Louisiana Purchase Essay

The Louisiana Purchase is one of the most momentous accomplishments in the history of the United States. The attainment of the Louisiana territory is arguably the largest land purchase in the world. General Horatio Gates stated this about the Louisiana Purchase “let the land rejoice... for you have bought Louisiana for a song” (Harriss). This attainment of new territory led to additional significant events in history that helped shape America. As a result of the Louisiana territory the way of government was also challenged in what a president may or may not do and if their powers extended past what was specifically laid out in the constitution. The United States acquired new territory from France as the result of the Louisiana Purchase. The

Napoleon Bonaparte of France knew that a war with England was on the horizon and France would need a lot of money for the impending, therefore Napoleon became open to the idea of selling the territory. The United States “in addition to making military preparations for a conflict in the Mississippi Valley, Jefferson sent James Monroe to join Robert Livingston in France to try to purchase New Orleans and West Florida for as much as $10 million.” (“Louisiana”) With Napoleon’s army being decimated by disease, Napoleon offered the entire Louisiana territory of eight hundred twenty-eight million square miles of land for fifteen million dollars. The United States acquired new territory from France as the result of the Louisiana Purchase, “Although this far exceeded their instructions from President Jefferson, they agreed” (“Louisiana”) to the price for the entirety of the Louisiana territory. This purchase is important to American History due to the significant increase in the amount of land owned by the American government. Furthermore the purchase of the Louisiana territory was significant because as Jefferson stated “The fertility of the country, its climate and extent, promise in due season important aids to our treasury, an ample provision for our posterity, and a wide-spread field for the blessings of freedom”

The purchase of the Louisiana territory is important, the land stretched from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains, nearly doubling the size of territory owned by America. Consequently, more land meant more opportunities for the common people to own land, owning land equated to success and was the dream of most people who had moved to the Americas. Although the amount of land the American government acquired was significant, the resources that came with the land were also important and was “rich in gold, silver and other ores, as well as huge forests and endless lands for grazing and farming, the new acquisition would make America immensely wealthy” (Harriss). Subsequently a land that is rich in resources, attracted people to settle in the Louisiana territory. The territory included the Mississippi River, which was mainly used by farmers for transporting goods to the port in New Orleans on the Gulf of Mexico. “The gains were dramatic, as the territory acquired would in time add 13 new states to the union. In 1812, Louisiana became the first state to join the union from land bought in the purchase.”