As it turns out, France, or more accurately its ruler Napoleon Bonaparte, had some good reasons for doing it. He engaged in back-channel diplomacy with Napoleon on Jefferson's behalf during a visit to France and originated the idea of the much larger Louisiana Purchase as a way to defuse potential conflict between the United States and Napoleon over North America.[11]. It remained in Spanish hands until 1800, when Napoleon Bonaparte negotiated a secret treaty with Spain and took the vast holding back in exchange for tiny Etruria in Northern Italy. The Louisiana territory was now worthless to him, and he immediately sought to offload the territory to the United States. The jewel of the French overseas empire was Saint-Domingue in the Caribbean, which is today's Haiti on the large island of Hispaniola. Saint-Domingue was a powder keg, ready to explode. 1803. They also feared that this would lead to Western states being formed, which would likely be Republican, and dilute the political power of New England Federalists. He added later, "I require money to make war on the richest nation in the world.". But although the Americans never asked for it, Napoleon dangled the entire territory in front of them on April 11, 1803. The United States was leery of Frances intentions with the territory, and the port city of New Orleans was critical to the US economy.2. While Napoleon originally tried to sell the territory for $22 million, the two sides eventually agreed to a sale at $15 million. Napoleon saw in the sale of Louisiana something he needed more than anything else cold, hard cash. In return for fifteen million dollars, or approximately eighteen dollars per square mile, the United States nominally acquired a total of 828,000sqmi (2,140,000km2; 530,000,000 acres) in Middle America. Another concern was whether it was proper to grant citizenship to the French, Spanish, and free black people living in New Orleans, as the treaty would dictate. Alain Chappet, Roger Martin, Alain Pigeard. See Page 1. To part with the territory so soon after its transfer left many French aristocrats puzzled. [42] Barings had a close relationship with Hope & Co. of Amsterdam, and the two banking houses worked together to facilitate and underwrite the purchase. France ceded the territory to Spain in 1762 in the secret Treaty of Fontainebleau. This was particularly true in the area of the present-day state of Louisiana, which also contained a large number of free people of color. Even more puzzling, the French had just reacquired the Louisiana territory and critical port city of New Orleans in the secret 1800 Treaty of San Ildefonso with Spain. A watershed event in American history, the purchase of the Louisiana . Throughout the second half of the 18th century, the French colony of Louisiana became a pawn for European political intrigue. The French loss of Saint-Domingue sent a shudder through the world. The AdamsOns Treaty with Spain resolved the issue upon ratification in 1821. The formidable British navy could easily blockade the territory and seize it for themselves. When Napoleon rose to power in 1799, the French governments finances were in disarray due to the effects of the French Revolution. Otherwise, Louisiana would be an easy prey for a potential invasion from Britain or the U.S. Though Jefferson urged moderation, Federalists sought to use this against Jefferson and called for hostilities against France. The land that was purchased was very, very cheap. He bought the Louisiana territory from France, which was being led by Napoleon Bonaparte at the time, for 15,000,000 USD (about $320,000,000 in 2020 dollars). The Louisiana Purchase | Thomas Jefferson's Monticello Though viewed as of lesser importance than the colony of Saint Domingue (Haiti), Louisiana and its crucial port city of New Orleans was to play a large role in French colonial dominance.1. 55, no. That leads to the question as to why on Earth would France sell so much land, or at least the rights to it 828,000 acres for what amounted to 4 cents an acre? The confederations that are called perpetual, only last till one of the contracting parties finds it to its interest to break them, and it is to prevent the danger, to which the colossal power of England exposes us, that I would provide a remedy. Who Made the Louisiana Purchase? - A Nation Takes Shape The first reason that Napoleon sold the Louisiana territory was that the French government was in need of money. In 1718, the French established New Orleans, and scant groups of colonists moved in. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/1833473. Ambassador who was sent to France to negotiate the purchase of the Louisiana Territory. Which three countries controlled the Louisiana Territory? Who sold the Louisiana Territory to the United States? However, one has to question whether the French ruler considered the consequences of selling France's interest in Louisiana. Washington University in St. Louis Press. [58] In a freedom suit that went from Missouri to the U.S. Supreme Court, slavery of Native Americans was finally ended in 1836. Louisiana Purchase | Definition, Date, Cost, History, Map, States Spain Originally governed New Orleans and the Louisiana Territory up until 1802, but then transferred ownership to France under a secret treaty. In legislation enacted on October 31, Congress made temporary provisions for local civil government to continue as it had under French and Spanish rule and authorized the President to use military forces to maintain order. Your email address will not be published. As for France, it never seriously established a colonial presence in the Americas again. When Monroe and Livingston were offered the opportunity to buy the entire territory, they could not help but be excited. The additional land helped lead to the Indian Removal Act of 1830 and the various frontier wars and broken treaties with the Plains natives of the late 1800s. The eastern boundary below the 31st parallel was unclear. The Louisiana Purchase was the start of the United States' incredible expansion from a group of Eastern Seaboard states on the North American continent. In the meeting, he said that Napoleon had read an account in the London press that 50,000 British troops might be sent to New Orleans. The Missouri Compromise of 1820 was a temporary solution. The Louisiana Purchase was the start of the United States' incredible expansion from a group of Eastern Seaboard states on the North American continent. Who was President at the time of the Embargo Act? (land, gold, and to start a new life). All these soldiers needed to be fed, housed, and paid. [32] The Senate quickly ratified the treaty, and the House, with equal readiness, authorized the required funding, as the Constitution specifies. sold Louisiana Territory to the United States Marcus Whitman missionary family in Oregon Pennsylvania had a Whiskey Rebellion tariff tax on imported goods Cabinet President's team of workers Dolley Madison saved White House treasures Zebulon Pike explored the Louisiana Territory olive branch symbol of peace Francis Scott Key 22755. [33][35], When Spain later objected to the United States purchasing Louisiana from France, Madison responded that America had first approached Spain about purchasing the property but had been told by Spain itself that America would have to treat with France for the territory.[36]. In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson bought the Louisiana Territory from France for $15 million and nearly doubled the size of the U.S. Louisiana Territory | The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture Of 176 electoral votes cast, all but 14 were in his favor. [40], To pay for the land, the American government used a mix of sovereign bonds and the assumption of French debts. To read more on what we're all about, learn more about us here. Without the profits from Saint-Domingue, it did not make sense to try to defend the sprawling Louisiana Territory, and Napoleon was worried about the British. There was no arguing with Napoleon, who would, after all,crown himself Emperor in 1804. Jefferson sent Livingston to Paris in 1801[9] with the authorization to purchase New Orleans. This created an unstable situation at the western border which could draw his young country into the Napoleonic Wars. What were two reasons for selling the Louisiana Territory to the United As discussed in the Journal of Economic History, France had a historically bad reputation for credit and finance due to the upheavals of the French Revolution. Acquiring the territory doubled the size of the United States. [50] Spain insisted that Louisiana comprised no more than the western bank of the Mississippi River and the cities of New Orleans and St. Today, the 31st parallel is the northern boundary of the western half of the Florida Panhandle, and the Perdido is the western boundary of Florida. Jefferson considered a constitutional amendment to justify the purchase; however, his cabinet convinced him otherwise. Louisiana Purchase - Wikipedia By early 1803, Napoleon decided to abandon his plans to rebuild France's New World empire. The Constitution specifically grants the president the power to negotiate treaties (Art. [citation needed]. I renounce it with the greatest regret." In the early 1800s aside from the city of New Orleans, the Louisiana territory was sparsely populated. Without that, the United States' international influence would be less, as would its influence over the development of democracies. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/25723883. In a letter, Thomas Jefferson wrote that France's repossession of the territory "is the embryo of a tornado which will burst on the countries on both shores of the Atlantic and involve in it's effects their highest destinies.". In 1791, influenced by the ideals of the French Revolution, a slave revolt broke out on Saint-Domingue. Who Was the French Leader Who Sold the Louisiana Territory? JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/2123552. Through the Louisiana Purchase, the United States' territory doubled at once. [28], Henry Adams claimed "The sale of Louisiana to the United States was trebly invalid; if it were French property, Bonaparte could not constitutionally alienate it without the consent of the French Chambers; if it were Spanish property, he could not alienate it at all; if Spain had a right of reclamation, his sale was worthless. The Louisiana Purchase was a significant event of monumental proportions in the history of the United States. [24], The opposition of New England Federalists to the Louisiana Purchase was primarily economic self-interest, not any legitimate concern over constitutionality or whether France indeed owned Louisiana or was required to sell it back to Spain should it desire to dispose of the territory. Napoleon reported told his Minister of Finance Barbe-Marbois in reference to the Louisiana territory: Second, selling the Louisiana territory to the United States could strengthen the nation and thus provide a counterweight against their British foes. The Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804) traveled up the Missouri River; the Red River Expedition (1806) explored the Red River basin; the Pike Expedition (1806) also started up the Missouri but turned south to explore the Arkansas River watershed. [25] The American purchase of the Louisiana territory was not accomplished without domestic opposition. . [33] The fledgling United States did not have $15 million in its treasury; it borrowed the sum from Great Britain, at an annual interest rate of six percent. What was the famous thing Napoleon Bonaparte sold? The two powers were at peace in early 1803, having signed the Treaty of Amiens in 1802, which, as explained by Britannica, ended hostilities between the two nations. The great expansion of the United States achieved by the Louisiana Purchase did receive criticism, though . Jefferson ultimately came to the conclusion before the ratification of the treaty that the purchase was to protect the citizens of the United States therefore making it constitutional. How did France obtain the Louisiana Territory? - 2023 Napoleon's brothers, Lucien and Joseph, objected, thinking it a black mark on France's reputation and glory. This would allow the Americans to retain clear access to the river. While Napoleon had his reasons for the sale of the Louisiana territory, the treaty has gone down in history as one of the most impactful for the United States. [5], Following the establishment of the United States, the Americans controlled the area east of the Mississippi and north of New Orleans. Napoleon dreamed and yearned for a French colonial empire to rival the British. The following year, the District of Louisiana was renamed the Territory of Louisiana. John Adams 2. On January 1, 1804, Haiti declared its independence. Acquisition of Louisiana was a long-term goal of President Thomas Jefferson, who was especially eager to gain control of the crucial Mississippi River port of New Orleans. Interested in reaching out? The first plan of government used by the United States was under the: Who was the President at the time of the Alien and Sedition Act? Regardless of its legality, Smithsonian Magazine details how in order to finance the transaction, several British banks actually bought the territory and turned it over to the United States in exchange for bonds at 6% interest. On March 10, 1804, France officially transferred its claim to the Louisiana Territory to the United States. In this light the deal can be seen as a win-win between Napoleon and the United States. 4 and 7. successful French demand for an indemnity, Indian Territory Indian Reserve and Louisiana Purchase, Foreign affairs of the Jefferson administration, Territorial evolution of the United States, Territories of the United States on stamps, "The True Cost of the Louisiana Purchase", "Congressional series of United States public documents", "Milestones: 18011829 Office of the Historian", "3 Of The Most Lucrative Land Deals In History", "Primary Documents of American History: Louisiana Purchase", "America's Louisiana Purchase: Noble Bargain, Difficult Journey", "The Louisiana Purchase: Jefferson's constitutional gamble", National Archives and Records Administration, "Aspecten van de Geschiedenis van Hope & Co en van Gelieerde Ondernemingen", "Convention Between the United States of America and the French Republic (Article III)", "Statutes & Constitution :Constitution: Online Sunshine", "Slave Freedom Suits before Dred Scott: The Case of Marie Jean Scypion's Descendants", Case and Controversies in U.S. History, Page 42, Territorial expansion of the United States, Acquisition of the Northern Mariana Islands (1986), A Summary View of the Rights of British America, Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms, Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness, Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, 1777 draft and 1786 passage, Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, Plan for Establishing Uniformity in the Coinage, Weights, and Measures of the United States, Proposals for concerted operation among the powers at war with the Pyratical states of Barbary, Jefferson manuscript collection at the Massachusetts Historical Society, Member, Virginia Committee of Correspondence, Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression, Thomas Jefferson Star for Foreign Service, Washington and Jefferson National Forests, Louisiana Purchase Exposition gold dollar, Memorial to the 56 Signers of the Declaration of Independence, Notes of Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787, Constitution drafting and ratification timeline, Co-author, George Washington's Farewell Address, 1789 Virginia's 5th congressional district election, James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation, James Madison Freedom of Information Award, James Monroe Law Office, Museum, and Memorial Library, The Capture of the Hessians at Trenton, December 26, 1776, United States Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Jefferson Memorial Committee of Five pediment, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Louisiana_Purchase&oldid=1137551974, States and territories established in 1803, States and territories disestablished in 1804, Wikipedia articles needing page number citations from February 2015, Short description is different from Wikidata, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Articles with unsourced statements from February 2021, Articles with unsourced statements from January 2022, Pages using Sister project links with hidden wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Gleijeses, Piero. Many members of the House of Representatives opposed the purchase. True False, Federalists believed in a strict following of the Constitution exactly as it was worded. By the 1720s, several settlements had developed, the chief of which was the territory's capital at New Orleans. With the failure to retake Saint-Domingue and the inevitability of renewed war between France and Britain, Napoleon refigured his political calculus. Many Southern slaveholders feared that acquisition of the new territory might inspire American-held slaves to follow the example of those in Saint-Domingue and revolt. He bought the Louisiana territory from France, which was being led by Napoleon Bonaparte at the time, for 15,000,000 USD. The French government replied that these objections were baseless since the promise not to alienate Louisiana was not in the treaty of San Ildefonso itself and therefore had no legal force, and the Spanish government had ordered Louisiana to be transferred in October 1802 despite knowing for months that Britain had not recognized the King of Etruria in the Treaty of Amiens. [26] The Federalists also feared that the power of the Atlantic seaboard states would be threatened by the new citizens in the West, whose political and economic priorities were bound to conflict with those of the merchants and bankers of New England. [44][42] With the bankers' help, the French and American negotiators settled on a price of 80 million francs ($15 million), down from an initial price of 100 million francs, a sum the Americans could not afford and the financers could not provide. "The district of Louisiana changed to the territory of Louisiana". The Louisiana Territory was a vast stretch of land of over 500 million acres from the Mississippi River Delta to the present-day border between Montana and Canada. He could not or did not see the value in sending troops to defend worthless Louisiana, not with Saint-Domingue out of the equation. Louisiana Territory - Wikipedia Napoleon sold the territory to the United States for only three cents an acre. Louisiana Purchase - Definition, Facts & Importance - HISTORY Unit 4: QUIZ 3: THE UNITED STATES GROWS IN SIZE AND STATURE (History While 3-4 cents an acre was not a massive deal, from Napoleons perspective he received a large sum of money for land he had just received and had virtually no control over. Majority Leader John Randolph led the opposition. Why France Sold the Louisiana Purchase to the US - HISTORY By April 30, 1803, they hashed out an agreement where the Americans would pay $15 million, a considerable reduction, although its constitutionality was debated. 1, 1967, pp. [53][54], The eastern boundary of the Louisiana purchase was the Mississippi River, from its source to the 31st parallel, though the source of the Mississippi was, at the time, unknown. What reason did Madison give Congress for declaring war in 1812? American diplomats Robert Livingston and James Monroepurchased the Louisiana Territory from the French for $15 million dollars, or four cents an acre, in 1803. The Americans thought that Napoleon might withdraw the offer at any time, preventing the United States from acquiring New Orleans, so they agreed and signed the Louisiana Purchase Treaty on April 30, 1803, (10 Floral XI in the French Republican calendar) at the Htel Tubeuf in Paris. The Real Reason France Sold The Louisiana Territory To The United States He wanted Saint-Domingue and its incredibly profitable sugar and coffee plantations restored and under French control, with the old system reinstated. Napoleon wanted its revenues and productivity for France restored. The British would have likely garrisoned New Orleans and would have occupied it for a very long time because they and their ally Spain did not recognize any treaties and land deals conducted by Napoleon since 1800, especially the Louisiana Purchase. While Napoleon originally tried to sell the territory for $22 million, the two sides eventually agreed to a sale at $15 million. While Washington was president, the political parties that formed in the United States were the _______ Party, led by Hamilton and the _______ Party, led by Jefferson. The deal helped Jefferson win reelection in 1804 by a landslide. Nobody really knows what post-victory plans for New Orleans and Upper Louisiana were given by the British government to Major General Sir Edward Pakenham and his second-in-command Major General Samuel Gibbs because both generals were killed in action at the Battle of New Orleans. Spain, no longer a dominant European power, did little to develop Louisiana during the next three decades. Even if the British did not seize the territory, the United States also posed a significant future threat. Also, many Federalists were speculators in lands in upstate New York and New England and were hoping to sell these lands to farmers, who might go west instead, if the Louisiana Purchase went through. pp. 2, 1995, pp. National Geographicpoints out that in modern dollars, the Louisiana Purchase would have cost $342 million. The territory also was only loosely under French control having just been transferred from Spain in 1800.
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