St. Louis first came under U.S. control in 1803

Before the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, the City of St. Louis was thriving but wasn't under American control. Before that, political rule was by France and Spain.

Starting this fall, kids in 12 St. Louis area schools--and maybe more--are going to get a special look at this all-important international transaction. The purchase has been described as the "largest and swiftest act of expansion" in American history.

And St. Louis became the capitol of what became the Upper Louisiana Territory. That was before Missouri became a state.

On March 10, 1804, St. Louis was the site of a unique, three-flag treaty signing involving France, Spain and the U.S. First Spain signed over the Upper Louisiana Territory to France and then France deeded it immediately to the U.S. That all happened in one day.

The Louisiana Purchase involved a 828,000-square-mile area. It extended from New Orleans all the way into Canada. That area included all or most of what is now the states of Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, Minnesota, North and South Dakota and Montana.

Jacqueline Chambers is assistant director of the National Louisiana Purchase Bicentennial Committee. Her office is at the College of Education, University of Missouri-St. Louis.

She said the Louisiana Purchase was one of the most significant events in U.S. history. But, lots of Missourians don't know much about it even today.

She added the U.S. leaders at purchase time also didn't know what they were buying. Thomas Jefferson was U.S. president at that time. France was under Napoleon Boneparte.

"When they were negotiating (with France and Spain), we were first trying to buy only the Port of New Orleans," she said. That was designed to give Americans control of shipping and commerce on the Mississippi River.

But, at the last minute, France decided to throw in the middle part of the country, including the entire watershed of the Missouri River.

"The U.S. ended up buying it without knowing exactly what we had," Chamber said. And the officials paid more than Congress had authorized.

The final purchase price was $15,000,000. But, the U.S. got nearly 530 million acres. That amounted to a price of less than three cents an acre. That's quite a bargain.

The famous Lewis & Clark exploration of the Missouri River basin was actually an effort to find out exactly what the U.S. had bought in the Louisiana Purchase, Chambers said.

Late in July, 37 teachers from 12 schools in 11 metro-area school districts met to discuss lesson plans for the Louisiana Purchase class curriculum.

First schools to sign up were:

Cannon Elementary and Elsberry Middle schools in Elsberry, Ferguson Middle School, Lindbergh High School, Maplewood-Richmond Heights High School, Mehlville High School, Normandy High School, Homan Middle School in the Pattonville district, Ritenour High School, Gateway Middle School in the City of St. Louis district, Sullivan High School and Brittany Woods Middle School in the University City district.

Chambers said many Missourians aren't familiar with the early history of St. Louis or how old the city is. "By 1804, St. Louis was 40 years old and well-established as a trading center." Fur trading with the Indians was flourishing and lead mines south of St. Louis were a prime source of metal for water pipes and shot for guns, she said.

Chambers said there will be time for other kids and teachers to join in learning about this important era of Missouri and U.S. history.

If you're interested in learning more, check out some additional websites. One is at UMSL at louisianapurchase.umsl.edu (you don't need www. before this address).

Another is the Louisiana's state website at: www.louisianapurchase2003.com/home.cfm.

Then, when school starts, ask your social studies teacher about getting information from Chambers. She can be reached at UMSL at (314) 516-6884.

The Louisiana Purchase program is going to extend through the 2003-2004 school year.

The Missouri State Museum will have a signing ceremony on April 30, 2003, in the state capitol at Jefferson City. On March 14, 2004, officials will celebrate the 200th anniversary of the St. Louis treaty signing.

In addition, there will be a traveling exhibit available to schools. Chambers said the bicentennial committee is considering having a contest for kids to name the exhibit.