Pros And Cons Of The Louisiana Purchase

In “When the Ends Justify the Means,” Barry J. Balleck debates that President Jefferson did not abandon his political ethics by purchasing the Louisiana Territory (P. 14). Balleck states that the Louisiana Purchase was “the greatest achievement of Thomas Jefferson’s presidency” (P. 14). With the addition of the new territory to the United States, President Jefferson secured the nation “for generations, if not centuries to come” (P. 14). Jefferson was confident that purchasing the Louisiana Territory would encourage the development of an upright Republican populace (P. 14). Surprisingly, he had many reservations about his authority to purchase Louisiana, but that did not stop him from laying the treaty before Congress (P. 19). He also knew that, by purchasing Louisiana, the Federalists power might be lost, but he still pushed forward with the treaty (P. 19). Although many historians criticize President Jefferson for giving up his most visible political convictions by purchasing Louisiana, he knew that it would double the size of the United States and ensure much land expansion for the country (P. 20). He strongly believed that the new territory was “essential to national security” (P. 21). In President Jefferson’s mind, purchasing Louisiana secured the “virtues of Republicanism in an ‘Empire of Liberty’” (P. 22). “The Louisiana

The Louisiana Purchase happened in 1803 when Thomas Jefferson purchased the Louisiana Territory from the French for fifteen million dollars. The Louisiana Territory extended from the Mississippi River in the east to the Rocky Mountains in the west and from the Canadian border in the north to the Gulf of Mexico in the south. I believe that there were just as many disadvantages to the Louisiana Purchase for President Thomas Jefferson as there were advantages. The advantages were that the purchase removed France from North America, doubled the size of America, allowed the United states to acquire more fertile land, and gain control of the Mississippi River and New Orleans. The disadvantages were that America had to defend a country that was doubled in size, they had to supervise how Americans settled the new land, deal with more Native Americans, and the purchase was against Jefferson's beliefs.

The Louisiana Purchase was the largest land transaction for the United States, and the most important event of President Jefferson's presidency. Jefferson arranged to purchase the land for $11,250,000 from Napoleon in 1803. This land area lay between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains, stretching from the Gulf of Mexico to the Canadian border. The purchase of this land greatly increased the economic resources of the United States, and proved Jefferson had expansionist dreams by doubling the size of the United States. Jefferson believed that the republic must be controlled by ambitious, independent, property-holding farmers, who would form

The acquisition of the Louisiana territory in 1803 was the most notable achievement of his presidency, yet there inconsistency between his actions and his beliefs. Because the acquisition of this territory would change the union, it seemed to him that it should be authorized by a constitutional amendment. The process of amendment was very slow and Jefferson realized that there was no time for strict constructionalism. This purchase violated his constitutional morals and was regarded as a bold, executive action (Peterson, 1975).

Thomas Jefferson was one of the most influential expansionist in American history. He firmly believed that in order for America’s republic to succeed, democracy must expand its region and obtain new land. The United States began to idolize the Mississippi River as Americans spread west towards the Appalachians. Jefferson had many decisions to make regarding the Louisiana Purchase, and was careful to please citizens. The Louisiana Purchase is crucial to our nation’s history, and it impacts Americans today.

The Louisiana Purchase became known as the biggest land deal in the United States. It acquisition was valued at an estimated $15 million for 800,000 square miles of land. It was during President Jefferson’s presidency that he faced enormous backlash and hardship. Some questioned his purpose. Some thought it was for his political benefit, while other saw it as an accomplishment.

Thomas Jefferson faced a multitude of complications and benefits throughout the endeavor of the Louisiana Purchase. The Louisiana Purchase is highly regarded as the greatest achievement of American expansion since the establishment of the country. This transaction between France and America gave the necessary requirements to recover and even advance the weak U.S. economy. America paid France $15 million for an estimated 800,000 acres of land; making this the largest land deal in history. Despite the many advantages that the Louisiana Purchase had to offer, Thomas Jefferson, the current president of the time faced many conflicts in the process of retrieving the land. The whole ordeal offered a combination of advantages and disadvantages that spanned from political, financial, and philosophical.

Imagine you are the President of a rapidly expanding country. If you got offered 530 million acres of land for $15 million, would you buy it? President Thomas Jefferson and his advisers were faced with this exact decision. Thomas Jefferson, envious of France’s New Orleans, sent Monroe and Livingston to Paris with the hope of at least getting the port rights to New Orleans, if incapable of buying it with a budget of $9.3 million. When Livingston and Monroe reached Paris, they were surprised to find Napoleon and his French government not only willing to sell, but almost forcing a sale on the American ambassadors. Not only that, they wanted to sell all 830,000 square miles of the Louisiana Territory, including New Orleans. Constantly expanding and exploring, Livingston and Monroe knew America needed more room to grow. 530 Million acres worth of land would be more than sufficient for 1803 America. At 3 cents per acre, the Louisiana Purchase was a great deal as far as cost is concerned. Before they had even signed the contract sealing the deal, President Thomas Jefferson had already recruited a close friend and fellow botanist, Meriwether Lewis to explore the new Territory. Before the public even knew about the Louisiana Purchase, the Lewis and Clark Expedition had set out. The Louisiana Purchase was a good idea because it provided room for rapidly-expanding America to grow and explore at an incredibly low price but also increased America’s global prowess.

President Jefferson’s major personal moral dilemma was actually purchasing the territory of louisiana from the french. Jefferson was a strong Democratic-Republican. This party was founded by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, This party was created in opposition of the federalist party which was led by Alexander Hamilton. The Democratic-Republican party believed that a strong central national government would deplete and completely rid the rights of states. The party strongly disapproved of the national Bank Of The United States stating that the bank was taking away power that belonged to the states. Among many of the views of the Democratic-Republican the strongest belief was to strictly abided by the constitution, so when the opportunity arose to purchase the French owned territory, the constitution did not state whether the government could or could not acquire any new land

Thomas Jefferson had mixed emotions about the Louisiana Purchase. On one hand, he knew it would be a grand opportunity, and the United States would be assured free navigation of the Mississippi River. Also, it would double our nation in size and be considered one of the largest, if not the largest, land transaction in history. On the other hand, he was conflicted whether or not to buy the Louisiana Territory because of guidelines set forth in the Constitution. The Constitution did not specifically

Each party handled the occurrence of this event differently from one another. During the time frame of the purchase, the current president, Jefferson, was offered $15 million by Robert Livingston. Jefferson was taken back by the proffer investment. He was authorized to offer $10 million worth of New Orleans and Florida. In comparison, the Louisiana distribution was a preferred opportunity than his $10 million contribution. Foreshadowing to present day, Jefferson`s vision was to spread to the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. According to the constitution, Jefferson has an arousing problem. He was not fully authorized to purchase the land. Subsequently, a treaty was retrieved by Congress to gain access to Louisiana which contradicts specifics about Jefferson. He wanted a weak central government and strong state governments, but the purchase required the Congress. John Adams spoke of this,“Their principle now is old Federalism, vamped up into something bearing the superficial appearance of republicanism” (Doc F). Jefferson did not desire government having too much power because of increase government spending. “Our country is too large to have all its affairs directed by a single government”, said Jefferson passively (Doc A). During the presidency of Jefferson, Madison, Secretary of State, favored the Louisiana Purchase. Founders of the Jeffersonian Republicans, Madison and Jefferson still supported it. On January 4th, in 1815, States were required two-thirds vote of both houses to allow new states to be admitted to prevent the Louisiana Purchase recurrence (Doc

To buy or not to buy, that is the question. Although it was the greatest “real estate” deal, the Louisiana Purchase of 1803 was perhaps one of the most controversial events in American History. President Thomas Jefferson, although he was a Founding Father and the primary writer of the Declaration of Independence, faced major opposition with his decision to purchase the Louisiana Territory from the French. Most of the opposition he faced, however, was domestic.

In 1803, America acquired the Louisiana territory from France in what is known as the Louisiana Purchase. Jefferson bargained with Napoleon for this territory, and the outcome was epochal. Ambassadors Robert Livingston and James Monroe had only intended to secure New Orleans for trading purposes. Since France was suffering financially from the Napoleonic wars, they offered the entire, undefined Louisiana area. There were both short-term and long-term effects from this purchase that would forever impact the United States. The Louisiana Purchase had political and economic consequences, which almost immediately helped aid the United States.

The United States bought out Louisiana from France 190 years ago. Beginning on April 30, 1803, one of the greatest estate deals in history took place. Jefferson seemed to be very familiar with the French, according to his past, due to the time he spent in Europe as an American envoy. He also understood the danger which potential military posed. A French regime also posed as a neighbor that took control of the gorgeous land .One that would double the size of the country and put the United States in a position to become a world power. However he Louisiana territorial purchase was not as easy of a business process as one might think. It seemed to be very rushed, stressful process that caused President Thomas Jefferson a huge amount of mental and emotional issues, although at the end it was worth the stress because the purchase did include many advantages.

The Louisiana Purchase was by far the single largest land deal in the United States, occupying the western half of the Mississippi River basin. Purchased from France in 1803 at less than three cents per acre for 828,000 square miles, it was the greatest land bargain in American history (Blumberg, 100). By doubling the size of the United States, the Louisiana Territory allowed the country to strengthen itself, materially and strategically, granting access to the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico for trading (Harriss). Although the purchase had a great influence on American history as a whole, Americans and Louisianans must be aware of the impact the Louisiana Purchase had on Louisiana history, hence the name.