How Did Thomas Jefferson Explore Western Expansion

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Drago 1 Dominick Drago Mr. Dart U.S. History 28 October 2015 Thomas Jefferson and Western Expansion Thomas Jefferson, born in 1743, grew up in Virginia on a plantation called Shadwell located in Albemarle County. It is clear to see why Jefferson was inspired to explore western land. His father, Peter Jefferson, was a well known explorer and surveyor of Virginia. Peter and his good friend Joshua Frye explored the mountains of Virginia and Maryland, and eventually produced the first map of Virginia created by surveying the land. When Jefferson was young, he was dedicated to exploring the land like his father, although he never left the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Jefferson was well educated, fluent in five different languages, and was taught …show more content…

They used information from the Indians and their findings to create accurate maps of the western territory, and form a path for people to begin moving west. Without Thomas Jefferson, the Louis and Clark expedition would not have been possible. Jefferson is known as the main author of the Declaration of Independence, which is a very important part of America's history. Thomas Jefferson is also remembered as a founding father; his face is carved into Mount Rushmore and is also found on the nickel. Drago 3 Works Cited "Envisaging the West: Thomas Jefferson and the Roots of Lewis and Clark." Envisaging the West: Thomas Jefferson and the Roots of Lewis and Clark. Ed. Douglas Seefeldt. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2015. "Lewis & Clark Expedition." National Archives and Records Administration. National Archives and Records Administration, n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2015. "Thomas Jefferson." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2015 "Thomas Jefferson." Ushistory.org. Independence Hall Association, n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2015. "Westward Expansion." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 29 Oct.