(855) 4-ESSAYS

Type a new keyword(s) and press Enter to search

Louisiana Purchase

            
             In the last part of the eighteenth century the Louisiana Territory was owned by Spain. This meant that the Spanish government controlled access to the Gulf of Mexico from the Mississippi. Farmers on the Western frontier needed the Mississippi River to get their goods to markets on the East Coast. The problem here being that American goods had to go through Louisiana to get to the East Coast by ship. With Pinckney's treaty of 1795 Spain granted American farmers the right to ship their goods on the Mississippi without paying tolls to do so. It also allowed American merchants permission to transship goods from New Orleans to Atlantic ports without paying export taxes. .
             This all changed with the secret treaty of San Ildefonso in 1800 between France and Spain. The treaty gave Louisiana to France and Napoleon Bonaparte. This was of great concern to the American government because America had agreement with France for the use of the Mississippi. Another concern for the American government was that if Napoleon decided to extend his empire to the New World they would have to defend themselves against his armies. President Jefferson attacked this problem on two fronts: .
             1) He sent James Monroe to England to seek a military alliance to help with the protecting of American interests.
             2) He instructed James Monroe to tell Robert Livingston (the American Minister to France) to offer France 2 million dollars for New Orleans or least get a guarantee of free passage on the river for American ships.
             Napoleon dreams of conquering the New World may have died with the failed attempt to restore French control of Hispaniola. The large army he sent in 1802 was virtually destroyed by yellow fever. Deciding to focus his efforts on Europe Napoleon told Livingston and Monroe that they could have the Louisiana Territory for 15 million dollars. President Jefferson happily approved the deal because not only did it keep France out of America and he didn't have to have to go through with the military alliance.


Essays Related to Louisiana Purchase

1. 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. ... Was the Purchase warranted? ... The Louisiana Purchase, then, could be considered as both the high and the low point of Jefferson's presidency. ... The Louisiana Purchase forced a soon to come looser interpretation of the Constitution in order for westward expa...

  • Word Count: 1322
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

2. The Louisiana Purchase

The Louisiana Purchase The Louisiana Purchase was one the largest land mass ever purchased by the United States at one time. ... The French originally settled the Province of Louisiana in the early 18th century. ... This forced Spain to return what was left of Louisiana to France. ... The second plan was the purchase of New Orleans alone. ... The purchase of Louisiana not only affected Americans at that time, but affected every American in the future....

  • Word Count: 444
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

3. Jefferson and the Louisiana Purchase

In 1803, Thomas Jefferson purchased the territory of Louisiana from France. ... This was known as the Louisiana Purchase. ... The Louisiana Purchase was about $15 million, one of the cheapest lands ever. ... The Louisiana Purchase put the United States in debt. ... The Louisiana Purchase was the largest land purchased at one time. ...

  • Word Count: 1014
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

4. History of the Louisiana Purchase

Thomas Jefferson faced a major dilemma when deciding to purchase the Louisiana territory. ... However, no one anticipated a deal such as the Louisiana Purchase to be possible. ... Overall, with the purchase of the Louisiana Territory, the United States gained access to the western frontier and the Gulf of Mexico along with complete ownership of the Mississippi. ... The Louisiana Purchase had some drawbacks for the Natives who originally occupied the land. ... Though the Louisiana Purchase was a risky and bold move in history, on behalf of Jefferson and America, it was truly one of the most rew...

  • Word Count: 662
  • Approx Pages: 3

5. The Louisiana Purchase

In 1802, France forced Spain to sign a "secret" treaty, giving the Louisiana Area to the French, without the United States' knowledge. ... However, France decided to get rid of their entire Louisiana area and offered to sell it to Livingston. Livingston had only the authority to purchase New Orleans but at an offer of 15 million dollars he could not refuse and bought the area in what is known as the Louisiana Purchase. ... Jefferson was pleased at the purchase of the new territory at immediately sent Louis and Clark to explore the acquired land. While bringing obvious, huge benefits t...

  • Word Count: 261
  • Approx Pages: 1
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

6. Lousiana Purchase

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. ... In 1800, Napoleon signed a secret Treaty of Ildefonso with Spain, an agreement that bound France to provide Spain with a kingdom for the son-in-law of Spain's king if Spain would return Louisiana to France. ... As Napoleon's New World empire crumbled, the loss of Haiti made Louisiana unnecessary. ...

  • Word Count: 257
  • Approx Pages: 1

7. Effect of Territorial Expansion on National Unity 1800-1850

Between 1800 and 1823 the Louisiana Purchase and the Treaty of 1818 boosted national unity. First, the Louisiana Purchase boosted unity because it helped spur the Era of Good Feelings and it displayed Western loyalty. ... Because of the Louisiana Purchase, Federalist extremists took drastic action. ... The states being carved out of the Louisiana Purchase were being admitted alternately, free or slave. ... The 1803 Louisiana Purchase and the Treaty of 1818 displayed the unity shared across America. ...

  • Word Count: 1172
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

8. 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. ...

  • Word Count: 2314
  • Approx Pages: 9
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

9. The Ozarks In Louisiana

The Ozark Mountains in Louisiana The Louisiana Purchase has been described as the greatest real estate deal in history. In 1803 the United States paid France $15 million for the Louisiana Territory--828,000 square miles of land west of the Mississippi River. ... 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. ...

  • Word Count: 492
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

Got a writing question? Ask our professional writer!
Submit My Question