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. What's more
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After the Treaty of Paris in 1763, which ended the Seven Years War between the French and the British as well as all of their allies, the French lost claim to all of their land. The English being the winners of the war claimed the majority, and what they did not seize was given to the Spanish for their support and help in the war. In 1802 France and Spain signed a secret treaty called The Treaty Of Ildefonso. Once the treaty was fulfilled, Spain gave the Louisiana territory back to France (“Background”). Napoleon had interest in Louisiana for the purpose mainly to ship supplies to the French colonies in the Caribbean islands but also as a source of food and trade. New Orleans being a port city, it was a good passage for trade. Despite this, a rebellion in Haiti had shifted his focus off of the territory. Now that the land held no benefit to him, and was a large mass just taking up space, he decided his best option was to sell the land and gain the money for France (“Background”). Jefferson's only concern was securing the waterway into the Gulf of Mexico. He offered a sum of two million dollars for the port city alone. France came back with the counter offer of the whole Louisiana territory for a little more than a nickle a square mile (“background”). This was an offer that would be very beneficial to capitalize on, yet it went against Thomas Jefferson’s beliefs in the
One of the most influential decisions made in the history of The United States was the infamous Louisiana Purchase. The Louisiana Purchase was a deal made in 1803 between Napoleon, a French emperor and Thomas Jefferson, the current leader of America, in acquiring a whopping 825,000 square acres of land. This investment would double the amount of land and profit America would hold. 15 states were eventually created from the land deal and became one of the few greatest occurrences during Thomas Jefferson’s presidency. Although this opportunity seemed undeniably beneficial, many other citizens at the time, most often Federalists, exposed the numerous flaws that came with this transaction.
Lewis and Clark Expedition In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson handed over a small price of $15,000,000 for the Louisiana Territory, originally owned by France. After the treaty for the purchase was made, Jefferson issued an exploration of this new land. Jefferson ordered that his personal secretary, Meriwether Lewis, an intelligent and skilled man, be the leader of the expedition. As his personal assistant, Lewis selected the help of William Clark.
Jefferson decided to try and buy New Orleans. Why did he want to buy it? He wanted to be sure that American farmers would always be able to ship their goods through the port. Jefferson sent Robert Livingston and James Monroe to buy New Orleans and to buy West Florida from Napoleon. The president said they could offer as much as $10 million.
In 1803, Thomas Jefferson made the most controversial purchase regrading to the constitution. The Louisiana Purchase went against everything Jefferson believed in. Jefferson faced heat from both parties whether it was to accept or that he will be a hypocrite for accepting it. With this purchase Jefferson made the best decision of his time because of all the benefits the land gave the country. Thomas Jefferson was the direct definition of an anti-federalist.
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
In 1801 Jefferson found out that France had secretly bought the Louisiana Territory from Spain. Jefferson was alarmed by this, because Napoleon Bonaparte was the French ruler at the time and was trying to conquer all of Europe, Jefferson feared he would now try and dominate power in America as well. Not to mention if Napoleon Bonaparte where to control the Louisiana Territory that would block the westward expansion of the United States. In 1802 the Spanish Governor withdrew the right of American ships to ship their goods through New Orleans, many Westerners were angered by this action. Then the Westerners demanded that Jefferson go to war with Spain and win back their right's but Jefferson thought of this as a bad idea.
One of these debates was on the issue of The Louisiana Purchase of 1803. Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States, wanted to purchase the city of New Orleans in order to have access to Mississippi River trade. However, Napoleon, the emperor of France, offered the U.S. foreign ministers the entire Louisiana territory for $15 million dollars. Jefferson’s Purchase of Louisiana seemed hypocritical at the time as he was a strict constructionist and believed that
Napoleon decided to end his tries at starting this world conquest. Jefferson had a decision to make: war with France or to loose support of the western farmers who needed to have the port of New Orleans open to trade their crops, neither being a favorable turn out. In attempts to avoid both, Thomas Jefferson sent James Monroe to France to try and buy the port from France. Claiming the port of New Orleans was now at the top of his to-do list, in the ideal spot at the mouth of the Mississippi River emptying out into the Gulf of Mexico. Gaining this piece of land would make it possible for farmers to transfer goods to market.
If Jefferson were to purchase the Louisiana territory, like he should, we 'll take control of the massive Mississippi River. This river we have been using since it was discover this river is essential for trade our country needs foreign resources and money from trades. Let alone this river helps with our economics such as cheaper, less dangerous travel trading, and fishing this river will help our economic system
Nathan Vang Professor Melvin R. Earnest History 1301 17 November 2015 Thomas Jefferson and the Louisiana Purchase The $15 million dollars real estate purchase of Louisiana from the French is probably one of the greatest real estate deals in history. When Thomas Jefferson heard that Spain was giving back the Louisiana territory to the French he was worried that if the french gained control of the Mississippi River, and the ports in New Orleans the United States would no longer have access to the Gulf of Mexico, which would upset America's Plan, Therefore Thomas Jefferson ordered U.S. Minister Robert Livingston, and former governor of Virginia James Monroe to negotiate a trade with France for the Louisiana Territory. With Napoleon Bonaparte
Early in his presidency Jefferson sent ambassadors to France to discuss the issue of New Orleans and it being the “cork” plugging the Mississippi river. In order to promote farming and transportation of goods from the region use of the Mississippi
The Louisiana Purchase was the purchase of the Louisiana territory by the United States from France in 1803. The U.S. paid fifty million dollars and a cancellation of debts worth eighteen million dollars which averages to less than three cents per acre. The Louisiana territory included land from fifteen present U.S. states and two Canadian provinces. The territory contained land that forms Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska, portions of Minnesota, large portions of North Dakota; large portions of South Dakota, parts of New Mexico, the northern portion of Texas, the area of Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado. The Louisiana Purchase was smart move by the United States.
When Napoleon of France realized his plan to use the Louisiana territory was unsuccessful, he made a deal with Thomas Jefferson to buy the land with only fifteen million dollars (class lecture). A deal that cannot be ignored with a land that’s only about three cents an acre, Jefferson again had to bend his belief of strict interpretation of the constitution and admitted to the Senators (class lecture, 214). Thomas Jefferson’s decision was accepted, and the senators registered their prompt approval of the transaction (214). Jefferson again deserved the B+ because he changed and adjust his belief to benefit the common good of the United States, which was doubling its size by purchasing the Louisiana Territory
The Treaty of Paris was signed after the Seven Years War, this not only granted more land to England and Spain, but It also helped established boundaries. As a result, France gave Canada to the British, Britain received the sugar hill islands and the British received land east of the Mississippi River. In return Spain gave Florida to Britain and they returned the philipinees and Cuba back to Spain. New world possessions play a pivotal role because after The Seven Years War balance was shifted and ties were severed between the British and Native Americans. Tensions were running high and they ultimately resulted in a rebellion.
Thomas Jefferson and the Louisiana Purchase "This little event, of France's possessing herself of Louisiana, is the embryo of a tornado which will burst on the countries on both sides of the Atlantic and involve in its effects their highest destinies." [1] Although Thomas Jefferson was one of our great Presidents I would like to appoint that our country has fought for freedom and land, we all have a dark side, and in my perspective Jefferson’s was slavery. He had great ideas but he wouldn’t let go of his slaves, other countries look over to us and they covet the power we have, for more especially our freedom, as I begin to inform you over Thomas Jefferson and his great achievement I’d like to say that this country is not perfect but most countries do wish they could find ways to take over as they have before and still continue to try and come up with schemes to ruin this powerful country despite of our imperfections.