The Pros And Cons Of The Louisiana Purchase

The Louisiana Purchase was a “land deal” made between France and the U.S. in December of 1803, where France sold America 828,000 miles of land along the west side of the Mississippi River for 15 million dollars (approximately 4 cents per acre). People regard it as Thomas Jefferson’s greatest achievement because of how drastically it changed the United States. The purchase greatly expanded America and brought many other benefits along with it. Although it was definitely a major benefit to the United States, even Jefferson had his doubts about the purchase. But despite many doubts, the U.S. made the decision to ratify the purchase, and because of that decision, America has changed for the better. Although there were a few doubts at the time,

“By purchasing the territory from France, the United States was directly antagonizing Spain”(3). The newly expanded borders of the U.S. were right along the area the Spanish owned, potentially resulting in war, which the American citizens certainly did not want. Along with the potential conflict with Spain, came the possibility of conflict with the Native Americans already inhabiting the land. Aside from these potential international problems, there were also internal conflicts. “Prior to the Louisiana Purchase, a geographical and political balance existed between slave and free states, with neither side possessing the population or political power to force an agenda upon rival states”(3), but the addition of new states would completely overthrow the

Without the Louisiana Purchase, many major factors contributing to the growth of the U.S. would most likely never have happened, and it would still be a small, minor country rather than a major world power. “Americans might turn their eyes southward and create states out of Cuba, Central America, or even Latin America… The Civil War may even be avoided altogether with slavery being phased out in the late 19th century”(6). Most likely, the United States would press to find land in other areas, but none of them would be as beneficial and necessary as the Louisiana Purchase. Even without it, Jefferson would “Attempt to seize New Orleans, but if the French have a secure base to send troops to Louisiana to, it could get ugly for the U.S.”(7). America would never get the chance to purchase land as beneficial to them as the Louisiana