Aim: Why was the Louisiana Purchase significant to
the U.S.?
• Louisiana Purchase: a huge land purchase (from France) by
the United States in 1803 which effectively doubled the size
of the young nation.
• Thomas Jefferson : 3rd President of the United States; chief
drafter of the Declaration of Independence; made the
Louisiana Purchase in 1803 and sent out the Lewis and
Clark Expedition to explore it.
• Napoleon Bonaparte: Facing another war with Great
Britain and in need of funds, Napoleon Bonaparte reversed
his thoughts of a new French Empire in the Americas and
sold the entire colony.
Activating Prior Knowledge
• 1. Before the French and Indian War, what country had control
of the land directly west of the Mississippi River?
France
• 2. After the French and Indian War, what country had control of
this land?
Spain
• 3. After the Revolutionary War, what were the boundaries of
the U.S?
The Land East of the Mississippi River
• 4. What document set these boundaries?
The Treaty of Paris
• 5. Who had control of the land west of the Mississippi River
after the Revolutionary War?
France
Historical Context of the Louisiana
Purchase
• As the Mississippi River became the chief trading
channel for goods shipped among the states it
bordered, the American government became
greatly interested in purchasing New Orleans, an
important port city and mouth of the river.
Beginning in 1801, and with little luck at first,
Thomas Jefferson sent envoys to France to
negotiate the small purchase they had in mind.
Who or what does the eagle represent?
What is the artist’s opinion of the Louisiana Purchase?
How might the city of New Orleans prosper as a result of the Louisiana Purchase?
Thomas Jefferson’s Dilemma
•
•
•
•
Read the letter contained on the document
Complete the graphic organizer
Answer the questions that follow
We will discuss our findings
Did Jefferson Have the Power to
complete this transaction?
• Look at section 2 of the Constitution
• This section deals with the powers of the
President
• With your partner, analyze whether the
Constitution gives Jefferson the right to
engage in this transaction?
• Underline the sections you believe are
relevant.
Article 2, section 2
• He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of
the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the
Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by
and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall
appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls,
Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the
United States, whose Appointments are not herein
otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by
Law: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of
such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President
alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments
• Where does it say that Jefferson had the power to
complete the Louisiana Purchase?
The Treaty of the Louisiana Purchase
Napoleon of France wanted to sell France's territories in
North America, in part to finance war against Britain in
addition to ridding France of territory that was far away.
• Constitution made no provisions for the president
purchasing territory, Jefferson decided to push through the
$15 million sale as treaty with France. Even though treaty
making was a power of the presidency, this action was seen
as a loose interpretation of the Constitution, clearly in
opposition to Jefferson's own strict views on the document.
Regardless of the Constitutional debate, the sale was
completed and later ratified by the Senate.
• (This is always on the Regents!!!!!!!)