The Louisiana PurchaseThe Louisiana Purchase

By MargaretBy Margaret

Background Information

• At the end of the French and Indian wars in 1763, France lost all of its possessions in North America removing hopes of a colonial empire

• By the terms of the treaty of Fontainebleau Louisiana west of the Mississippi was ceded to Spain and Britain acquired the large land to its east.

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.

• Rumors confirmed when Pinckney's Treaty of 1795 was withdrawn by the Spanish

Anger

• Frontier settlers were angry with the new situation and talked of starting a revolt

• Loss of their warehouse privileges and use of the vital port

Jefferson’s Situation

• Jefferson was a pacifist and against war• Louisiana in Spain's possession was not a

real threat, but that changed with Napoleon acquiring the territory.

• The United States was not strong enough to defeat Napoleon’s armies alone so it would have to seek allies, against its anti-alliance policy.

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

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 by the Parisian minister Talleyrand, they were surprised with the change of events and timidly began to negotiate a treaty

• Treaties were signed on April 30, 1083 ceding Louisiana to the U.S. for $15 million.

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 to incorporating a large expanse of land into the Union with thousands of inhabitants in the Constitution

Democratic visionary

• He thought the large area would form the “empire of liberty” which would ensure the American democratic experiment’s survival.

Approval

• The senators 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.

Federalist Opposition

• Federalists argued that the Louisiana purchase was a worthless desert and unconstitutional.

• They were most worried for the new states that were to come.

Exploration

• Jefferson wanted to explore the new territory. Sent Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to explore in 1804-1806

• Zebulon M. Pike explored this territory as well.

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.

Future Effects

• The purchase set new precedents for future westward expansion, eventually all the way to the Pacific and incorporation of new lands and peoples into the Union.

• Accelerated the rise of U.S. economic and political power.