Transcript Louisiana Purchase Notes

Jefferson and the Louisiana Purchase
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Was the Louisiana Purchase best for the future of
America and were Jefferson’s actions constitutional?
1. Jefferson’s Presidency
b.
The Louisiana Purchase
i.
U.S. Interest in the Mississippi River
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1791–1803–Vermont, Kentucky, Tennessee, & Ohio added to U.S.
Country continued to expand and move west
Westerners depend on
Miss. River and city
of New Orleans for trade
Jefferson worries foreign
countries might shut them
down and draw U.S. into
a war
1. Jefferson’s Presidency
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1800 - Spain owned Louisiana,
French leader Napoleon Bonaparte
forced Spain to sell LA back to France
(lost it in 1763)
Before Spain left in 1802, they shut
New Orleans down to Americans
(claimed Americans were avoiding
paying fees to Spanish for right to
deposit good in NO for export)
1. Jefferson’s Presidency
ii.
Negotiations
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Jefferson sent James Monroe & Robert Livingston to France to
purchase New Orleans from France for up to $10 million
Napoleon, needing money to fight a war against Britain, offers
to sell entire Louisiana Territory to the U.S. for $15 Million
U.S. delegates quickly jump on the offer & accepted
1. Jefferson’s Presidency
iii. Constitutional Predicament
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Most American felt the
Louisiana Purchase was good
for U.S., but some (including
Jefferson) felt it was
unconstitutional to purchase it
Federalists and Jefferson
argued the constitution, strictly
interpreted did not allow the
President to purchase foreign
lands
Constitutional Powers of President
l. Be commander in chief of the Army and Navy
when called into service.
2. Require the opinion of the principal officer in
each executive department.
3. Have power to grand reprieves and pardons.
4. Make treaties.
5. Nominate and appoint ambassadors, judges of
the Supreme Court and all other officers of the
United States.
6. Fill up all vacancies during the recess of the
Senate.
7. Give to Congress information of the state of the
union.
8. Recommend to their consideration such measures
as he shall judge necessary and expedient.
9. On extraordinary occasions convene both Houses,
or either of them.
10. Receive ambassadors and other public ministers.
11. Take care that the laws be faithfully executed.
12. Commission all the officers of the United States.
1. Jefferson’s Presidency
iii.
Constitutional Predicament
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Other arguments were made against the LA Purchase:
 What would the U.S. do with Indian tribes in LA?
 Would slavery spread to new LA territory?
 How to incorporate French inhabitants of the LA
territory into mostly Protestant, Anglo-American
country (especially extremely diverse city of New
Orleans)?
1. Jefferson’s Presidency
iii.
Constitutional Predicament
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Having already purchased it, TJ submitted the LA
Territory to Congress as a presidential treaty, which
was in the constitution…problem solved
Question of Indians would be answered over the next
100 years (reservations & slaughter)
LA was allowed to keep its predominately French
culture by adopting French Napoleonic legal code &
maintaining French language & culture
1. Jefferson’s Presidency
iv.
Consequences
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Louisiana Purchase = 828,000 square miles or
529,920,000 acres
$15 million = 4 cents/acre (1803 value)
$236 million = 42 cents/acre (2013 value)
1. Jefferson’s Presidency
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The Purchase:
 Gave France $$$ for war with Britain
 Doubled the size of U.S.
 Removed a European power from America’s western
border
 Strengthened Jefferson’s hope of U.S being a farmbased land
 Made Jefferson & the D-R Party more popular…made
Federalists (who opposed it) look weak
MAP 9.2 Louisiana Purchase