who sold the louisiana territory to the united states

Jefferson had authorized Livingston only to purchase New Orleans. Napoleon dreamed and yearned for a French colonial empire to rival the British. True False, The War of 1812 was between France and the United States. Louisiana Purchase, western half of the Mississippi River basin purchased in 1803 from France by the United States; at less than three cents per acre for 828,000 square miles (2,144,520 square km), it was the greatest land bargain in U.S. history. On January 1, 1804, Haiti declared its independence. Desperate to avoid possible war with France, Jefferson sent James Monroe to Paris in 1803 to negotiate a settlement, with instructions to go to London to negotiate an alliance if the talks in Paris failed. The Significance and Purpose of the Treaty of Tordesillas. As described by History, under the leadership of Toussaint Louverture, the enslaved allied with nonwhite free people and successfully overthrew the slave order, taking control of all of Hispaniola, not just Saint-Domingue. [44][42] With the bankers' help, the French and American negotiators settled on a price of 80 million francs ($15 million), down from an initial price of 100 million francs, a sum the Americans could not afford and the financers could not provide. ' Weegy: Napoleon sold the Louisiana Territory to the United States because he would have a hard time managing . Zebulon Pike What nickname were Americans given who wanted war with England? 55, no. With a $15 million investment, the United States acquired more than 800,000 acres, almost doubling the country's land holdings. Instead, the area encompasses 15 states and two Canadian provinces according to today's terms. Perhaps the most important reason as to why Napoleon sold the Louisiana territory to the United States was the Haitian Revolution. Today, the 31st parallel is the northern boundary of the western half of the Florida Panhandle, and the Perdido is the western boundary of Florida. The confederations that are called perpetual, only last till one of the contracting parties finds it to its interest to break them, and it is to prevent the danger, to which the colossal power of England exposes us, that I would provide a remedy. According to the Library of Congress, the Louisiana Territory was mainly ignored by the French government and remained unprofitable. He could not or did not see the value in sending troops to defend worthless Louisiana, not with Saint-Domingue out of the equation. The formidable British navy could easily blockade the territory and seize it for themselves. American diplomats Robert Livingston and James Monroepurchased the Louisiana Territory from the French for $15 million dollars, or four cents an acre, in 1803. Overcoming the opposition of the Federalist Party, Jefferson and Secretary of State James Madison persuaded Congress to ratify and fund the Louisiana Purchase. When the United States found out that instead of Spain as their neighbor, it was to be France under Napoleon with imperial ambitions, the Americans feared that their access to the Mississippi would be cut off. Critics in Congress worried whether these "foreigners", unacquainted with democracy, could or should become citizens. Already at the time, American frontier settlers slowly trickled into the territory. Which one of the following men was not a member of Washington's first Cabinet? Even if the British did not seize the territory, the United States also posed a significant future threat. The Federalists strongly opposed the purchase, favoring close relations with Britain over closer ties to Napoleon. [33][35], When Spain later objected to the United States purchasing Louisiana from France, Madison responded that America had first approached Spain about purchasing the property but had been told by Spain itself that America would have to treat with France for the territory.[36]. [8] In 1801, Jefferson supported France in its plan to take back Saint-Domingue (present-day Haiti), which was then under control of Toussaint Louverture after a slave rebellion. With war in Europe likely, the French did not have the resources to defend and maintain the Louisiana territory. On the following day, October 21, 1803, the Senate authorized Jefferson to take possession of the territory and establish a temporary military government. Jefferson's philosophical consistency was in question because of his strict interpretation of the Constitution. The jewel of the French overseas empire was Saint-Domingue in the Caribbean, which is today's Haiti on the large island of Hispaniola. Napoleon's goal: an American empire. War Hawks At the same time, this territorial expansion also allowed for the growth and expansion of slavery in the United States, which finally culminated in the American Civil War. It cannot be understated just how important the Louisiana Purchase was to the United States. This made it difficult, when compared to Britain, to obtain the necessary money to wage large-scale wars. The treaty also recognized American rights to navigate the entire Mississippi, which had become vital to the growing trade of the western territories. Also, Spain's refusal to cede Florida to France meant that Louisiana would be indefensible. The purchase included land from fifteen present U.S. states and two Canadian provinces, including the entirety of Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska; large portions of North Dakota and South Dakota; the area of Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado east of the Continental Divide; the portion of Minnesota west of the Mississippi River; the northeastern section of New Mexico; northern portions of Texas; New Orleans and the portions of the present state of Louisiana west of the Mississippi River; and small portions of land within Alberta and Saskatchewan. II, Sec. [4] The colony was the most substantial presence of France's overseas empire, with other possessions consisting of a few small settlements along the Mississippi and other main rivers. [24], Henry Adams and other historians have argued that Jefferson acted hypocritically with the Louisiana Purchase, because of his position as a strict constructionist regarding the Constitution since he stretched the intent of that document to justify his purchase. As tensions in Europe continued to grow, the unprofitable territory seemed to be more of a liability than asset. [56] The maps and journals of the explorers helped to define the boundaries during the negotiations leading to the AdamsOns Treaty, which set the western boundary as follows: north up the Sabine River from the Gulf of Mexico to its intersection with the 32nd parallel, due north to the Red River, up the Red River to the 100th meridian, north to the Arkansas River, up the Arkansas River to its headwaters, due north to the 42nd parallel and due west to its previous boundary. [18] After the signing Livingston famously stated, "We have lived long, but this is the noblest work of our whole lives From this day the United States take their place among the powers of the first rank. leader of the Democratic-Republican Party, sold Louisiana Territory to the United States, The first capital of the United States was Washington, D.C. 9, no. [31], Madison (the "Father of the Constitution") assured Jefferson that the Louisiana Purchase was well within even the strictest interpretation of the Constitution. It was the first and only time that a slave revolt had seen such success, and this epochal event in San-Domingue is linked with the Louisiana Purchase. The French had no active administration over the territory and there were few French settlers. The Missouri Compromise of 1820 was a temporary solution. Treasury Secretary Albert Gallatin added that since the power to negotiate treaties was specifically granted to the president, the only way extending the country's territory by treaty could not be a presidential power would be if it were specifically excluded by the Constitution (which it was not). Difficulty in Maintaining Louisiana Territory, timeline of the history of the United States, Understanding the Significance of the 1793 Proclamation of Neutrality, The Significance of the 1775 Olive Branch Petition, The Significance of the Corrupt Bargain Election of 1824, The Significance of the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions. [59] In 1808 two military forts with trading factories were built, Fort Osage along the Missouri River in western present-day Missouri and Fort Madison along the Upper Mississippi River in eastern present-day Iowa. Jefferson, as a strict constructionist, was right to be concerned about staying within the bounds of the Constitution, but felt the power of these arguments and was willing to "acquiesce with satisfaction" if the Congress approved the treaty. Some of those other sources included the colonies and in this instance, the Louisiana territory. Without sufficient revenues from sugar colonies in the Caribbean, Louisiana had little value to him. As a result, Thomas Jefferson instructed James Monroe and Robert Livingston to purchase New Orleans in 1802. According to the memoirs of Franois Barb-Marbois, in what was a prophetic statement foreshadowing the American Civil War, Napoleon said, "Perhaps it will also be objected to me, that the Americans may be found too powerful for Europe in two or three centuries: but my foresight does not embrace such remote fears. Napoleon needed peace with Britain to take possession of Louisiana. When word got around that Napoleon was giving up Louisiana to the Americans, not everybody agreed. As the Library of Congress describes, Saint-Domingue was incredibly valuable. Napoleon Bonaparte sold the land because he needed money for the Great French War. The first Europeans to reach. However, in 1800 Spain had ceded the Louisiana territory back to France as part of Napoleon's secret Third Treaty of San Ildefonso. According to the University of Kentucky, slaves outnumbered free people at least 10 to 1. On April 11, 1803, just days before Monroe's arrival, Barb-Marbois offered Livingston all of Louisiana for $15million,[13] which averages to less than three cents per acre (7/ha). What Napoleon needed was a way to divest himself of the territory while at the same time preventing it from falling into British hands. [citation needed], In Saint-Domingue, Leclerc's forces took Louverture prisoner, but their expedition soon faltered in the face of fierce resistance and disease. Napoleon 6. There was also concern that an increase in the number of slave-holding states created out of the new territory would exacerbate divisions between North and South. He wanted Saint-Domingue and its incredibly profitable sugar and coffee plantations restored and under French control, with the old system reinstated. Southern Quarterlynotes, "What is often remembered as a remarkably 'peaceful' transfer of land was in fact predicated on events of enormous violence that took place in the Caribbean.". Andrew Jackson. The land that was purchased was very, very cheap. In the end, Barings and Hopes acquired the $11.25 million in bonds for just $9.44 million. To France, it was a backwater sort of like owning Mediterranean Avenue in Monopoly. President Jefferson's Secretary of State. Why did Napoleon Sell the Louisiana Territory? The French loss of Saint-Domingue sent a shudder through the world. Without the profits from Saint-Domingue, it did not make sense to try to defend the sprawling Louisiana Territory, and Napoleon was worried about the British. The scene caused a servant to faint, and when Lucien lingered to try to argue the point, Napoleon said to his brother that if he opposed him he would break him like a snuffbox which he smashed into the floor. In 1799, he had seized power in a coup d'tat in France and wanted to restore French glory in the Americas. The problem with Saint-Domingue was that its entire economy was supported by and depended entirely upon slavery. Louisiana had never been considered one of New Spain's internal provinces. I renounce it with the greatest regret." All these soldiers needed to be fed, housed, and paid. The first plan of government used by the United States was under the: Who was the President at the time of the Alien and Sedition Act? Check out our timeline of the history of the United States for a great place to start and navigate through American history! Louisiana Purchase, western half of the Mississippi River basin purchased in 1803 from France by the United States; at less than three cents per acre for 828,000 square miles (2,144,520 square km), it was the greatest land bargain in U.S. history. Louis. [25] The American purchase of the Louisiana territory was not accomplished without domestic opposition. 1) Sloane, William M. The World Aspects of the Louisiana Purchase. The American Historical Review, vol. What reason did Madison give Congress for declaring war in 1812? The Library of Congress explains how President Thomas Jefferson realized the precariousness of having France as a neighbor. But in early 1803, continuing war between France and Britain seemed unavoidable. French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte ultimately sold the Louisiana territory to the United States for four reasons: the French government needed money, an impending war with Great Britain, the fallout from the Haitian Revolution, and the difficulty in maintaining a North American colony. In order to lessen the strain of direct taxes on the populace, the French government simply needed more money from other sources. The final price after the 15-year bonds were paid was $27 million, still a very good deal for the United States, and not really a bad one for Napoleon, considering the pressure he was under to dump the territory. The Louisiana Territory was a vast stretch of land of over 500 million acres from the Mississippi River Delta to the present-day border between Montana and Canada. Though Jefferson urged moderation, Federalists sought to use this against Jefferson and called for hostilities against France. Required fields are marked *. Even though Europeans had ostensibly laid claim to Louisiana for centuries, it remained largely undeveloped, with few wanting to move there. While the United States kept Napoleon at arms length and enacted the Embargo Act of 1807 against both Britain and France, the issue of British impressment led directly to the important War of 1812, thereby indirectly helping Napoleons cause by diverting British resources from Europe. Because of this favored position, the U.S. asked Barings to handle the transaction. As discussed in the Journal of Economic History, France had a historically bad reputation for credit and finance due to the upheavals of the French Revolution. The Louisiana Purchase was a significant event of monumental proportions in the history of the United States. The British would have likely garrisoned New Orleans and would have occupied it for a very long time because they and their ally Spain did not recognize any treaties and land deals conducted by Napoleon since 1800, especially the Louisiana Purchase. Many Southern slaveholders feared that acquisition of the new territory might inspire American-held slaves to follow the example of those in Saint-Domingue and revolt. The question of what to do with the territory brought out deep divisions along sectional lines and ultimately helped lead to the Civil War. This was coupled with the importation of enslaved Africans. Louisiana Territory Changes Hands In 1796, Spain allied itself with France, leading. (80) Napoleon sold the Louisiana territory to the United States in 1803 because he hoped to increase the U. S. status against what nation?A. [citation needed], Governing the Louisiana Territory was more difficult than acquiring it. However, Livingston was certain that the United States would accept the offer.[16]. This could weaken Britain's war effort against France and give Napoleon victory. Acquisition of Louisiana was a long-term goal of President Thomas Jefferson, who was especially eager to gain control of the crucial Mississippi River port of New Orleans. History and Geography 807: The Industrial Nat, Social Studies American History: Reconstruction to the Present Guided Reading Workbook, Deborah Gray White, Edward L. Ayers, Jess F. de la Teja, Robert D. Schulzinger, Alan Brinkley, Albert S. Broussard, Donald A. Ritchie, James M. McPherson, Joyce Appleby, Creating America: A History of the United States. On March 10, 1804, France officially transferred its claim to the Louisiana Territory to the United States. While Napoleon had grand plans for the Louisiana territory, those dreams were far off. [17] The signers were Robert Livingston, James Monroe, and Franois Barb-Marbois. The Federalists even tried to prove the land belonged to Spain, not France, but available records proved otherwise. He stood up and then splashed back down into the water so heavily that his brothers got soaked. Browman, David L (2018). 53, no. He bought the Louisiana territory from France, which was being led by Napoleon Bonaparte at the time, for 15,000,000 USD. To part with the territory so soon after its transfer left many French aristocrats puzzled. It takes a certain amount of chutzpah to think you can establish a global empire, and Napoleon Bonaparte is no exception. The Louisiana Purchase extended United States sovereignty across the Mississippi River, nearly doubling the nominal size of the country. According to Slavery and Remembrance, the French imported nearly 800,000 enslaved Africans to the colony for brutal plantation work in what was one of the most violent slavery systems in the Americas. explored the Louisiana Territory and points west. a Federalist judge who wanted his commission granted. Pamela Martin In 1803, Napoleon Bonaparte surprised U.S. negotiators with an offer to sell the Louisiana Territory for approximately 4 cents per acre. As a result, while the territory of Louisiana was technically very large, it had hardly been touched by the Europeans, with the exception of the areas along the lower Mississippi River. The four decades following the Louisiana Purchase was an era of court decisions removing many tribes from their lands east of the Mississippi for resettlement in the new territory, culminating in the Trail of Tears. [5], Following the establishment of the United States, the Americans controlled the area east of the Mississippi and north of New Orleans. [55], Because the western boundary was contested at the time of the purchase, President Jefferson immediately began to organize four missions to explore and map the new territory. Monroe, along with the minister to France, Robert Livingston, made the inquiry. The United States was leery of Frances intentions with the territory, and the port city of New Orleans was critical to the US economy.2.

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