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**Theme:** Expansion **Topic:** Thomas Jefferson, James K. Polk **Free Response Question**: Compare the expansionist foreign policies of President Thomas Jefferson and Jame K. Polk. To what extent did their policies strengthen the United States. Introductory Paragraph **Setting:** Both Thomas Jefferson and James K. Polk made very large expansionary measures towards the pacific ocean. **Basis for Analysis**: They had very different policies about expansion but there expansions greatly strengthened America. **Partitions ** : Thomas Jefferson and James K. Polk had very different expansionary policies, The Louisiana Purchase is arguably one of the best peace time decisions in American History, The taking of territory from Mexico after the Mexican american war was a choice for the ages. **Thesis:** While there were many differences in the way Jefferson and Polk expanded the nation both ways strengthened the United States economically, politically, and militarily. 

**Partition 1:** Compare and Contrast Jefferson = Louisiana Purchase, Between Mississippi and the Rocky Mountains 828,000 sq. miles Cost $15 million dollars given to the Government of France Polk = Mexican American War, California, Nevada, Utah and parts of Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico The United States gave Mexico $15 million dollars under The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

** Partition 2: Louisiana Purchase Strengthens America ** Gave America the Control of the Mississippi River Nearly Doubled the Size of the United States Grew or Political Ties with France Because of the Louisiana Purchase America is known as the "Bread Basket" of the World

**  Partition 3: The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo Strengthens America  ** Gave America a large western coast Allowed the Building of the Trans-Continental Railroad Gave new room for the population to expand after mass immigration from europe California was a major factor in keeping the Union together during the civil war which would not have been possible without the Treaty of GH

<span style="background-color: #800080; color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 23px; text-align: left;">General Information: <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">Just came off the Quasi War not very good alliance with France <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">James K. Polk only ran for one term because expansion was one of his only goals <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">