5.29


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=Explain the events leading up to, and the significance of, the Louisiana Purchase of 1803.=



//Focus Question: What was the importance of the Louisiana Purchase?//

 * For more information on the Louisiana Purchase and Thomas Jefferson's Presidency, see ** United States History USI.22 **


 * ** Go to Standard 5.30 for information about Lewis & Clark **

Overview
For a long time, France refused to give up control of its territories on the North American continent. In the early 1800s, however, Napoleon was on the verge of a war with Great Britain and was in dire need of money.

President Thomas Jefferson took advantage of this situation and offered to buy New Orleans from France. Napoleon offered to sell the entire Louisiana Territory for $15 million, which averaged out to around 4 ¢ an acre.

Jefferson agreed and purchased 830,000 square mile of land west of the Mississippi, which doubled the country’s size and opened up the possibilities for westward expansion.

Those who opposed the acquisition of the Louisiana Territory questioned its constitutionality. Jefferson was known for his strict interpretation of the Constitution, and this attempt at acquiring territory called into question the legitimacy of his political philosophy. The purchase also lead to an increase in sectional tension, both North/South and East/West.

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The Importance of Louisiana for the United States
Many white Americans had moved as far west as the Mississippi River by the time of the Louisiana Purchase.
 * The river was a great resource for them. Many traveled down the river all the way to Louisiana, where it emptied out into the sea in New Orleans. This was an extremely important location from them because it was a port used for international trade. Now that the United States owned this important location, they could have the freedom to use it as they wished. Because it was so important for trade, it was also important for the economy.


 * The Louisiana Purchase was also significant because it doubled the size of the United States. At the time, expansion was important because the United States wanted to become as big and powerful as possible. Up until then, very few whites had been west of the Mississippi River.
 * Gaining Louisiana opened up the West to them—in the years to come they would continue to expand westward. But this westward expansion had horrible effects on many native peoples who were forced to leave their lands once white Americans began to take them over.



Political details of the Louisiana Purchase
France had at one time controlled the New Orleans port, but around 1800 it was owned by Spain. The United States was not threatened by Spain, but when President Thomas Jefferson heard that the territory might be transferred back to France he got worried. In fact, the whole nation was worried. It was probably the biggest thing in the news at the time.

Jefferson thought they might have to fight to get any of the benefits of the Mississippi River and the New Orleans port. So he prepared for war. At the same time, he sent James Madison to France to negotiate a plan. By the time Madison got the France, however, he found out that the French were already planning on selling the territory to the U.S. A treaty was drafted and the sale was made, for 15 million dollars.

**Primary Source:** Louisiana Purchase Treaty


 * Timeline:** The Louisiana Purchase - The Library of Congress

Visit here for some **background** on the history of Louisiana from PBS.

Sources:
Norton, et al, Mary Beth (1994). //A People and a Nation//. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. Wilson, Gaye (March, 2003). Jefferson's West. Retrieved April 12, 2007, from Monticello, the Home of Thomas Jefferson Web site: http://www.monticello.org/jefferson/lewisandclark/louisiana.html (2003). The Louisiana Purchase Exhibit. Retrieved April 12, 2007, from The Louisiana Secretary of State Web site: http://www.sos.louisiana.gov/purchase/purchase-index.htm