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History of the Louisiana Purchase

            Thomas Jefferson faced a major dilemma when deciding to purchase the Louisiana territory. One of his dilemmas came from him being a strong advocate for a strict interpretation of the Constitution. Jefferson strongly supported state rights. He believed that rights not stated in the Constitution should be given to the states. However, no one anticipated a deal such as the Louisiana Purchase to be possible. The power to purchase land from another government giving the power to expand the United States, were never given to the federal government. There was many advantages along with disadvantages that could have been associated with this dilemma, but Jefferson took a major risk in purchasing the land, anyways. But that great risk also left possibility for great rewards. .
             The Louisiana Territory was a vast area of land in the Americas owned by the French under the control of Napoleon Bonaparte. Napoleon's original plans for this land was to reestablish France in the New World. This plan soon began to fade when they entered a new war with Great Britain at the same time that the French army was sent to suppress a rebellion of slaves and free blacks in Haiti. This put France in a position to either defend the land or abandon the idea of having an empire in America. Eventually they would sell it dirt cheap to the United States who had a great interest in the Mississippi river as this water way was vital to our nation's young economy.
             Thomas Jefferson had a limited time to purchase the territory. He had many issues to resolve beforehand. He had to figure out a way to purchase the land and still maintain it within his constitutional right. Jefferson feared if he amended the constitution it would provide a chance for Napoleon to change his plan to one that favored France. He also feared the longer it took to ratify a treaty delineating the purchase, the Federalists would have a greater chance to mount opposition to ratification.


Essays Related to History of the Louisiana Purchase

1. The Louisiana Purchase

One of the most significant acts in the history of the United States was past when the senate accepted Thomas Jefferson's broad interpretation of the Constitution and approved the Louisiana Purchase. ... 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 Louisiana Purchase, extending from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains doubled the national domain, increasing it 828,000 square miles. ... The Louisiana Purchase, then, could be considered as bot...

  • Word Count: 1322
  • Approx Pages: 5
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2. Lousiana Purchase

Thomas Jefferson's Presidential Legacy In eighteen hundred and three, I was involved in one of the largest land deals history has ever known. It was called the Louisiana Purchase. This purchase was arguably the greatest achievement of my presidency but posed many problems. http://americanhistory.about.com/library/weekly/aa030902a.htm Napoleon Bonaparte had a vision to recapture Louisiana from Spain. ... As Napoleon's New World empire crumbled, the loss of Haiti made Louisiana unnecessary. ...

  • Word Count: 257
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3. Two Major Constitutional Challenges and Lessons

The Louisiana Purchase and national health care legislation were two historic events in the history of the United States. ... The Louisiana Purchase was unconstitutional, but was never challenged because it benefited the country. ... Altogether, the Louisiana Purchase covered land that is now about 23% of the United States. ... Jefferson's Lost Cause: Land, Farmers, Slavery, and the Louisiana Purchase). ... However, despite their attempts, the Louisiana Purchase was ratified with a vote of twenty-four to seven on October 20. ...

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4. The Ozarks In Louisiana

The Ozark Mountains in Louisiana The Louisiana Purchase has been described as the greatest real estate deal in history. ... Thirteen states were carved from the Louisiana Territory. The Louisiana Purchase nearly doubled the size of the United States, making it one of the largest nations in the world. A region to be known later as "The Ozarks" was part of this purchase. ... It is recorded in history. ...

  • Word Count: 492
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5. American History Through the 1

American History Through the 19th Century History can be talked about and argued about around many different views and angles. ... Frederick Jackson Turner had an argument that can be used to explain the developments in American history through the close of the nineteenth century. ... Lewis and Clark explored west across Louisiana after the Louisiana Purchase in 1804. ... After the Louisiana Purchase settlers began settling in the southern and the northern parts of Louisiana. ... In conclusion, the four periods of American Indian dominance, exploration, settlement, and big business can ...

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6. French Quarter

It is located in the significant city of New Orleans, Louisiana. ... Tourists can visit the Cabildo, where the signing of the Louisiana Purchase took place or visit the house of former Confederate General P.T. ... Royal Street holds the Historic New Orleans Collection Museum which commemorates the Louisiana Purchase. ... Heritage festivals are held occasionally and celebrate our history and ancestors. ... The United States purchased Louisiana in 1803 and gradually began to rebuild it. ...

  • Word Count: 662
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7. Thomas Jefferson

David Rodriguez AP American History 9/26/03 Presidential Outline Thomas Jefferson I. ... He was then sent to the school of the Reverend James Maury at Hanover, Virginia, and spent two years studying Greek and Latin classics, history, literature, geography, and natural science. ... Louisiana Purchase (1803)- The Louisiana Territory was purchased for 15 million dollars from France. ... As for expansion, the purchase of the Louisiana Territory allowed Jefferson to achieve exactly what he had dreamed of. ... But with the purchase of the Louisiana Territory the debt on...

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8. Thomas Jefferson - American Founding Father

His many achievements and contributions such as the drafting of the Declaration of Independence, the negotiations of the Louisiana Purchase, his efforts in the construction of the Statue of Virginia for Religious Freedom, and the dream and achievement of the opening of the University of Virginia, are the things which Thomas Jefferson used to leave his mark in the history of the United States of America. ... The Louisiana Purchase was greatest and most significant territory purchased by the U.S. during its' time period. ... In the middle of April in 1803, shortly before Monroe's arr...

  • Word Count: 1654
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9. Missouri Compromise

Missouri was a small part of a large territory called the Louisiana Purchase. ... The Louisiana Purchase was a vast land filled with rich soil to grow crops and graze cattle on. ... The Louisiana Purchase was bought for a sum of fifth-teen million dollars from France. ... It was called the Louisiana Purchase. ... It would be the rest of the Louisiana Purchase that Congress had more issues with than telling anyone. ...

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