Transcript The Louisiana Purchase

The Louisiana Purchase
Chapter 11 Section 2 Pages 361-366
Problems west of the Appalachian
Mountains
• Spain owned the lower Mississippi River
and New Orleans
• This caused problems for Americans living
west of the Appalachian Mountains
• Americans depended on the river to ship
their goods to the East and the West
Indies
The Louisiana Territory
• The Louisiana Territory- Land west of the
Mississippi river to the Rocky Mountains
• In 1800 Spain had ceded (granted control
of) this area to France
Jefferson's Fears:
• When Jefferson heard about this he feared
that Napoleon Bonaparte (Dictator of
France) would want to take over part of
the American Colonies (including the
Florida's)
• Trade would be disrupted on the
Mississippi river by France
Jefferson’s Plan
• Jefferson did not want to see more American
land in the hands of Europeans
• Robert Livingston (ambassador to France) was
given permission to offer to buy New Orleans
and West Florida
• James Monroe (a Diplomat and former VA
Governor) was sent to help negotiate the
purchase
• The House of Representatives only wanted to
spend $2 million but Jefferson authorized $10
million
Revolution in the Caribbean
• A revolt in French territory (Saint
Dominique) was able to over throw
Napoleon’s army and become the
Republic of Haiti
• This as well as the French war with Britain
ended Napoleon’s interest in a French
empire in America
The Louisiana Purchase
• Napoleon preferred to sell the territory to
America then see the British take control
of it
• He also was in need of money to help pay
for the war with Britain
• In 1803 the Livingston and Monroe agreed
to buy the territory for $15 million
• This almost doubled the size of the United
States