The Louisiana Purchase
Background Cont.
• After the U.S won its independence
from Britain in 1783 a major concern
became unrestricted access to the
Mississippi River.
• Settlers were moving west
• Spanish control of both sides of the
Mississippi below Natchez.
Background Cont.
• Secret pact signed between Napoleon
and the king of Spain to cede to France
the Louisiana territory including New
Orleans in exchange for a Spanish
kingdom in Italy.
LOUISIANNA PURCHASE
1803
•Stretching from the Mississippi River to the
Rocky Mountains and from the Gulf of
Mexico to the Canadian border, was
the enormous Louisiana territory.
•In 1802 - USA wasn’t allowed to use
port of New Orleans (France said no)
•USA wanted small access to eastern part of sea port for
trade of its agricultural products through the Gulf of Mexico
Anger
• Frontier settlers and
farmers were angry
with the new
situation and talked
of starting a revolt
Jefferson’s Situation
• Jefferson was a pacifist and against war
• Louisiana in France’s possession was a real
threat. (France was interested in a New World
Expansion)
• The United States was not strong enough to
defeat Napoleon’s armies alone so it would
have to seek allies. (Jefferson didn’t want to entangle
the USA in any alliances with foreign countries..isolationism =
self reliance (“Jeffersonian America”)
Jefferson’s Solution
• In 1803 Jefferson sent
James Monroe to
Paris to join Robert
Livingston the
permanent Paris
minister.
• They were instructed
to purchase New
Orleans and as much
land to the east of it at
the maximum of $10
million
Need for $$.
• France in war with Britain (very costly)
• Slave uprising in Hispanola (Domican Republic
today)
• France needed to get $$ quick and avoid
a total loss
Napoleon’s Decision
• Napoleon suddenly decided to sell all of
Louisiana and abandon his dream of a
New World empire.
• By selling the Louisiana Territory to the
United States Napoleon hoped they
would one day become a military and
naval power that could prevent British
expansion in the New World.
Negotiations
• When the American ministers were
asked for a price for the whole
Louisiana Territory (they went there
just looking to buy New Orleans so
they had a port to trade), they were
surprised and began to negotiate a
treaty
• Treaties were signed on April 30,
1803 ceding Louisiana to the U.S. for
$15 million. (Doubles the size of the
USA in one treaty)
Jefferson's Reaction
• Jefferson was shocked
when the news of the
bargain reached
American soil.
• The ministers had
bought a wilderness to
get a city.
Jefferson’s Wrestling
Strict constructionist
• He saw no reference in
the Constitution for
incorporating a large
expanse of land into the
Union with thousands of
inhabitants.
Democratic visionary
• He thought the large area
would form the “empire of
liberty” which would
ensure the American
democratic experiment’s
survival.
Approval
• The US Gov’t approved the
transition promptly.
• Americans were not going to
debate constitutionality of an
issue when 828,000 mi2 were
about to be added at
approximately 3 cents per
acre.
Exploration
• Jefferson wanted to
explore the new
territory. Sent
Meriwether Lewis and
William Clark to
explore in 1804-1806
Short term Effects
• By approving the Louisiana Purchase
Jefferson had avoided possible war with
France and an entangling alliance with
Britain.
• Purchase ended European expansion in
North America for the most part.
• Boosted national unity.