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. The key to opening the western goal was securing the Mississippi River and the Louisiana Territory. Interested in reaching out? Furthermore, the French had no administration over the territory and few French settlers lived on the land. The following year, the District of Louisiana was renamed the Territory of Louisiana. 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? Napoleon Bonaparte sold the land because he needed money for the Great French War. Overcoming the opposition of the Federalist Party, Jefferson and Secretary of State James Madison persuaded Congress to ratify and fund the Louisiana Purchase. However, Livingston was certain that the United States would accept the offer.[16]. He bought the Louisiana territory from France, which was being led by Napoleon Bonaparte at the time, for 15,000,000 USD. The great expansion of the United States achieved by the Louisiana Purchase did receive criticism, though . [citation needed]. At the same time, this territorial expansion also allowed for the growth and expansion of slavery in the United States, which finally culminated in the American Civil War. Answer and Explanation: A final reason for Napoleons fateful decision was that he foresaw the difficulty in maintaining a French colony in North America across the Atlantic and so close to the United States. In the 1780s, it produced 60% of the world's coffee and supplied Britain and France with 40% of its sugar. The deal helped Jefferson win reelection in 1804 by a landslide. The purchase originally extended just beyond the 50th parallel. Despite the implications of the Louisiana Purchase for both France and the United States, Native Americans were unquestionably the biggest losers in the arrangement. Napoleons spot on the French throne was not guaranteed and he had neither the time nor resources to wait for the Louisiana territory to bear fruit with war in Europe once again looming. This exact scenario is what happened to Mexico with their province of Tejas during the Texan Revolution. Its European peoples, of ethnic French, Spanish and Mexican descent, were largely Catholic; in addition, there was a large population of enslaved Africans made up of a high proportion of recent arrivals, as Spain had continued the transatlantic slave trade. As quoted by Smithsonian Magazine, historian Charles A. Cerami said, "If we had not made this purchase, it would have pinched off the possibility of our becoming a continental power." To learn more about US history, check out this timeline of the history of the United States. The risk of another power taking it from a weakened Spain made a "profound reconsideration" of this policy necessary. Though the strike never materialized, the United States made it clear it would act with the nations best interests in mindincluding if it came to war. This sale was made under the direction of Napoleon's government in order to help France pay for their war materials. The main issue for the Americans was free transit of the Mississippi out to sea. [23], After Monroe and Livingston had returned from France with news of the purchase, an official announcement of the purchase was made on July 4, 1803. "[29] The sale of course was not "worthless"the U.S. actually did take possession. The Louisiana Purchase had major consequences for the United States. True False, Hamilton's financial plans favored the northern states. Among Eurocentric circles, the Louisiana Purchase was seen as one of the greatest land deals in history. The AdamsOns Treaty with Spain resolved the issue upon ratification in 1821. explored the Louisiana Territory and points west. The eastern boundary below the 31st parallel was unclear. When Monroe and Livingston were offered the opportunity to buy the entire territory, they could not help but be excited. 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. 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. Was the 1887 Dawes Severalty Act Successful? But in early 1803, continuing war between France and Britain seemed unavoidable. The scene caused a servant to faint, and when Lucien lingered to try to argue the point, Napoleon said to his brother that if he opposed him he would break him like a snuffbox which he smashed into the floor. The purchase doubled the size of the United States, greatly strengthened the country materially and strategically, provided a powerful impetus to . The Louisiana Purchase (French: Vente de la Louisiane, lit. Before the revolution, France had derived enormous wealth from St. Domingue at the cost of the lives and freedom of the slaves. On January 1, 1804, Haiti declared its independence. [42] In October 1803, the U.S. Treasury had some $5.86 million in specie on hand, $2 million of which would be used to pay a portion of the debts assumed from France as part of the purchase. I renounce it with the greatest regret." True False. To recap, Napoleon ultimately sold the Louisiana territory for the following reasons: In hindsight it is easy for historians to criticize Napoleons decision. 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. Perhaps the most important reason as to why Napoleon sold the Louisiana territory to the United States was the Haitian Revolution. [4] The colony was the most substantial presence of France's overseas empire, with other possessions consisting of a few small settlements along the Mississippi and other main rivers. Who sold the massive Louisiana Territory to the United States? [37][38], Effective October 1, 1804, the purchased territory was organized into the Territory of Orleans (most of which would become the state of Louisiana) and the District of Louisiana, which was temporarily under control of the governor and judicial system of the Indiana Territory. He wanted Saint-Domingue and its incredibly profitable sugar and coffee plantations restored and under French control, with the old system reinstated. a Federalist judge who wanted his commission granted. (land, gold, and to start a new life). As part of the deal, the U.S. assumed responsibility for 20 million francs ($3.75 million) of French debts owed to U.S. citizens. Browman, David L (2018). As tensions in Europe continued to grow, the unprofitable territory seemed to be more of a liability than asset. French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte ultimately sold the Louisiana territory to the United States for four reasons: the French government needed money, an impending war with Great Britain, the fallout from the Haitian Revolution, and the difficulty in maintaining a North American colony. What's more, as described by Medium, the French ruler believed that a more powerful United States was better for France. A watershed event in American history, the purchase of the Louisiana . First, the men sent to France were allowed to spend up to 10 million USD in order to buy New Orleans and, if possible, the west bank of the . Jefferson sent Livingston to Paris in 1801[9] with the authorization to purchase New Orleans. As the United States spread across the Appalachians, the Mississippi River became an increasingly important conduit for the produce of America's West (which at that time referred to the . Acquiring the territory doubled the size of the United States. Why is France sold the Louisiana Purchase to the US? It was the French who sold the Louisiana Territory to the United States. Mexico. The United States purchased the Louisiana Territory in 1803. I renounce Louisiana. [39] New Orleans was the administrative capital of the Orleans Territory, and St. Louis was the capital of the Louisiana Territory. It cannot be understated just how important the Louisiana Purchase was to the United States. Felix S. Cohen, Interior Department Lawyer who helped pass ICCA, is often quoted as saying, "practically all of the real estate acquired by the United States since 1776 was purchased not from Napoleon or any other emperor or czar but from its original Indian owners", roughly estimating that Indians had received twenty times as much as France had for the territory bought by the United States, "somewhat in excess of 800 million dollars". Alain Chappet, Roger Martin, Alain Pigeard. The failed suppression of the Haitian Revolution also diverted French troops from landing in the port city of New Orleans, a near crisis averted for the United States. Why Was Washingtons Farewell Address Important? The British had re-entered the war and France was losing the Haitian Revolution and could not defend Louisiana. The Haitian Revolution began in 1791 and lasted for over a decade. How many amendments make up the Bill of Rights? The Louisiana Purchase was a land purchase made by United States president, Thomas Jefferson, in 1803. The Real Reason France Sold The Louisiana Territory To The United States, National Museum of American History/Wikimedia Commons, National Archives and Records Administration/Wikimedia Commons. Your email address will not be published. The relatively narrow Louisiana of New Spain had been a special province under the jurisdiction of the Captaincy General of Cuba, while the vast region to the west was in 1803 still considered part of the Commandancy General of the Provincias Internas. [34] The United States Senate advised and consented to ratification of the treaty with a vote of twenty-four to seven on October 20. Jefferson justified the purchase by rationalizing, "it is the case of a guardian, investing the money of his ward in purchasing an important adjacent territory; & saying to him when of age, I did this for your good." Napoleon sold France's Louisiana territory because he needed money to fund his wars of conquest in Europe one of the terms of the Louisiana purchase was that the U.S. had to pay the whole price up front in gold. As the lands were being gradually settled by American migrants, many Americans, including Jefferson, assumed that the territory would be acquired "piece by piece." The territory also was only loosely under French control having just been transferred from Spain in 1800. Manifest destiny was in full effect. Francis Baring's son Alexander and Pierre Labouchre from Hopes arrived in Paris in April 1803 to assist with the negotiations. But although the Americans never asked for it, Napoleon dangled the entire territory in front of them on April 11, 1803. [6] The territory nominally remained under Spanish control, until a transfer of power to France on November 30, 1803, just three weeks before the formal cession of the territory to the United States on December 20, 1803.[7]. 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. U.S. ownership of the whole Louisiana Purchase region was confirmed in the Treaty of Ghent (ratified in February 1815) and guaranteed on the battlefield at the decisive Battle of New Orleans when the British sent over 10,000 of the best British Army soldiers to try to take New Orleans in a 5 month long campaign starting from September 1814 (First Battle of Fort Bowyer) to February 1815 (Second Battle of Fort Bowyer). 22755. On March 9 and 10, 1804, another ceremony, commemorated as Three Flags Day, was conducted in St. Louis, to transfer ownership of Upper Louisiana from Spain to France, and then from France to the United States. This, together with the successful French demand for an indemnity of 150 million francs in 1825, severely hampered Haiti's ability to repair its economy after decades of war. Advertisement lollol The Louisiana Territory was sold to the United States by France on December 20th, 1803, for the bargin of less than three cents per acre. Who was President at the time of the Embargo Act? Critics in Congress worried whether these "foreigners", unacquainted with democracy, could or should become citizens. At the time French leaders were preoccupied with the French Revolution and failed to suppress the rebellion quickly enough. In the year of 1803, the Louisiana purchase occurred. [57], The Louisiana Territory was broken into smaller portions for administration, and the territories passed slavery laws similar to those in the southern states but incorporating provisions from the preceding French and Spanish rule (for instance, Spain had prohibited slavery of Native Americans in 1769, but some slaves of mixed African-Native American descent were still being held in St. Louis in Upper Louisiana when the U.S. took over). First, an empowered United States could effectively act as a formidable rival to Britain. As a result, Thomas Jefferson instructed James Monroe and Robert Livingston to purchase New Orleans in 1802. Why would France decide to give up such a crucial territory for only $15 million, or the bargain basement price of 3-4 cents an acre? The formidable British navy could easily blockade the territory and seize it for themselves. [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. Without sufficient revenues from sugar colonies in the Caribbean, Louisiana had little value to him. The land that was purchased was very, very cheap. Vente de la Louisiane Expansion of the United States 1803-1804 Modern map of the United States overlapped with territory bought in the Louisiana Purchase (in white) History History Established July 4, 1803 Disestablished October 1, 1804 Preceded by Succeeded by Louisiana (New France) District of Louisiana Territory of Orleans Today part of Livingston and Monroe were only authorized to spend up to $10 million for the purchase of New Orleans and West Florida. President Jefferson's Secretary of the Treasury. 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. 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]. "[19] On July 4, 1803, the treaty was announced,[20] but the documents did not arrive in Washington, D.C. until July 14. 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. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/1833473. Adams' Vice President 4. went to France to purchase New Orleans 5. sold Louisiana to the United States 6. explored the Louisiana Territory 1. He bought the Louisiana territory from France, which was being led by Napoleon Bonaparte at the time, for 15,000,000 USD. 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. They wanted the U.S. government to establish laws allowing slavery in the newly acquired territory so they could be supported in taking their slaves there to undertake new agricultural enterprises, as well as to reduce the threat of future slave rebellions. Please feel free to fill out our Contact Form. [32] The Senate quickly ratified the treaty, and the House, with equal readiness, authorized the required funding, as the Constitution specifies. However, the territory north of the 49th parallel (including the Milk River and Poplar River watersheds) was ceded to the UK in exchange for parts of the Red River Basin south of 49th parallel in the Anglo-American Convention of 1818. The Louisiana Purchase proved popular with white Americans, who were hungry for more western lands to settle. Napoleon was reported to have said of Louisiana in his treasury minister's memoir, "To attempt obstinately to retain it would be folly.". While the United States kept Napoleon at arms length and enacted the Embargo Act of 1807 against both Britain and France, the issue of British impressment led directly to the important War of 1812, thereby indirectly helping Napoleons cause by diverting British resources from Europe. [57] As states organized within the territory, the status of slavery in each state became a matter of contention in Congress, as southern states wanted slavery extended to the west, and northern states just as strongly opposed new states being admitted as "slave states." Treasury Secretary Albert Gallatin added that since the power to negotiate treaties was specifically granted to the president, the only way extending the country's territory by treaty could not be a presidential power would be if it were specifically excluded by the Constitution (which it was not). Even the commanding General, Napoleons brother-in-law Charles Leclerc, succumbed to tropical disease as did tens of thousands of other troops.1. 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. As a result, Napoleon's view of Louisiana transformed from that of an outpost to that of a poker chip, ready to cash in. [25] The American purchase of the Louisiana territory was not accomplished without domestic opposition. Andrew Jackson. The French ruler was just about to embark on a series of devastating wars. The French Revolution and the Politics of Government Finance, 1770-1815. The Journal of Economic History, vol. Spain turned the territory over to France in a ceremony in New Orleans on November 30, a month before France turned it over to American officials. According to the Library of Congress, Napoleon did not have enough troops to occupy Louisiana while simultaneously subduing Saint-Domingue. As for France, it never seriously established a colonial presence in the Americas again. 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. Otherwise, Louisiana would be an easy prey for a potential invasion from Britain or the U.S. 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. France turned over New Orleans, the historic colonial capital, on December 20, 1803, at the Cabildo, with a flag-raising ceremony in the Plaza de Armas, now Jackson Square. This was emphasized when in the memoir of Franois Barb-Marbois, Napoleon gave up his claim to the territory saying, "Irresolution and deliberation are no longer in season. From March 10 to September 30, 1804, Upper Louisiana was supervised as a military district, under its first civil commandant, Amos Stoddard, who was appointed by the War Department. In 1763, Louis XV gave Louisiana to his cousin, Charles III of Spain. Britain B. Spain C. RussiaD. What was the famous thing Napoleon Bonaparte sold? The first westward surge of the settlement reached the: What did the South receive in the compromise over the war debts between Hamilton and Jefferson? The Louisiana Purchase (1803) was a land deal between the United States and France, in which the U.S. acquired approximately 827,000 square miles of land west of the Mississippi River for $15 million.. Who claimed the Louisiana Territory for France? In 1801, Spanish Governor Don Juan Manuel de Salcedo took over from the Marquess of Casa Calvo, and restored the American right to deposit goods. What is the eagle on the Great Seal holding in his right talon? As explained by Medium, in 1803, even before final Haitian independence, it had dawned on Napoleon that his prospects for developing an American empire were growing increasingly faint. Both present-day Arkansas and Missouri already had some slaveholders in the 18th and early 19th century. Ultimately, the French need for more money was a significant factor in Napoleons decision to sell Louisiana. Instead, the area encompasses 15 states and two Canadian provinces according to today's terms. By April 30, 1803, they hashed out an agreement where the Americans would pay $15 million, a considerable reduction, although its constitutionality was debated. Barings relayed to order to Hopes, which declined to comply, allowing the final payments to be made to France in April 1804. This situation would further expand and strengthen the British empireNapoleons worst-case scenario. [T]his little event, of France possessing herself of Louisiana, . Difficulty in Maintaining Louisiana Territory, timeline of the history of the United States, Understanding the Significance of the 1793 Proclamation of Neutrality, The Significance of the 1775 Olive Branch Petition, The Significance of the Corrupt Bargain Election of 1824, The Significance of the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions. France The first reason that Napoleon sold the Louisiana territory was that the French government was in need of money. In the end, Barings and Hopes acquired the $11.25 million in bonds for just $9.44 million. When it came to profit and geopolitical importance, Napoleon was far more interested in the Caribbean. Also, Spain's refusal to cede Florida to France meant that Louisiana would be indefensible. White House 3. [21] The Louisiana Territory was vast, stretching from the Gulf of Mexico in the south to Rupert's Land in the north, and from the Mississippi River in the east to the Rocky Mountains in the west. The Library of Congress explains how President Thomas Jefferson realized the precariousness of having France as a neighbor. Though Jefferson urged moderation, Federalists sought to use this against Jefferson and called for hostilities against France. Napoleon sold French Louisiana to the US in 1803 as the Louisiana Purchase. [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. The Lewis and Clark expedition followed shortly thereafter.