Louisiana Purchase Analysis

Our third president of the United States, Thomas Jefferson, had great intentions when he was elected into the presidency. The actions that took place during his eight years in office reflect the principles that Jefferson believed in, and that is what he wanted to achieve. One of Jefferson’s beliefs was having an agricultural-based economy and life, rather than commerce and federal power. “He believed a person who owned a farm and worked the land would be economically independent, and that independence would develop and preserve wisdom, self-control, courage, and fortitude.

The Louisiana Purchase Dear Editor: I think that Thomas Jefferson and the United States Government should buy the port of New Orleans because they need the get the port so that we can trade and expand the United States. One of the vast reasons that we bought the hefty territory was that we wanted total control of the New Orleans port so we could further our trade. We wanted to be in total control of the port because they stopped our trade and we needed to import and export goods. Another reason was the we wanted the port so we could trade whenever and no one could stop out trade.

The Federalists opposed the Louisiana Purchase due to political reasons. In document B it states, “The cowardly wretch at their head [Jefferson]”. This quote displays how low the Federalists thought of Jefferson. The document also states, “an infernal pleasure in the utter destruction of his opponents”, showing that Jefferson is thought of as a man with demonic pleasures against the Federalists. Further reasoning is that if they denied him an amendment to buy Louisiana, he would be stuck in a dilemma.

The purchasing of the Louisiana Territory promoted Jefferson’s vision for the country because his plans for this nation depended on western expansion as well as access to the international markets for American farmer products. His vision was threatened when France gained control of Louisiana. Napoleon threatened to block American access to the New Orleans port. Napoleon, for a number of reasons, most to do with money, offered the Louisiana territory to the US for a minimal amount. The US now owning the Louisiana territory more than doubled its size overall.

Yet the federal us movement saw this is supporting flexibility not stability within the nation. McCoy describes these ideas of the Republicans with their own bias view giving a more enlightened look at Republicans compared to Kerber Article that gives a persistent view of their opportunity as federalist and their success with political however after reading McCoys article sheds light on how Jefferson did not want to industrialize the country a feeling that there was little need and that the ideal diss taste meant for proletariat on industry labor and also discussions and arguments over Louisiana purchase. Federal us at this time so this purchase to be random and unneeded where Jefferson sought is the importance of expansion of the country and contributing to a realistic power being added to the

While the supporters of Thomas Jefferson believe that buying foreign land was necessary, those who are against him feel that what he did was unconstitutional. In the source, “Thomas Jefferson to John Breckinridge, 12 August 1803”, the text explains that what Jefferson did was allowed, as it had not mentioned that he couldn’t in the constitution. This controversy is huge, because some people believe that he did not have the right to do so. Jefferson made a point that it wasn’t mentioned in the constitution, so he decided to ratify it and pay for it. Some believe congress did not have the right to authorize this decision.

The Louisiana Purchase was historic and significant event to the United States because, under President Thomas Jefferson, it basically added tremendous land opportunities to the colonists' farmers and provided property to many buyers. This moment in history was essential because the Jefferson saw it necessary to literally buyout France occupation of the territory. Jefferson knew that his presidency didn't limit his power to make such a huge achievement. "... Jefferson had to abandon his conviction that the federal government was limited to powers specifically mentioned in the Constitution, since the document said nothing about buying territory from a foreign power"(304). The Louisiana Purchase provided a new chance for total power through land.

The Louisiana Purchase The Louisiana purchase was one of the biggest land purchases in history. In 1803, the United States paid around $15 million dollars for around 800,000 square miles of land. This was arguably the greatest achievement of thomas jefferson’s presidency. The louisiana territory was a wild card in the european game of imperialism.

The Federalists opposed the Louisiana Purchase because of practical reasons. It increased conflict with American Indians. The Louisiana Purchase was also opposed because of the constitutionality. It was opposed because of the political balance in the new territory. Hamilton states “the territory is not yet populated”.

In America’s history there have been many events or times that have in a way changed and shaped how we live today. The Louisiana Purchase could be recognized as one of the best and most impressive real estate purchases of Thomas Jefferson’s past. Also, this purchase could be looked at as one of the most important events in America’s past. Many historians would agree on this, but many opinions would be different on the fact if this purchase was actually worth the buy or not. Even Jefferson himself would have some doubts about the purchase.

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.

The Federalists opposed the Louisiana Purchase for many practical reasons and not for practical reasons. The document, A said that Federalists thought that American Indians in the area could cause problems and kill some colonists moving into the area. Document A said that the Federalists suspected new states formed in the Louisiana Territory would be Republican. Document A said that the Federalists thought that probably no one would settle there so the land purchased would be useless. Document A said that they(the Federalists) feared that the new national government would be too powerful and thus put at risk individual liberties.

When the situation of Louisiana Purchase arose, the parties’ original ideas began to shift, especially in the case of the Democratic- Republicans. Jefferson wanted to complete the Louisiana Purchase, a sale of land from France to the United States that included the Northwest; parts of the Midwest; and South; as soon as possible (Document 4). In order to complete the purchase, Jefferson had to go against his initial claim that any powers not explicitly given to the constitution are given to the state. The constitution did not contain anything that gives the power to spend government funds on expanding the country’s boundaries, but in order to obtain this new land, Jefferson abandoned his beginning principles. In 1803, the Louisiana Purchase was completed, around the same time that Ohio became a state and Britain declared war on France in Europe (Document 4).

Did Federalists oppose the Louisiana Purchase for practical reasons or political reasons? The Federalists took it from a more political view with some ethical points regarding putting in new states through the executive branch, treatings, and slavery, (Document B ). Hamilton himself hates Jefferson and tried to make him look dumb and lucky and tried to make the possibility of success slim(Document A ). In Document B Rufus King is concerned about admitting new states with treaties through the executive branch or Congress, but if they do they have to follow their treaty and help settlers and property owners have their property “protected”. They are also worried about treating slaves unequally coming from the current increase of the representation

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.