Aside from more than doubling the size of the United States with a stroke of a pen, the Louisiana Purchase acquired the largest trade route in North America and had a significant impact on the rest of the world, specifically Europe. In this paper I will discuss the events and circumstance preceding the Louisiana Purchase and also cover the effect the purchase had on our country and the rest of the world.

The area between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains was originally settled by the French in the early 18th century but was ceded to Spain by a secret treaty in 1762. A year later the huge province was lost to Great Britain at the end of the Seven Years’ War, as part of the Treaty of Paris. This area was returned to Spain when the British signed the second Treaty

The international situation favored the American diplomats. Louisiana was of diminishing importance to France. The costly revolt in Haiti forced the French emperor Napoleon to reconsider his plan to make Hispaniola the keystone of his colonial empire. Inevitable war with Great Britain, provoked by his aggressive behavior, made him question the practicality of wasting soldiers and money to hold Louisiana against that great naval power. Without the island of Hispaniola, he had little use for Louisiana. Napoleon decided to concentrate on his European ventures and sell Louisiana to the United States.

The French also withdrew the right of deposit in New Orleans. This right was granted under the Pinckney treaty of 1795 (signed while Louisiana was still under Spanish control) and was the privilege that allowed U.S. merchants to deposit goods duty-free at New Orleans before shipment. President Thomas Jefferson immediately sent statesman James Monroe to Paris to assist American Minister to France Robert Livingston, who had already begun negotiations(Blumburg 29-34).

Jefferson had sent Livingston with instructions to effect one of four possible plans advantageous to the U.S.: (1) the purchase of eastern and western Florida and New Orleans; (2) the purchase of New Orleans alone; (3) the purchase of land on the eastern bank of the Mississippi River to build an American port; or (4) the acquisition of perpetual rights of navigation and deposit (Blumburg 125-129).

Of course, the cession of Louisiana posed a multitude of problems for Jefferson and the Republicans. For example, What were the boundaries of Louisiana? Was the Purchase warranted? Could the Union withstand the shock? Could the new lands be governed under the Constitution? How? As colonies subject to the will of Congress or as free and independent states? What about the French in Louisiana? Could they be assimilated (Ballack 685)? And on and on.

Thomas Jefferson felt very triumphant.

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