The acquisition of the Louisiana territory was a very controversial topic as it portrayed, president at the time, Thomas Jefferson going against his ideals in favor of the greater good that this opportunity presented. The moral dilemmas that Jefferson struggled with include, his belief in strict constructionism, the lack of constitutional support towards purchasing the territory from France, and the need to expand in order to accommodate for the economy of early America. Thomas Jefferson contradicted his republican beliefs by following through with acquiring the Louisiana territory. Jefferson defined what it meant to be a true republican as he was a hardcore antifederalist thus valued the strict interpretation of the constitution as well …show more content…
Jefferson’s view on government was that the federal government needed to be weakened in favor of the state government, and by “purchasing” the land from France he was going against that in which he advocated by increasing the power allocated to the central government. Doubling the size of the country was no small move by the government, this act would demonstrate an elevated level of control which is what Jefferson was attempting to suppress. Unable keep his republican ideals aligned with his actions is precisely why he was unable to solve the predicament he was in. In a letter from Thomas Jefferson to John C. Breckinridge he even mentions that there was no way around the problem as “the constitution has made no provision for our holding foreign territory, still less for incorporating foreign nations into our Union” (Monticello). Ultimately, he found that in article two of the constitution it stated that “[The President] shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the senate, to make treaties, provided two thirds of the senators present concur…” thus giving him the solution (Limits on the Treaty Power). The president was able to make treaties and because we were receiving the land from France, ergo, it was a treaty. Using loose constructionism, he found the …show more content…
Jefferson always believed that agriculture was the key to success and at the time he was at a stalemate with Spain as they were denied use of the Mississippi river port for farm transport. However, seeing the country in need of more land and the Spanish being less than helpful, Jefferson turned to the French in order to aid us in our agrarian vision (encyclopedia.com). The original plan was to obtain either New Orleans, part of the Florida territory, or at least usage of the Mississippi river port since the territory was returned to the French through the treaty of Madrid (Linopafilms). Napoleon dealing with the Haitian revolution at the time was low on funds and decided to offer the whole Louisiana territory for fifteen million dollars or around three cents an acre. Jefferson abandoned any doubts he had the moment Napoleon threatened to back out as this was too good of a deal to lose. Doubling the size of the country was the turning point for Americans at the time. Jefferson believed that the farmers were the backbone of the economy and so this purchase was to stimulate the economy by having said farmers cultivate more crop with this newly acquired land. The belief of manifest destiny had encouraged westward migration and thus
The number 1 president of the U.S. Is George Washington. He was a commanding officer while the American Revolution was taking place and he is still one of the main authoritative and famous people in U.S. history. His benefaction stretches out really far out maybe even compared to others in the history of America. George was incorporated two different times in Germantown taking part in history. While the rebellion was taking place (1770s) George directed the U.S. forces in the Germantown war. The way to avoid the Yellow Fever Epidemic (1773), was that the statehouse had to move to Germantown, from Philadelphia. Inside of the Germantown homestead inhabitant Major Franks, George stayed there and encountered his council, that involved Alexander
If Jefferson bought the land thinking to do good, where would be the dilemma? The purchase crossed lines with his, quite strict, view of the rules of the constitution. He viewed the
His presidency, as the third president of the United States, started with the Revolution of 1800, the first time political parties sent candidates and campaigned. In his inaugural address, he attempted to unify the two competing political parties: “Every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle… We are all Republicans; we are all Federalists.”[3] This quote his reflects Jeffersonian republicanism, which was his views of government. Jefferson implied that in order to best suit the needs of the people, we needed a simple government and to simplify all conflicts in the government. Jefferson held that the common people should control the government. Jefferson had performed the most important act of his presidency in accordance with these beliefs; purchasing the Louisiana territory from France. In 1803, Jefferson doubted whether the Constitution gave him the power to purchase the land Napoleon offered to sell to him. He bought the Louisiana territory, contrary to his own beliefs of strict interpretation of the Constitution,. This more than doubled the size of America, giving America the opportunity to create many more states. The Louisiana Purchase decreased the power of the federal government by increasing the quantity of state governments. Another one of his major accomplishments was clearing the Revolutionary debt the United States incurred. One of Jefferson’s goals as president was to pay off that
Jefferson recognized that the purchase would be “beyond constitutional,” (Jefferson) but his desire to expand America undermined his “legal scruples” (book). The Republicans and Thomas Jefferson supported the acquisition, because it was favorable to the “immediate interests of” the “western citizens” (book). The also believed it would create a more safe and peaceful environment, in a way that would separate French and American authorities. The federalists on the other hand, disagreed with the treaty for various reasons. They were worried that westward expansion would increase wages on the Atlantic coast by “reducing and lowering the value of real estate in their region” (book). The federalists knew that the states to that would be created from the new land would be settled by Jeffersonian Republicans, ultimately establishing a stronger Republican foothold in the country. Despite the feuds between the two groups, the Senate ratified the treaty with a vote of twenty-six to six, and on December 20, 1803, America took possession of the Louisiana
The Louisiana purchase was a very significant event in the United States of America that changed the country we live in today. Since, “1762, Spain had owned the territory of Louisiana, between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains” (Office of the Historian). This purchase led to many great things due to the French now having possession over it. Even though the French sold major land in the Louisiana Purchase, the money gained by France and the land acquired by America was a win for both sides of the deal.
result of this purchase, the U.S. population was able to expand and increase. The Federalist favored the sale of large land parcels to wealthy speculators instead of small parcel sales to farmers and contributed to the inflation of land values. Federalists were in control so they could determine anything that they wanted as far as the land goes. Thomas Jefferson was aloud to spend 10 million dollars on the Louisiana Purchase. However, he spent 15 million dollars putting the US in a 5 million dollar debt. “In a government which is founded by the people, who possess exclusively th...
The Louisiana Purchase was the most important event of President Thomas Jefferson's first Administration. In this transaction, the United States bought 827,987 square miles of land from France for about $15 million. This vast area lay between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains, stretching from the Gulf of Mexico to the Canadian Border. The purchase of this land greatly increased the economic resources of the United States, and cemented the union of the Middle West and the East. Eventually all or parts of 15 states were formed out of the region. When Jefferson became president in March 1801, the Mississippi River formed the western boundary of the United States. The Florida's lay the south, and the Louisiana Territory to the west. Spain owned both these territories.
Before 1801, the Jeffersonian Republicans were usually strict constructionists of the constitution. However during the presidencies of Jefferson and Madison they had to adopt some Federalist ideas. In many instances, the two parties completely interchanged their views on the construction of the constitution. During that period of time it was difficult to characterize anyone as a member of either the Federalist or Republican party based on how they interpreted the constitution.
There wasn’t much issue surrounding the purchase of the Louisiana Territory. A war wasn’t even required to acquire the land as document 5 explains. The major problem was that the Federalist Party argued that the Louisiana Purchase was a worthless dessert, and the constitution did not provide for the acquisition of new land or negotiating treaties without the consent of the Senate (Document 5).
Jefferson didn't out right abandon Republican views. Jefferson's mission was to restore republicanism, to check the growth of government power, and to stop the decline of virute that had set in during Federalist rule. In his inaugural address he stated, "The will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will to be rightful must be reasonable; the minority posses their equal rights, which equal law must project, and to violate would be oppression." A Republican view was to be ruled by informed masses which is majority rule. The common good pointed in the direction of Federalism. Jefferson had to do soemthing about the Barbary Pirates. He sent a navy to the shores of Tripoli. After four years, a treaty was signed. The small gunboats that were used in the war fascinated Jefferson so he deployed 200 of these gunboats along the coast to guard American shores. Republicans believed in a minimal army and navy. Jefferson aboandoned Republicanism by entering into the Tripolitan War and then keeping a navy along the Untied States' coast after the war. The United States was given the chance to buy all of Lousiana for $15 million. Jefferson knew that this would be technically unconstitution but he still sumbitted the treaties to the Senate. Once again, Jefferson changed from Republican views to Federalist views because of his realist and public official side. Jefferson knew this would help the United States grow and it would keep Louisana out of the hands of other countries in Europe. Because of the war between France and Britain, the United States wanted to perserve their neutrality. The United States could trade with either of the countries without facing attacks. Jefferson asked Congress for an embargo.
Though initially his decision was criticized, Thomas Jefferson 's pursuit of the Louisiana Purchase doubled the size of the United States, as well as impacted the economy, religion, and race of the nation.
Jefferson was the founder of the Democratic-Republic Party and believed in an agrarian society with strong local governments (i.e. a weak central government). He thought that the states should yield most of the power so that the citizens could control what happens to them (i.e. citizens wouldn’t have to follow the potential dictatorship of the central government). Soon enough, Jefferson’s Democratic-Republican policies clashed with the Federalist policies of Alexander Hamilton, who believed in an urban-based society and a strong central government. In addition, Jefferson was a believer in a strict interpretation of the Constitution. When he decided to buy the Louisiana Territory from France, however, he had to compromise his beliefs—the Constitution didn’t have a provision for the purchase of land. Therefore, the first major question that arouse from the purchase of the Louisiana Territory was whether or not the purchase was constitutional.
In 1803 the United States would make the largest and possibly most controversial land purchases in American history, the Louisiana Purchase. During the years leading up to this event the United States was still trying to solidify a national identity. There were two subjects that were causing for division of the new national identity, one being westward expansion. The Northern states and Federalists opposed the idea of westward expansion while the Southern States and the Jeffersonians backed this purchase. Although there was a struggle for a single national identity and this controversial purchase did not aid in finding that single identity, it was still the right decision for the United States. By purchasing this land from the French the United States would not share a colonial boundary with the French who were continuing to gain power under Napoleon. Purchasing the Louisiana Territory would prove to be beneficial for the United States for more reason than one.
President Jefferson was instrumental in the Louisiana Purchase, which secured an area extending from Canada to the Gulf and the Mississippi to the Rockies, for fifteen million dollars. This purchase also led to the planning and organization of the Lewis and Clark expedition. However, the argument over whether or not Florida was included in the Louisiana Purchase caused many sarcastic attacks on Thomas Jefferson from members of congress.
France had control over the Louisiana Territory, but Napoleon Bonaparte needed money to prepare his troops for the upcoming war with the British. In 1802, Spanish authorities, apparently acting under French orders, revoked a U.S.-Spanish treaty that granted Americans the right to store goods in New Orleans. In response, President Jefferson sent James Monroe to Paris to aid Livingston in the New Orleans purchase