land. They are making settlements and homes in this land that they found. The people living there are trying to decide what to name the main settlement.

“At the rate of three homes a week, we will be able to build over 150 homes in our settlement, enough to hold almost everyone,” Ralph the leader of settlement building states to his workers.

“Boss, what should we name our settlement?” asked Grayson.

“Well, I was thinking of New Orleans, what do you think?”asked Ralph (Richard).  

“I like that, New Orleans is the name of the settlement,” said Grayson.

Houses kept going up as the settlement named New Orleans continued to grow.  The French continued to build settlements in Louisiana for many years until a major conflict occurred: The French and Indian War.

1756 – During The French Indian War

At the time, the French were in a battle with Great Britain. This war was known as the French and  Indian War.  They have had many disputes in the past that led up to this war.

“ General, this war is not going well for us,” said Smith John. “What might we lose if this war does not come out in our favor?” asked Smith.

“Well, we could easily lose a lot of money; Great Britain might want some of our land in America or even something else,” said the general.

“Boom, Boom.” Smith lets off his gun as he tries to take down members from  Great Britain’s army.  

1763 – Great Britain

Due to the fact of losing the war, the French had to give up some of their land to Great Britain.  A representative from France has come over to negotiate about another possible trade other than land.

“As a result of your country losing this war, we get all of your land east of the great river in your territory,” said the King of Great Britain.

“My Lord, can’t we be reasonable with this?  France just can’t just give land away like this.  My Lord, would you want to trade for something else like money?” asked a French spokesperson.

“The British don’t exchange money, we only exchange land,” said the king.

“My Lord, would can you accept crops?”

“NO CROPS,” shouted the King, “We only trade for land.” I would love your land west of the great river, but I would settle for the land east of it.”

“My Lord, not to be rude or anything, but you are  dumber than a horse for not taking our crops,” said the French spokesperson.“Any horse would take food. We’ll have your land by the end of the month.”

“Thank you, you are now dismissed,” said the king.

1763 – Spain

Due to the fact of losing the war, the French have to give up more land up to Spain.  They are trying to negotiate a way out of giving land, but they end up giving land to Spain. France is very frustrated with

the events that have recently occurred after the war.

“As a result of losing this war, your country has to sacrifice something. What will that be?” asked the ruler of Spain.

“ My Lord, we lost quite a bit land to Great Britain, we would rather not give land,” said the French spokesperson.

“I would like land in America,” said the ruler of Spain.

“My Lord, you really want land from us?” asked the French spokesmen.

“Yes, your land west of the great river,” said the ruler.

“My Lord why do you need this land?” asked the French spokesperson.

“Well, Great Britain sent me a message telling me to try to flush France out of business, and that is what

I intend on doing,” said the king.

“My Lord, I don’t think this is fair at all,” said the French spokesperson.

“Fair or not fair, we get your land.  I would like it by within three weeks,” said the king.  “You are dismissed,” said the king.

“Thank you my Lord,” said the French spokesperson.

France ended up losing land to both Great Britain and France, they lost all of that land that those explorers found back in the last 1600’s.

1800 – Spain

As an old century passes and a new one arrives, the ruler of Spain is thinking of ways to expand his empire in America.  He wants to build upon what he already has  started.

“My goal as the ruler of Spain as we enter this new century is expand our empire in America,” said Charles IV (http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/nchist-newnation/4550).

“My Lord, how are you going to expand your empire?” asked a servant.

“I really don’t know, but when I am done, I will own America,” said Charles IV.

1802 – France

Spain is willing to transfer over the Louisiana Purchase to France for gold and silver. Spain has sent someone over to France to negotiate this. If the deal is successful, then the Louisiana Purchase would be back in the possession of France.

“My Lord, we are willing to transfer Louisiana over to you,” said a spokesperson from Spain.

“Really,  I am shocked about this.  I did not think you would want to trade such a large amount of land to us.  What are you looking for?” asked Napoleon.

“Well my Lord, we are looking for some gold and silver for this land, how much are you willing to offer us?” asked the spokesperson.

“We are willing to offer you as much as you want, we have a lot of wealth so we could easily negotiate a price for this land,” said the French King.

“ My Lord, how does $11 million sound?” asked the Spain spokesperson.

“That works,” said Napoleon. “11 million dollars for the Louisiana Purchase in America.”

That ended up being the wrong move for the French King because it turned out that now he has exhausted his country’s savings.  He was planning to have a war against the British, but now he might not have enough money (http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/nchist-newnation/4550).

“My Lord, this might have not been the best move.  We are running out of money.  We would not be able to have this war that you wanted because of the lack of reserves that we now have,” said a servant.

“Relax,” Napoleon said. “We will just have to sell the land in order to get the money back.”

1802 – United States of America

The United States wants to buy the Louisiana Purchase so they can expand westward.  Thomas Jefferson knew that he could negotiate with France to buy it from them.

“Mr. President, we have just received word that France now holds the land in Louisiana.  We can now go through with the plan to purchase it.  Would you like me to send the minister Robert R. Livingston over to France to buy it?” asked the Vice President. (http://www.monticello.org/site/jefferson/louisiana-purchase)

“Yes, send the minister out to France. Let’s get this land back, l I don’t want any other countries to own land that is rightfully ours,” said Thomas Jefferson. (http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/nchist-newnation/4550). 

1802 – France

The American minister has traveled over to France; he is wanting to buy the Louisiana Territory from France so that the land would belong to America.  

“My Lord, the American minister Robert Livingston has come, he wants to purchase the land of Louisiana,” said a servant to the king.

“Excellent, send him in,” said Napoleon.

“General Napoleon,, it is very nice to see you. I am looking to purchase the Louisiana Purchase.  Do you want to sell it?” asked the American minister.

“ Yes, you came at the perfect time, my wealth is in an very deep hole, and I am planning to start a war against Great Britain.  And for that, I need money,” said Napoleon (Richard).

“Well General Napoleon, my leader wants this land, so I believe if we put a reasonable price up then we both could get what we want.  My lord, how much would you like the Louisiana Territory for?” asked Robert.

“Well, I was looking for about 15 million dollars, is that in your price range?” asked Napoleon.

“My Lord, that is right in our price range, that is about what we were hoping. If my accountants did the math correctly that is about three cents an acre,” said Robert. (http://www.monticello.org/site/jefferson/louisiana-purchase)

“That sounds reasonable, said Napoleon, I can write up a paper that gives you the Louisiana Territory by

May 2^nd (Richard). How does that sound?”

“My Lord that sounds very good,” said Robert, “I get the land that I want and you get to fight your war.  Just one more thing my lord, don’t get us involved in this war that you are going to have with Great Britain.”

“Sounds good,” said Napoleon.

May 2^nd, 1802

The day of the treaty, the two countries are signing the treaty that would give the United States the Louisiana Territory and give France 15 million dollars for the land.

“We have officially signed over the Louisiana Territory to America in turn for 15 million dollars.  We are giving you 828,000 square acres for 15 million dollars, or three cents an acre,” said Napoleon (http://www.monticello.org/site/jefferson/louisiana-purchase).

“My Lord that sounds perfect,” said Robert R. Livingston.

The two shook hands and went their separate ways, the United States got the land that consisted of 16 states ranging from Louisiana to Montana for a very reasonable price.   (http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/nchist-newnation/4550)

 

 

Works Cited

http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/nchist-newnation/4550. n.d. Website . 1 March 2013.

http://www.monticello.org/site/jefferson/louisiana-purchase. 1987. Website. 1 March 2013.

Richard, Carl J. http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/lewis_clark/purchase.htm. n.d. Website. 1 March 2013.