The Louisiana Purchase was essentially the biggest real estate deal in history. The United States was able to double its size in one night by buying the entire Louisiana Territory (approximately 827,000 square miles of land) for 15 million dollars. Jefferson called this, “an ample provision for our posterity and a widespread field for the blessings of freedom.”[1] Initially the United States only wanted to buy New Orleans and the land around it. The French from 1699 to 1762 controlled this region that the United States bought. The French then gave it to the Spanish as a present since they were allies. Napoleon Bonaparte then took the territory back in 1800. It was less than 5 cents per acre, which is about 283 million dollars in today’s dollars.[2]
"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 it's effects their highest destinies."[3]
"Every eye in the U.S. is now fixed on this affair of Louisiana. Perhaps nothing since the revolutionary war has produced more uneasy sensations through the body of the nation."[4]
"Every eye in the U.S. is now fixed on this affair of Louisiana. Perhaps nothing since the revolutionary war has produced more uneasy sensations through the body of the nation."[4]
The purchased was said to be unconstitutional and even though President Thomas Jefferson couldn’t deny that the Constitution of the United States did not provide for acquiring new territories but still he proceeded with the purchase since it was important to remove the French out of that region. The purchased territory started from the Mississippi River and stretched all the way to the start of the Rocky Mountains. The present day states that were part of this United States expansion are Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming. The father of the Louisiana Purchase was Thomas Jefferson. Thomas Jefferson became president in 1801. His first offer for the purchase of the Louisiana Territory was 2 million but it was rejected. After he put another offer up for 10 million and the French take the offer and give the rest of the Louisiana territory to the United States for another 5 million. The reason they were accepting this offer was Napoleon needed the cash to pay for a war with Great Britain.[5]
One of Thomas Jefferson’s top priorities was to take over the port of New Orleans. The reason being was it has a prime location at the mouth of the Mississippi River on the Gulf of Mexico. This made it ideal for American farmers to transport their goods to markets.[6]
1. A&E Television Networks. "8 Things You May Not Know About the Louisiana Purchase." History.com. http://www.history.com/news/8-things-you-may-not-know-about-the-louisiana-purchase (accessed April 4, 2014).
2. Eric Foner, Give Me Liberty! An American History (Brief Third Edition), (New York City: W W Norton & Company, 2012), 238-241.
3. Lipscomb Andrew , and Ellery Albert, The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, (Washington D.C.: Thomas Jefferson Memorial Association, 1903).
4. Ibid.
5. "Louisiana Purchase, 1803 - 1801–1829 - Milestones - Office of the Historian." Milestones - Office of the Historian. http://history.state.gov/milestones/1801-1829/louisiana-purchase (accessed April 11, 2014).
6. Ibid.
2. Eric Foner, Give Me Liberty! An American History (Brief Third Edition), (New York City: W W Norton & Company, 2012), 238-241.
3. Lipscomb Andrew , and Ellery Albert, The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, (Washington D.C.: Thomas Jefferson Memorial Association, 1903).
4. Ibid.
5. "Louisiana Purchase, 1803 - 1801–1829 - Milestones - Office of the Historian." Milestones - Office of the Historian. http://history.state.gov/milestones/1801-1829/louisiana-purchase (accessed April 11, 2014).
6. Ibid.