THE NEW GOVERNMENT IN OPERATION (1789- 1816) What do you know about America’s New Government? After the signing of the Constitution, the leaders and citizens of the United States had many goals and aspirations for the growth of the nation. One type of growth was the interest in expanding the existing boundaries of the new country. The first of these initiatives was the Louisiana Purchase, under President Thomas Jefferson. Explorers began to search for new, undiscovered lands in and beyond the United States. Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were two such explorers, and their journey across the continent provided much information regarding the land beyond its borders. © Copyright NewPath Learning. All Rights Reserved. Permission is granted for the purchaser to print copies for non-commercial educational purposes only. Visit us at www.NewPathLearning.com.
Meanwhile, the United States government was facing problems in other areas. Tension began to grow with the Native Americans and with the British, who continued to explore the continent outside the new country’s boundaries. The War of 1812 was fought for a number of reasons, one being the fact that England was having a direct impact on the effort to expand America by taking Native American land. This, in combination with trade issues, was enough reason for the United States to declare war. The Monroe Doctrine guaranteed that Britain would stay out of American engagements in the future. Although the new government was off to a shaky start with these conflicts, the leaders had confidence in their new gains. © Copyright NewPath Learning. All Rights Reserved. Permission is granted for the purchaser to print copies for non-commercial educational purposes only. Visit us at www.NewPathLearning.com.