Louisiana Purchase

Like his predecessors, Jefferson warily monitored the Europeans' designs on North America. Not long after taking office, Jefferson learned that Spain had sold its vast Louisiana Territory to France. This gave the French ruler, Napoleon Bonaparte, control of New Orleans and the ability to block trade on the Mississippi River. The entire Ohio River Valley trade could be bottled up and held at the whim of a foreign power. Jefferson, recognizing the vital importance of the Mississippi to American commerce, sent delegates to Paris with secret plans to try to buy the port from Napoleon.

The American negotiators (one of whom was future president James Monroe) arrived in France at a good time. France faced a crisis with one of its prized colonial possessions. Toussaint L'Ouverture had recently led a successful revolt of free blacks and slaves against the French on the island of Hispaniola. Yellow Fever then ravaged the French army sent to reclaim the island, dealing a major setback to Napoleon's dreams of re-establishing a French empire in America. Washington, Adams, and Jefferson deserve little credit for the French crisis, since each of them supported the white plantation owners over the fight for democracy in Haiti. Of course, Tensions between France and Britain were high.

Realizing that he may not be able to hold Louisiana, Napoleon shocked the American delegates by offering to sell the entire territory.

Told Napoleon "No Deal"

While this was the opportunity of a lifetime, there was a problem with the deal. First, it has been kept secret from Congress and the American people. We must do this publicly. Second, the Constitution has no provision to purchase land from a foreign power. To make things legal, perhaps the U.S. should declare war on France then they would immediately surrender the territory. (Don't laugh. This was the proposal of some Federalists who wanted a strict construction of the Constitution with Jeffersonians in charge.)

Asked "Where do we sign?"

HAmericans were being forced to serve in the British navy and to seize American ships. Jefferson didn't stand by without doing anything.

Explore the Louisiana Purchase, including period specific information.

What did Napoleon plan to do with the money he received from the sale of Louisiana?

While this was the opportunity of a lifetime, there was a problem with the deal. First, it has been kept secret from Congress and the American people. We must do this publicly. Second, the Constitution has no provision to purchase land from a foreign power. To make things legal, perhaps the U.S. should declare war on France then they would immediately surrender the territory. (Don't laugh. This was the proposal of some Federalists who wanted a strict construction of the Constitution with Jeffersonians in charge.)

View the following tutorial to learn about the difficulty in maintaining foreign relations due to the weakness of the United States’ foreign policy.

Tutorial: What Would an American President Do?

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