A)why was France willing to sell Louisiana, and why did the united states purchase it?
B)What was the purpose of Pike's expedition, and where did he travel?
Check these sites.
http://lsm.crt.state.la.us/cabildo/cab4.htm
http://www.sonofthesouth.net/texas/zebulon-pike.htm
A) France was willing to sell Louisiana for several reasons. Firstly, they had recently lost control of the lucrative sugar-producing colony of Saint-Domingue (now Haiti) due to a slave rebellion. This loss significantly reduced the economic value of Louisiana for France. Secondly, Napoleon Bonaparte, the leader of France at the time, was engaged in wars in Europe and needed money to finance his military campaigns. Additionally, France did not have the means to effectively govern such a vast territory as Louisiana.
The United States decided to purchase Louisiana primarily because it gave them control over the strategic port of New Orleans, which was crucial for American farmers who needed access to international markets for their agricultural products. By acquiring Louisiana, the United States also secured considerable territory for westward expansion, enabling the growth of the young nation.
B) The purpose of Pike's expedition, also known as the Pike Expedition, was to explore and gather information about the southwestern regions of the Louisiana Purchase. The expedition was commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson, who was interested in understanding the geography, natural resources, and indigenous populations of the newly acquired territory.
Captain Zebulon Pike, the leader of the expedition, traveled extensively throughout what is now the central and southern parts of the United States. His journey took him through present-day states such as Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, and New Mexico. Pike's expedition helped to document and map the region, establish relations with Native American tribes, and gather valuable knowledge about the area's geography, flora, and fauna.