As president of a new country, Thomas Jefferson was forced to assert his authority and make difficult decisions he felt necessary to promote a strong and unified nation. In 1803, he made a decision that created much philosophical controversy at the time, but is said to be one of his greatest achievements as president. Though Jefferson was criticized for abandoning his strict Republican beliefs in purchasing the Louisiana territory, he did not actually desert his political ideals because he took into account his notions of individualism’s necessity to a nation, an agrarian-based society, and the Constitution’s allowance for acquiring new territory. The Louisiana Purchase doubled the size of the United States which was an essential aspect to the individualism of the country. Jefferson believed vast amounts property was critical to develop Republican citizens because with more land came more independence and responsibility. Barry Balleck says Jefferson believed people could be more easily influenced or manipulated by higher class members when large cities developed, which would soon happen if he did not expand the country. Jefferson firmly believed the decency of people …show more content…
Jefferson knew that in addition to having an abundant land supply to promote agrarianism, he would also need markets. The purchase gave the United States control of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers that guaranteed a market for farmers’ surplus products. Haley argued that when contemplating Napoleon’s offer, Jefferson had no idea what the land consisted of, rushed into making an uninformed decision, and happened to get lucky. Though Jefferson may not have known whether or not the land he was purchasing was going to be arable, he knew it was better to have control over the land than Napoleon, and it was too worthy of an opportunity to relinquish. His gamble paid off when the land proved to be ideal for the agricultural-based society Republicans dreamed
The document, Thomas Jefferson’s secret message to Congress about the Lewis and Clark expedition in 1803, tells us about Jefferson’s views of westward expansion and Native Americans. Jefferson really liked the idea of westward expansion; in addition, he saw the remarkable opportunities associated with it. Jefferson believed that the Native Americans could be coaxed into willingly giving up their land. The Americans were more deserving of Indian territories in the eyes of Jefferson, so he wanted to change their minds and get the Natives to hand over their land. Jefferson wanted to utilize two tactics to achieve this goal.
When purchasing the Louisiana Territory, President Jefferson faced the risk of being prosecuted for violation of the Constitution, which was different from Hamilton’s creation of a national bank because it was illegal. To begin, after the French acquired the Louisiana Territory 1802, Jefferson worried that the French would no longer allow American farmers passage on the Mississippi River or the right to trade at New Orleans, so he sent Robert Livingston to France to negotiate to purchase New Orleans. When Livingston arrived, he was surprised by France’s offer to sell the US the entire Louisiana Territory for just 15 million dollars. Livingston knew he was not authorized to purchase the territory but he also knew that if he waited to ask Congress, the deal might be gone already, so he purchased the territory.
Thomas Jefferson has also done and changed the country during his presidency. One commodity changed of the country, and possibly the largest, was Thomas Jefferson’s Louisiana Purchase. The Louisiana Purchase was an outstanding change to the country, this is because it nearly doubled the size of the United States. This also encouraged independence and agrarianism because with the immense amount of new land supposedly every man could have a small farm. The purchase allowed men to become more independent because they could grow their own crop and be self sustaining.
Also, Jefferson completely ignored his original views when confronted with the purchase of the Louisiana Territory. The Louisiana Territory was a large mass of land acquired from France in 1803. Napoleon wanted to sell the land due to the fact that he no longer saw the possibility of a French Empire in North America, so he planned on selling it to the United States. Jefferson completely agreed to the purchase. However, many saw this as unconstitutional as the Constitution does not explicitly allow the government to purchase foreign
Hello Mr. President Can I hear how you felt about this offer! “Yes!.... When I got word that James and Robert had bought the Louisiana territory I was pleased because the size of the country had doubled”. That 's good...right. “Well yes I had overlooked the constitution and it never said I couldn 't buy the land from France, but the I knew that the purchase would change the nation, I overcame the thought though and knew I did have the authority to buy the land from France”.
Any additions to what was stated there in the Constitution, he believed was considered unconstitutional. “I hope to God they may, for possession of it we must have—I mean of New Orleans, and of such other positions on the Mississippi as may be necessary to secure to us forever the complete and uninterrupted navigation of that river. This I have ever been in favor of; I think it essential to the peace of the United States and to the prosperity of our Western country.” (Senate Debates on the Louisiana Purchase 2–3 November 1803 Wednesday, 2 November 1803 Samuel White) There was no constitutional power granted to Congress or the President to buy territory for the United States, yet Monroe
Outstanding men once fought for the rights of a country, they fought for the idea to become one, the United States of America´s independence took place throughout a number of steps and lasted many years. The revolution was impulsed by brave men who knew what they wanted and fought for their dreams. Among brilliant men, clever ideas differed from each other, and was this difference who led the country to succeed in independence. The Great Fathers who fought together seeking the independence of millions, separated after the mission was achieved.
How he was wanting to go out west to make a better living and more room. And to also add on to America and to make it larger so that their could be more people move out west. And how they were also wanted to make a better income for America. Thomas Jefferson had bought land to go west they were building and making homes, stores,and train station. To have a way to make America great and also help people get around to places.
Statesmanship “requires a knowledge both of the true ends of political society and the means by which they may be attained” and the ends being “the good of the whole people, of the whole state.” Allowing for the fact that the Louisiana Purchase is considered the greatest achievement of Thomas Jefferson 's presidency, perhaps we should revisit Isaiah 52:13, and like Isaiah 's suffering servant, find our capacity to forgive others, and why Jefferson violated the Constitution; after all for he used both the statesman’s traits and skills for a higher purpose, for the betterment of society, offered in a spirit of deference to one’s self, and for the glory of
When a person is in a position of power, no matter what the circumstances, there is always going to be an extreme amount of pressure on them. This proclamation is especially evident when you are the leader of our country, the president. One of the most relevant examples of this took place on December 20, 1803, when Thomas Jefferson was tasked with undermining the boundaries of the congressional constitution and his own morality to make a major purchase of 827,000 acres of land west of the Mississippi river known as the Louisiana Purchase. Said to be the most essential acquisition America has ever encountered, it undoubtedly doubled the size of the United States as a young republic. This Louisiana territory was owned by France at the time, acquired
Although Jefferson does not want a big government, he recognizes that the people in the colonies are petitioning for liberty and understands with the declaration of independence liberty will ultimately be achieved. “Liberty is the greatest blessing that men enjoy, and slavery the heaviest curse that human nature is capable of. This being so makes it a matter of the utmost importance to men which of the two shall be their portion. Absolute liberty is, perhaps, incompatible with any kind of government” (Hyneman.) Here in a sense Jefferson comprehends that the utmost thing for a man is liberty.
The Louisiana Purchase The Louisiana Purchase was land in North America owned by the French and bought by the United States. Thomas Jefferson the current president in 1803 along with other U.S. ministers, negotiated with France for the purchase of the Louisiana territory. Not everyone agreed with the purchase since the U.S. was already in national debt; yet the buying of the Louisiana territory had more pros than cons. Once the territory joined the U.S., it would expand the USA land by twice its original size.
I believe that Thomas Jefferson did the right thing even though he might have thought it went against the constitution. I also believe that if an offer comes up that you cannot refuse then you need to take it no matter what the consequences. The rest will work its self out. In 1803, Thomas Jefferson took the offer and bought the Louisiana
Although Jefferson had a plan use to the Mississippi River as a means to transport goods and help with trading. There was still a greater need for trade with other countries. His main goal was to maintain power over trade and continue to control everything from taxes, trading and many other things. (5). Weakness and inefficiency were a price Americans were willing to pay to guard against tyranny.
Jefferson’s dilemma in the Louisiana Purchase In April of 1803 Thomas Jefferson was faced with many moral dilemmas in the process of buying the Louisiana territory. Though the price for the territory was beyond generous, Jefferson felt that by purchasing the territory he would be going against his beliefs that the constitution should be followed word for word. The constitution said nothing of the president having the power to purchase land from another government, or to use money of the states for the same purpose (“the moral dilemma”). Another problem was once the land was purchased, there was a fear that it could have been a waste since they had no way to know the layout of the land, and what it would be useful for.