Jefferson's America: The President, the Purchase, and the Explorers Who Transformed a Nation

by Julie M. Fenster

The surprising story of how Thomas Jefferson commanded an unrivaled age of American exploration—and in presiding over that era of discovery, forged a great nation.
   
At the dawn of the nineteenth century, as Britain, France, Spain, and the United States all jockeyed for control of the vast expanses west of the Mississippi River, the stakes for American expansion were incalculably high. Even after the American purchase of the Louisiana Territory, Spain still coveted that land and was prepared to employ any means to retain it. With war expected at any moment, Jefferson played a game of strategy, putting on the ground the only Americans he a cadre of explorers who finally annexed it through courageous investigation.
 
Responsible for orchestrating the American push into the continent was President Thomas Jefferson. He most famously recruited Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, who led the Corps of Discovery to the Pacific, but at the same time there were other teams who did the same work, in places where it was even more crucial. William Dunbar, George Hunter, Thomas Freeman, Peter Custis, and the dauntless Zebulon Pike—all were dispatched on urgent missions to map the frontier and keep up a steady correspondence with Washington about their findings.
 
But they weren’t always well-matched—with each other and certainly not with a Spanish army of a thousand soldiers or more. These tensions threatened to undermine Jefferson’s goals for the nascent country, leaving the United States in danger of losing its foothold in the West. Deeply researched and inspiringly told, Jefferson’s America rediscovers the robust and often harrowing action from these seminal expeditions and illuminates the president’s vision for a continental America.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, American History, Biography, Presidents, American Revolution, American

432 pages, Paperback

First published March 25, 2014

Reviews

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is packed with stories and recounting of the travels of Meriwether Lewis and George Rogers Clark. These were known as some of Jefferson’s men and they were actively engaged in discovering cities and towns all across the country. There are snippets of letters included in the book.

So fascinating to see that President Jefferson spelled knowledge as “knoledge”. There are stories of women and children that lived harsh lives because of these early explorers and tradesmen. There is so much information about the Louisiana Purchase. A great deal of factual information complete with photo’s, letters, and human interest stories.

One of the main attractions of this Historic non Fiction book is the in-depth knowledge you gain about Thomas Jefferson. He was way ahead of the time in his thinking. When it came to farming, governing, and exploring. He did not want just rough and ready explorers on these missions, he wanted educated men.

He knew what he wanted and he gathered men of all ages to do the task at hand. It was an amazing adventure to read about. I was so impressed with Jefferson’s brain.

I was provided this book by Blogging for books in exchange for this review. I have to admit I am a junkie for history, so I assure you the love I had for this subject, the writing and the anecdotal stories made my heart and my brain very happy.

[Sharon Huether · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this Free Book through Goodreads First-Reads. Thank you for choosing me to win this book.
I loved this book.
When we think about Thomas Jefferson, sending Lewis and Clark out to explore the West, we never hear about the other men that went out too. This book tells about Lewis and Clark, plus men as Wilkenson and Pike, Freeman and Curtis, Dunbar and Hunter.
Jefferson wanted the rivers explored to their source, he didn't know they were not like the Hudson and Potomac rivers.
I really shouldn't tell more, I'd hate to spoil it for other history lovers.
The author did such a great job, putting everything in order and the book just flowed.
I highly recommend this book .It's such a eye opener to history

[John Bicknell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Non-Lewis and Clark exploration gets short shrift from popular historians, and it's nice to see the explorations of the Red, Arkansas, Ouachita and upper Mississippi rivers get their due. Fenster weaves the stories together well, with Jefferson's passion for exploration and expansion -- and desire to confront and counter the Spanish - as the unifying theme.

Lewis and Clark are not neglected here, but they serve as backdrop to the lesser known adventures of Pike, Hunter, Dunbar, Freeman and others who toiled in greater obscurity toward the same end. They deserve some attention, and they get it in nice style here.

Fenster's relaxed narrative keeps the stories moving and well-organized, but she deserved a better editor. There are several silly mistakes in the text. Multiple instances of "cessation" where "cession" is intended, for example, and a reference to Vice President George Clinton as Henry Clinton (a British Army general during the Revolution).

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Louisiana Purchase was a major land acquisition for the fledgling United States of America. Thomas Jefferson sent several expeditions to explore the region and help stake American claims to the area. As well as the more commonly known expeditions of Lewis and Clark and Pike, many minor ventures are also discussed. This is a good look at these efforts. This was a free advance read copy through Goodreads.com.

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a truly interesting read. I really enjoyed learning about the Louisiana Purchase and the explorers whose job it was to map the new territory and find out as much they could about it. The Louisiana Purchase was very unpopular in the 1800s. They could not believe the president bought a chunk of useless land that was not even defined with borders. In order to save face, Jefferson sent out explorers throughout the nation to remind everyone (Spain included) that the newly acquired land would be useful, and now belonged to the U.S.

Fenster wrote a wonderful account of what was going on in the White House and with the explorers. It reminds you that Lewis and Clark were not the only explorers, and also brings to light all the hardships the explorers faced. It reminds you how dangerous it was to be an explorer, and how brave they were and had to be for the sake of the men that traveled with them. I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review, and I am so grateful because I would probably not have picked it up otherwise. 4.5/5.

For a more complete discussion on the book, please visit https://literarybears.com/2016/05/22/...

[Virginia Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovers of American history, particularly the wild and woolly Frontier Era, will greatly enjoy "Jefferson's America". Author Julie M. Fenster writes with gusto and a real love of subject as she tells a true-life adventure tale that is more enthralling than fiction or film. Thomas Jefferson played a master's game of chess to block Britain, France, and Spain from gaining permanent control of the vast land to the West of the Continental States. His key chess pieces were an eclectic group of explorers whose eccentricities were as notable as were their brave proclivities. Along with Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, Jefferson also engaged William Dunbar, George Hunter, Thomas Freeman, Peter Custis, and Zebulon Pike to scout, map, and document the scope and range of the land to the West. The author imbues this factual account with descriptive details which bring to life the personalities and politics of the day, and a section of black and white art and photos gives a glimpse of this portion of the past. Most intriguing is the last photo--a view from Jefferson's home, Monticello, looking toward the West.

Book Copy Gratis via Blogging for Books

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shorter and less in-depth than I wanted, this was still a fascinating read on western exploration in America. Sometimes switching between the expidition's and what was going on politically was hard to follow, for an attempt at being linear without giving a full understanding of the figures.

Still, I'm glad I read this book, for it gave me a deeper understanding of the laborious hours the explorers went through, the pressures of their time, and how far we have both come and strayed since.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jefferson's America: The President, The Purchase, and The Explorers Who Transformed a Nation is an interesting read. It tells the story about the discovery, exploration, and consequences of the Louisiana Purchase. I learned more about the Louisiana Purchase than I had known before. I had no idea that Thomas Jefferson and America were facing war with Spain because of this major purchase for our country in history. I was fascinated by the events. The information was a little overwhelming at times, making me a little bored and needing to put the book down for a bit. My favorite part of the whole book was the end where it tells what happened to the major known explorers after they came back home, such as, William Clark, Meriwether Lewis, and Sacajawea.

I would recommend this book for those who enjoy nonfiction about American history.

Four stars

I received this book from Blogging for Books program. I was not required to write a review. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Early in history of the United States, the new nation found itself in a cold war not against a nation across the ocean but across the Mississippi river and the Floridian border. In Jefferson’s America, Julie M. Fenster relates how Thomas Jefferson first as Secretary of State and later as President battled with Spain to define the borders of the United States before establishing a claim on the West which would define the future of the country.

Almost a century before the United States and Spain actually fought a war; the two nations could have fought a war over Louisiana which could have been the legacy of Thomas Jefferson’s administration instead of the territory’s purchase. The Louisiana Purchase was not the event that stopped this war; it only made the likelihood more probable as the southern boundary of the territory was undefined and both nations claiming different demarcations of their respective territories. Jefferson’s solution to both keep peace and stake a claim on the West for the United States was exploration.

The journey up the Missouri, over the Rockies, and to the Pacific Ocean by the Corps of Discovery led by Lewis and Clark is thought today to be the expedition that claimed the West for the United States. While that much heralded journey is chronicled in this book, Fenster also brings forth the effects by other explorers to study the geography of the Mississippi and southern rivers like the Red and the Arkansas. Men like Thomas Freeman, William Dunbar, Zebulon Pike, George Hunter, and Andrew Ellicott brought their own talents and personalities in exploring the frontiers of the United States and helping Jefferson make a political claim to those frontiers.

The book as a whole is well researched and overall Fenster does give the reader an view of the little known history behind the first great expansion of the United States, however there are issues that do not make this an easy read. Firstly, the first quarter of the book is rather dry and could discourage some readers who would be impressed with the later three-quarters of the book. Fenster took a chronological approach to her writing and detailed several expeditions simultaneously when they overlapped, while I didn’t have a problem with this particular set up and approach there was a drawback in that Fenster did not transition from one to the other that well which at times forced the reader to stop for a few seconds to stop and reread a sentence or two to denote when Fenster was switching from one expedition to another.

Upon completing Jefferson’s America, I found it instructive on this period of the Early Republic in not only the national and international situation but also the experiences that the explorers faced as they traveled around various points in the West.

I received this book for free though LibraryThing’s Early Reviewers program in exchange for an honest review.

[O. Gold · Rating 5 out of 5]

JEFFERSON'S AMERICA - THE PRESIDENT, THE PURCHASE, AND THE EXPLORERS WHO TRANSFORMED A NATION
by Julie M. Fenster, 2016 [five stars out of five]
Currently Thomas Jefferson is experiencing a historical free fall. As an icon of the early republic, he has been replaced by Alexander Hamilton. The Broadway smash hit bearing his last name plus a best selling biography has established Hamilton's present fame. On the other hand, Jefferson is enduring a savaging by conservative historians, The author of the afore
mentioned biography calls our 3rd president, "Dr Pangloss", the stupid nitwit foil of the hero Candide in the great satire written by the famous 18th century philosopher, Voltaire.
Hopefully, this wonderful and beautifully written history by Fenster will restore the rightful luster to the peace loving and scientific inclined Thomas Jefferson. the author is a "pop[ilar] historian" and not an academic. But she knows her way around the writing of history. Her research is impressive since she makes active use of the journals penned by Jefferson's
handpicked explorers.
Everyone has heard of the Lewis and Clark expedition but few are familiar with Jefferson's other energetic explorers -William Dunbar, George Hunter, Peter Custis, Thomas Freeman, and Zebulon Pike.
The issue, of course, was to find out what the land between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains was like. Interestingly, the treaty whereby the U.S. got 828,000 miles of land specified no actual boundaries. It just said that the U.S. got an area called Louisiana drained by the rivers that flowed into the Mississippi. So, Jefferson sent his men out to find out what these river lands were like. They brought back information about the natural features and the inhabitants, i.e., the Indian tribes. Lewis and Clark led the largest expedition up the Missouri River all the way to the Pacific. Dunbar and Hunter west up the Ouachaita River from the Mississippi just above New Orleans to the "hot springs" in modern Arkansas. Freeman and Custis led the trip on the Red River which in those days separated Spanish Texas from the Louisiana Territory. Pike led his
small team up the Mississippi with instructions to find its source. He claimed he found it a Leech Lake in Minnesota although today the source is know to be nearby Lake Itasca,
Bur the real hero is the man who sent out these explorers. He wanted to expand his nation beyond the Mississippi.
He wanted to know what the Purchase entailed. He personally selected each of the leaders of the 4 expeditions. In all respects, Thomas Jefferson was really responsible for adding almost 1/2 of he present U.S. to the infant nation and finding out what was there.
This is a great read. You will find out a lot about American history that you never knew before and enjoy tremendous writing.

[Jerome Otte · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting history of the exploration of the Louisiana purchase during Jefferson’s administration. Fenster describes the goals of the various expeditions: map the area, make peace with the natives, survey sites for forts and settlements, make latitude/longitude measurements, and collect specimens of the land.

Although Lewis and Clark are the most famous explorers of Jeffersonian America, Fenster describes all of the other explorers and nations who had designs on the territory. And while France sold the region to the US after acquiring it from Spain, the Spanish still maintained a presence in the area and US expeditions were under constant threat by Spanish troops. Fenster also describes how Jefferson’s sense of urgency (influenced by fears of French and Spanish power) was bad news for the area’s Indian tribes. Jefferson’s ideal culture was based on little more than land ownership, a concept foreign to the Indians. He also assumed that few Indians even cared where they lived, and as war seemed more likely Jefferson ordered widespread and sweeping displacement of Indian tribes.

A detailed and very readable work.

[Matthew Chisholm · Rating 5 out of 5]

This account of Jeffersonian exploration in the very beginning of the 19th century draws on several narratives already produced by historians, so the research isn't necessarily novel. Fenster's main accomplishment, however, is her ability to create an incredibly balanced and nuanced story of the ambiguity and tenuousness of the Louisiana Territory when Jefferson actually made the purchase (blindly it turns out). I was incredibly impressed to see how well she used dry wit and humor to augment these rich stories of frontier adventure. And though this book is primarily about white men doing white culture things on Native American soil, Fenster is quickly critical of the systems in place that drove exploitation of slaves, Native Americans, and even the environment. Her story is a true celebration of a triumphant American moment while at the same time decrying the institutional problems of 19th century American and European culture.

[Skjam! · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1803, many people in the fledgling United States expected a Louisiana War, as the Spanish had forbidden American shipping from passing down the Mississippi and through the port of New Orleans. That didn’t happen, as the Spanish were induced to yield the Louisiana Territory to their allies the French. France’s then-leader, Emperor Napoleon, said he would “never relinquish” the territory. But when European troubles drew his attention, the French offered to sell Louisiana to the Americans for a cool fifteen million dollars.

President Thomas Jefferson got the U.S. to pay the money, but other than the important ports of New Orleans and St. Louis, it wasn’t clear what all was included in the Louisiana Purchase. Someone had to be sent out posthaste to learn river routes through the territory, and apply some scientific curiosity to what might be found there. And so he chose the men of Jefferson.

This book is primarily about six men who led expeditions into the West, and the outcomes of those adventures. Meriwether Lewis, Jefferson’s personal secretary and a man who suffered bouts of depression. William Clark, younger brother of a Revolutionary War hero who had been cast aside by his country. William Dunbar, slaveholder and scientist. George Hunter, a chemist bent on making his fortune. Thomas Freeman, one of the surveyors that laid out Washington, D,C, And Zebulon Pike, an United States Army lieutenant who was intrepid beyond all reason.

It’s emphasized that other than Lewis, most of these men were not Jefferson’s first choices. Many better trained people simply didn’t want to risk their lives on perilous journeys, or couldn’t get away from previous commitments.

Of course, they are not the only people covered in this history text. We also meet the legendary Sacajawea, without whom Lewis & Clark might well not have made it past the Shoshone. Aaron Burr, who you may remember from that recent musical. Blackbird of the Omaha, whose dinner invitations you should find a way to politely refuse. And many others.

The story is primarily chronological, and skips back and forth between expeditions happening at the same time. But it’s not all “this happened, then that happened.” There is room for a certain amount of editorial opinion, and oddball moments. The book begins with a visit to New Orleans in 1820 by John James Audubon, who was later to gain fame painting birds. At the time, he was seeking wealthy patrons who needed their portraits done, to fund his passion. He met one of the famous Jeffersonian explorers, who alas had not aged well.

While the book is matter-of-fact about the issue of slavery, including some of the worst consequences of the system, it very carefully does not mention Jefferson’s own slaves, even when talking about his time at Monticello. I have to wonder if the author felt she’d have to put in another chapter just to explain President Jefferson’s complicated relationship with slavery and felt it best to avoid the issue.

The treatment of Native Americans is more directly dealt with, as they occupied parts of the lands the explorers were moving through. There’s quite a bit of politics involved, both between tribes, and their relationships with the various nations who wanted their goods or land. Zebulon Pike is mentioned as having noticed that the introduction of strong liquor as a trade good was distorting tribal life.

There are many direct quotes from letters and journals, and these are sourced in the extensive endnotes. There’s also a bibliography and index, several maps, and a thin section of illustrations in the center.

The age of Jeffersonian exploration lasted only a few years, but established the workability of scientific expeditions into the wilderness, rather than just cash and land grabs. It’s briefly mentioned that unlike the slapdash American expeditions, the Spanish science explorers under Carlos III were well-trained and equipped for their journeys–it’s just that they’d never gotten around to the Louisiana Territory. (I would like to read more about those expeditions, please.)

I found this book a pleasure to read, and recommend it for senior high students on up (there’s some frank talk about sex) who are interested in this period of history.

Disclaimer: I received this volume through Blogging for Books to facilitate this review. No other compensation was requested or offered.

[Phil · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is such a great treat to come across a history book that covers a subject you are quite familiar with then commences to unveil new information on it. This is such a book.

I have read three major books on the Lewis and Clark Expedition but had no idea it was only one of several expeditions Jefferson commissioned.

In addition to Lewis and Clark there was William Dunbar and George Hunter who explored the Ouachita River and the hot springs in what is today Arkansas followed by an exploration of part of the Red and Black Rivers, Thomas Freeman explored the rest of the Red River and Zebulon Pike found the source of the Mississippi River.

The purpose of all the expeditions was certainly for scientific reasons but also very important political ones. They were an attempt to establish borders. The necessity to do so stemmed from how the sale of the Louisiana Purchase was consummated which is detailed below as it progressed through the book.

“Spain’s relationship to France was complicated by twisting exigencies, but at the core of them all was the simple fact that Spain had sunk to the level of vassal by 1800, the royal family and its government existing at the pleasure of Napoleon. On that basis, the Spanish enthusiastically agreed to the Talleyrand plan; to give its Louisiana territories to France during a process of negotiation that started in the fall of 1800. It continued in strict secrecy through the winter of 1801.” (68)
Spain’s belief “In any guise, though, France would bring money and soldiers in abundance, more than enough to constrain the Americans.” (73)

“With Napoleon’s assurance, France would never relinquish Louisiana, Carlos IV rested easy.” (74)

“By the beginning of 1802, Napoleon had finally made his move, though Americans weren’t certain what to make of it. The French Emperor had equipped ten thousand troops and ordered them to New Orleans. He couldn’t resist committing them to a quick stop on the way to help an even larger force subdue the uprising in Saint-Domingue (later named Haiti).” (79)

“The new development was that only the day before, Jefferson had sent word to diplomats that the United States would be willing to buy from France greater New Orleans….” (91)

“On April 17 Spain announced they were opening the Mississippi to American trade and that France now owned. Less than two weeks later, Jefferson’s representative signed the treaty buying the whole territory for the United States.” (101)

“Jefferson was closely engaged with absorbing Louisiana and adverting war using every means at his disposal, mainly by showing Spain the shadow of an army at the ready. Expeditions were another facet, smaller than an army, but with even a longer shadow.” (116)

“While Spain’s intentions were inconsistent, largely to be cunning, Jefferson made America’s policy regarding Louisiana crystal clear. If Napoleon was a man to put obscurities in a border, Jefferson was a man for taking them out.” (116).

In other words, there were no designated borders so the mere presence of the Americans in the New Orleans area threatened the very existence of Spanish rule. What was Spain’s and what was the United States? Spain threatened war to decide the issue while Jefferson preferred accurate maps.

The first thing he ordered was to establish accurately the 31st parallel and then work from it on establishing the borders. Freeman and Dunbar were largely responsible for this and because of the accuracy of their measurements no changes have had to be made to their map even to this day.

Each exploration has its own story to tell but each of them possessed great sacrifice, dogged determination and tremendous courage. With all the dangers lurking in the natural world to pick off the explorers added to their worries was the Spanish military threatening every single exploration, even the one of Lewis and Clark which I did not know. Fortunately for the explorers the Spanish military acted more like the Keystone Cops that a refined and tested army.

All of the explorers were given the name “Men of Jefferson” a distinction that followed them all their lives, much to each’s satisfaction.

It’s a fine tale of the actions of men that set the nation on the path it followed with its western expansion.

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best history books I've ever read; it almost reads like a novel, or maybe I was just that fascinated to be pulled into this book so hard. It was really interesting to learn about all the politics and intrigue surrounding the Louisiana Purchase, historical texture completely missing from our school books where it glosses it over by saying, basically, "The US bought the Louisiana territory from France and then sent Lewis and Clark to explore it."

In actuality, France had a pretty small role, as the whole ordeal for at least a decade was mainly between the US and Spain (the original owner), who also still owned the Floridas, another thorn in America's side. Also, there were several expeditions west, not just one, exploring the Red, Ouachita, Arkansas, and Upper Mississippi Rivers, the Red River expedition being, arguably, the most important of all, it being the (still nebulous) border with New Spain. Lots of interesting characters drifting around in the "Old Southwest" in those days, I really enjoyed hearing their stories, especially given that many were not very wedded to the young United States at all. Movies could be made out of a bunch of these people/stories (and should be!).

Also fascinating was hearing about the native tribes. Not the most detail was spent on this but you get a glimpse of settled tribes, nations really, who were powers in themselves in the western regions. I didn't know the Osage Nation was so strong, or led by a single ruler in an almost autocratic way (he is said to have had slaves massage his legs while he sleeps, in a way such that he isn't awakened. Sounds like something out of, I don't know, a story about Ottoman or ancient Babylonian empires than your usual down to earth Native American tribe. I was wrong). All of these tribes had relations already with white traders, many had cannily adapted to the new situation as local power brokers, horse thieves/traders, and the like. This is an aspect to the book I'll be looking more into in the future.

The only downside is that I would have appreciated more and better maps, showing the then settled areas more clearly and the expedition routes more finely, native tribe locales, that sort of thing. At times the Mississippi valley sounded almost cosmopolitan and full of people, at others, it seemed still very wild and empty. Many towns were discussed that were not shown on the maps, leaving the reader a bit lost. Maybe not inapropriate in a book about the raw exploration of uncharted lands, but still.

[Haley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly, my feelings towards this book are rather neutral. Essentially, it recounts the stories of several expeditions during Thomas Jefferson's presidency in what would become the American West, including that of Lewis and Clark. Jefferson organized these expeditions largely as a way to stake a claim to the land.

In the book, you get some politics, which I admit to not being that informed about before reading the book. I'd known that both Spain and France had claimed New Orleans at various points of course, since that's crucial to New Orlean's culture, but I hadn't known the details of how it was transferred between countries before and even after the Louisiana Purchase. The book is largely stories of the expeditions themselves, though, along with quite a bit about the preparations for them. That means stories of what they needed to survive, new wildlife, rivers, etc. that they encountered, and, of course, a lot of interaction with Native Americans.

The Native Americans play a significant role in his book (and the history the book discusses), especially in Lewis and Clark's expedition. I can't speak to how well their cultures are portrayed in this book, though I know that's always something to be cautious about as a lot of false information is still taken as fact or is misinterpreted. I do remember a comment that annoyed me about the men on the Lewis and Clarke expedition becoming less "civilized" because they'd begun to eat dog (which they'd apparently picked up from the Native Americans). I think this was potentially meant to be framed as the way (white) Americans would view them once they returned, but it didn't always come across that way. (People acting like eating dog meat is inherently different than eating any other type of meat is also a pet peeve of mine, and I don't even like meat.)

This book thoroughly covered its topic. In fact, it covered so much that it potentially covered too much. It jumped between expeditions and sometimes years, which led to me being very confused at times as I tried to put it all into context. The positive of that, though, is that you can read about more than just the Lewis and Clark expedition, which is obviously the most well-known. There were times where it held my attention far more effectively than at others.

I received this book from Goodreads First Reads in exchange for an honest review.

[Tex Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 of 5 stars – Informative Story of Birth of "America's" "West."

I love histories about early "America" (or more specifically, the U.S.), and found this to be an interesting account of a part of post-revolutionary period that I had not read much about, our early western expansion. While the details bogged it down at times, it made me feel like I traveled back in time and I learned a lot in the process.

I like how Julie Fenster filled this with how simple moments and bold, courageous acts could determine history - such as making the Red River the border between the U.S. and New Spain, later Texas. In fact, I also became aware that other countries were just as bad as the U.S. was in taking land from the Native Americans; that Spain was really the previous owner of the Louisiana territory and resisted incursion from the U.S.; of the danger and cold war with Spain; of all the consequent intrigue, saber rattling, gearing up for war, much less attacks on the U.S. expeditions' positioning; that the expeditions had more to do with geopolitical maneuvering/posturing, with scientific discovery used as a cover; and in fact, that L&C was planned and organized before the purchase for just that very reason.

I enjoyed Fenster's descriptions of the places and times. Being from Texas, I'm familiar with the "tortured water ways" of the West, how they "were the wilderness … the most rugged part of it" (e.g., how they can dry up so that you can straddle the Trinity or Rio Grande in summer). Fenster made a valiant attempt, but there was a lot of information, making it hard, for example, to keep track of all the players early on as they were being introduced, not all to play a more critical role later. She did confirm my low opinion of the true Jefferson, where "the most disputed section" of the LA Purchase was "a region misplayed by him, almost to the point of disaster." He of course was able to later gloss over his "diplomatic blunders," conveniently not mentioning them to save himself embarrassment, while continually praising, and thus putting the historical focus on L&C and Pike. Instead, the unsung heroes, lost to popular history but for Fenster and her colleagues, were Freeman & Custis.

If anything, this was a thorough account of how "the Louisiana purchase belonged to America, not because money had been exchanged, but because those hundred men had gone a long way and gone through a lot, in order to bring it home."

[Kenneth Barber · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book deals with the exploration of the Louisiana Purchase. Al are familiar with Lewis&Clark whose trip is touched upon in the book, but is not the main focus. There were other people commissioned by Jefferson to explore and document the new addition to the United States. The Hunter-Dunbar expedition that originally was supposed to find the source of the Red River, but due to conflict with Spain, ended up following the Ouachita River as far as the Hot Springs in present day Arkansas. The expeditions of Zebulon Pike are also detailed. The first one was to find the head waters of the Mississippi River. This he determined was Leech Lake, but that was not the real source. His second expedition was up the Arkansas River to find its origin. He ended up lost and freezing in Colorado, but eventually had a mountain named in his honor. The mission was to next find the origin of the Red River, but he was captured by the Spanish which saved his life as well as those with him. Another expedition to find the head waters of the Red River was led by a man named Freeman, but this was also turned back by the Spanish.
The book relates that Jefferson was interested in these expeditions not just for scientific reasons, but also to claim these areas for the United States. His interest also included the Florida area. The author names Jefferson as an imperialist, wanting to extend American hegemony over the Louisiana Purchase and other adjacent territory controlled by the Spanish. American relations with Spain are also explained, as Spain originally controlled New Orleans, the Floridas (east and west), and claimed much of the territory west of the Mississippi River. This book was informative and readable.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first started the blog, a blog that I've allowed to languish for far too long, I wasn't reading that much nonfiction. I would pick up the occasional political or history book, but it was only one or two a year, and that may be stretching it a bit. If blogging has made a lasting positive change in my reading life, it's in an ever expanding appreciation for nonfiction. The types of books I'm now reading covers a vaster expanse of interests, and I now have a greater appreciation for American history and how much of it I really didn't know.

I of course knew President Jefferson's role in obtaining the Louisiana Territory, what middle school kid hasn't heard of the Louisiana Purchase? I knew of Lewis & Clark and the exploration they embarked on. What I didn't know, or at least forgot about, was everything going on behind the scenes. They didn't teach us about all the maneuvering behind the scenes, the clashes with the Spaniards, or all the obstacles that had to be overcome for our country to stretch from coast to coast.

Before reading this I don't think I understood how much of how we see ourselves as a nationation was crafted by Jefferson. Nor do I think I fully appreciated his role in creating the country we call home, and I don't necessarily mean in our size. I think he is pivotal in envisioning a nation that stretched from the Atlantic to the Pacific, but I think he helped craft our character and instilled in our collective psyche a need to see beyond our current borders, to always be reaching for what is next. He helped mold the American sense of adventuring. After reading this book, my fondness for our third president has only grown.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

A couple of years ago I read a fictional account of the life of Jefferson's oldest daughter Patsy, and it really piqued my interest about her father. So when the opportunity came to read this accounting of Jefferson and the exploration of The Louisiana Purchase I jumped at it.

Jefferson was rather forward thinking and was determined to "go west" and expand the US from sea to "shining sea". In pursuit of this dream, he made The Louisiana Purchase from the French in 1803.

This book is made up of the tales of the infamous team of Lewis and Clark, as well as lesser known explorers like Pike, Freeman and Custis and Dunbar and Hunter, whom Jefferson sent to explore The Louisiana Purchase. Lewis and Clark's main objective was to follow the Missouri River west and find whether it would offer a route to the Pacific. They were also expected to watch for opportunities of trade, resource availability, and document wildlife and native peoples encountered along the way, all of which was logged in detail in their diaries.

The book includes a handy map of the US in 1803-1804, pictures of the explorers, photos of things they encountered during their adventures, and excerpts from the explorer's diaries as well as editorial articles.

My final word: Providing a good overview of both the expeditions and the politics of the time, I rather liked this book, although it could get a little too detailed at times for my tastes. Recommended for lovers of history. Rounded up from 3.5 stars

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jefferson's America, follows the path of expansion into the American west. Its full of tales and adventures undertaken by well know explorers, such as Lewis and Clark as well as others that were unfamiliar to me. It also covers Jefferson's desire to stake a claim to territory west of the Mississippi river and his need to gain control over New Orleans, as a gateway to trade. While this is a well written book, that goes into a lot of detail, it did at times seem a bit dry. I would have appreciated more maps and charts in order to follow along the routes more closely. I also think this book would have been strengthened with more coverage and details about the Spanish and French officials, who were a large part of this story.

Overall, I think history buffs and anyone interested in the exploration and expansion into the Western territories and the prominent role played by Thomas Jefferson and his band of explorers will find this work of interest.

Thanks to Blogging for Books for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
More reviews at: www.susannesbooklist.blogspot.com

[Tony Parsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

History was 1 of my many undergrad degrees.
In PS; another undergrad degree we did not learn a whole lot what this era of President went through in the infrastructure.

I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.

A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written true historical book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great true historical movie, a college PP presentation, or better yet a ew mini TV series or even a documentary (A & E, History channel). There is no doubt in my mind this is a very easy rating of 5 stars.

Thank you for the free Goodreads; Making Connections; Crown Publishing Group (Penguin Random House LLC.); paperback book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)

[Brendan (History Nerds United) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am obviously a history nerd, but you can’t know everything. This is one of the few books that filled in an amazing number of holes in American history for me.

The Louisiana Purchase was made (unconstitutionally, and against everything Jefferson swore he stood for, but I digress) and America needed to start laying claim before everything went to hell. American children are regaled with the amazing exploits (which are well deserved) of Lewis and Clark. However, the work of the Pike Expedition was just as harrowing and successful in its own right. The Red River Expedition, well, let’s just say politics can mess up the best laid plans.

Fenster’s book is great even for non-history nerds. The stories themselves are interesting and Fenster does not let the narrative get bogged down at all. Come for the history. Stay for the fun!

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary: An account of how Jefferson used the efforts of four teams of men comprising less than a hundred total to establish America's hold on the lands west of the Mississippi River.

Most of us, if we remember anything of early U. S. History remember the Louisiana Purchase of 1803 and the explorations, up the Missouri and to the Pacific coast, of Lewis and Clark. What I didn't realize was that while we had purchased these lands from France for $15 million, our grasp of these was tenuous, especially because of the ambitions of Spain to hold the lands west of the Mississippi. I did not realize that there were four teams of explorers and that the success of their efforts played a key role in staving off the ambitions of Spain as well as confirming the wisdom of Jefferson's bold move in acquiring these lands. Julie M. Fenster's account of these explorers and their expeditions showed how four teams of men with a combined total of about one hundred men, plus Sacajawea, in the case of Lewis and Clark, fended off the challenges of the Federalists and the ambitions of Spain.

The book begins with America in the 1790's and into Jefferson's administration, as the country sought to get on its feet, occupy the Northwest Territory, and stay out of conflicts with the superpowers of Spain, France, and Great Britain. Soon, with westward settlement, Americans were on the banks of the Mississippi. West of this was mostly land claimed by the Spanish, and the native peoples who held it first. Louisiana, and New Orleans were the place where the tension was greatest, as Americans sought to ship goods through this port, held by Spain, and then through complicated maneuvers, yielded to France, from whom Jefferson acquired the land in 1803. In truth, Spain had not given up its ambitions for the lands of the Louisiana Purchase and certainly was the dominant power in Texas and the lands to the south and west. Add to this that the purchase never decisively determined the western borders of these lands.

Jefferson faced opposition from Federalists who questioned Jefferson's constitutional power to acquire these lands, and the wisdom of an acquisition that might lead to greater international confrontation over lands of unknown worth. This book shows how four teams of explorers led by Lewis and Clark (the Missouri), Hunter and Dunbar (the Red, Black, and Ouachita Rivers), Zebulon Pike (the upper Mississippi), and Freeman and Custis (the Red River) both asserted the presence of the United States in these newly claimed lands, and furnished, through journals and materials sent back to Washington, incontrovertible evidence of the riches of these lands. Fenster follows each expedition, including the trials faced in contending with various river conditions, negotiations with Indian tribes, the reaching of the Pacific by Lewis and Clark, and the climactic confrontation between Freeman and Custis and their forty troops with over a thousand Spanish on the Red River. Here is her description of this last:

"Viana [the Spanish commander] started by warning Freeman that if the expedition continued, his orders were to open fire.

Freeman replied, 'The object of my expedition was, to explore the river to its source, under the instructions of the President of the U.S.' He request the objections in writing, but Viana refused, giving his word of honor instead. Freeman had done his duty.

The juncture had been reached at which Freeman's control over the situation would vanish with one more move, one more word. He agreed to leave the following day. Before turning to leave, however, he thought Viana said something in Spanish to one of his men about placing his soldiers on what had become the American side of the river. Freeman told his interpreter 'that if a Spanish guard was placed near us they should be fired upon.' He was offering battle to a force vastly superior. A moment went by and then Viana abandoned the idea. Freeman had done what a hundred diplomats failed to do. Spain and America had a border, and it was the Red River" (p. 342).

Fenster skillfully reproduces the vast tapestry of American exploration. She weaves in figures like General James Wilkinson, a slippery character who probably acted as a double agent on many occasions, and Aaron Burr, whose plots in the southwest eventually led to Jefferson's unsuccessful prosecution of him. She helps us understand the personal character of the explorers including the struggle with depression Lewis faced whenever he wasn't exploring, ending in his apparent suicide en route to Washington, though this never could be definitively proven. She portrays the drivenness of Zebulon Pike, who nearly lost his feet in the exploration of the upper Mississippi, and who later pressed on in a failed attempt that nearly cost him and his men their lives to reach the peak that bears his name. As a modern historian, Fenster also observes both the exploitation of and lack of understanding of the native peoples these explorers encountered in their journeys.

Most of all, she shows the decisive role these explorers played in confirming the United States' hold on these lands, vindicating a president who saw the opportunity offered him even though he did not have the military to sustain a fight against France or Spain at the time. Through the reports of these explorers, the way was paved for a new wave of westward settlement, and an often besieged President was confirmed in the wisdom of his bold act and these men would ever after be known as "Jefferson's men."

____________________________

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

[Seth D Michaels · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a little disappointing - interesting and at times pretty good but fell short in a few key ways. Gives the backstory of the Louisiana Purchase and then follows a number of explorers - including but not limited to Lewis and Clark - on grueling journeys of exploration (and tribal diplomacy) along the rivers leading into the new territory. Good at giving the international context; draws out the characters in interesting ways, and has some good passages, but doesn't grab the attention. I found myself most jarred by the fact the book skirts around the issue of slavery, without which you really can't talk about either Jefferson or western expansion. Recommend only if you're a big history buff.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just a dandy book for those who like American history. Everyone knows about Lewis and Clark's expedition after the Louisiana Purchase. But... did you know there were several other explorations at the same time? Searching for the source of the Mississippi, for the source of the Red River (possibly the dividing line between the purchased land and Spanish held territories), and a few others.

Jefferson is playing a variety of stealthy games to get funding from Congress, to reach out to Native American tribes, to push the Spanish boundaries, to push the British boundaries, and to generally stir the pot while claiming that everyone is just a scientific explorer looking at the geology and plants.

Nicely researched, nicely written.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most Americans are familiar with the Lewis & Clark Expedition. Before reading this book, I hadn't realized that Jefferson also sent out other expeditions such as one to find the headwaters of the Mississippi & another to explore the Red River into Texas. I also hadn't been aware of how much of a presence Spain still was in Louisiana Territory, and how much friction there was between the borders of the Spanish Empire & the US.

Fenster does a good job not only of setting the historical stage, but also of finding the humanity in her hard-bitten, 19th-century explorers. She acknowledges the political importance the First Nations still held at this time. And she gives a good taste of how rancorous DC politics had already become by the time of the third presidency.

[John Deardurff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some might consider this as the biography of The Louisiana Purchase which added 828,000 square miles to the United States, thereby doubling the size of the young republic. While we get the familiar stories of Lewis and Clark; we are also introduced to the lesser-known explorers Wilkenson, Pike, Freeman, Curtis, Dunbar, and Hunter. This is also the tale of Thomas Jefferson's quest of expanding the American empire all the way to the western coast of the continent; thereby preventing Britain, France, and Spain from restricting the manifest destiny of the United States.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won Jefferson's America as a giveaway and finally got to it. The book chronicles the exploration of more than Lewis and Clark. Fenster also details the missions of William Dunbar, George Hunter, Thomas Freeman, Peter Custis and Zebulon Pike and their parts in the opening up America's frontier. If you didn't know your early American history then this book is a good one.

[dejah_thoris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of great explorer stories in this volume. I especially enjoyed hearing (audiobook) about the wildlife, the Native Americans, and the story of how Lewis got shot in the backside but nobody wanted to own up about it. It's still strange to think of the midwest as the true west, but it was great to learn more detail of the famous and not-so-famous trips west to explore the Louisiana Purchase.