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Growth of the United States: Map of the Louisiana Purchase (Analyzing a Primary Source)

This map of the United States highlights in red the territory included in the Louisiana Purchase. Bought from France in 1803, the 820,000 square miles would eventually be split among the 16 states whose borders are outlined in black. The map was created for the centennial of the Louisiana Purchase in 1903.

Take a minute to examine the map, then answer the questions that follow.

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Meet the map

What is the title?

What is in the legend?

Observe its parts

What place or places are shown?

What is labeled?

If there are symbols or colors, what do they stand for?

When was the map created?

Who made it?

Try to make sense of it

Do you think the map was created around the time the land highlighted in red was initially acquired? Why or why not?

Why was it created? List evidence from the map or your knowledge about the mapmaker that led you to your conclusion.

Write one sentence summarizing this map.

How does it compare to a current map of the same place?

Use it as historical evidence

What other documents or historical evidence are you going to use to help you understand this event or topic?

When you're done

Answer the following in preparation for a class discussion:

What would be the advantages of controlling this land?
What natural resources would this land contain that would benefit the country?
Why would the U.S. want to control the Mississippi river and the port of New Orleans?
Why would the national government want authority over such a large area?
What would be the transportation and domestic benefits for the citizens of the United States?

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To the extent possible under law, Lily Hofstetter has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to “Growth of the United States: Map of the Louisiana Purchase (Analyzing a Primary Source)”

Meet the map

Observe its parts

Try to make sense of it

Use it as historical evidence

When you're done

Explore Primary Sources

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