Was The Louisiana Purchase An Anti-Federalist?

The Louisiana Purchase made by President Thomas Jefferson in 1803 caused him to face many moral dilemmas as in his own beliefs as an Anti-Federalist, making the government more powerful than the states, believing that if something isn’t in the Constitution it officially does not exist and he could choose the best option for the States. As an Anti-Federalist, a President, and a founding father, Thomas Jefferson was a very important figure in shaping America. Thomas Jefferson was labeled as an Anti-Federalist, yet some of his actions were questionable to his beliefs. The Louisiana Purchase changed the way some of the colonists looked at Jefferson, most colonists believed the purchase of the land benefited them based on the facts that it doubled

Jefferson himself stated he wanted to add to the Constitution so this purchase would be considered constitutional. Article IV of the Constitution, which Jefferson tried to change, said new states could be added, but says nothing about taking on foreign territories. Jefferson argued that a new constitutional amendment was needed to make the purchase of the land seem ethical. In 1803, Jefferson wrote to his cabinet members about changing the Constitution. It can be found in one of his letters that, “It has not given it power of holding foreign territory, and still less of incorporating it into the Union. An amendment of the Constitution seems necessary for this” (Jefferson to John Dickinson, billofrightsinstitute.org). Jefferson drafted an amendment that would make the purchase of Louisiana constitutional, but his cabinet members argued that there was no need for a new amendment, and Congress ignored his draft. Jefferson then dropped the idea of changing the Constitution because he was afraid in the time it took to write a new amendment Napoleon would change his mind about selling the territory to the United States, or somehow alter the deal in France's favor. He submitted the Louisiana Purchase Treaty to the Senate where it was quickly

Jefferson making the decision to grow the nation contributed to our idea that America should span “from sea to shining sea.” He took a risk doing what he thought the states would want. A risk that would grant us a stronger alliance with the French, and which would allow more land for Americans to do what they wish. Jefferson had hoped for a world where the government is not in full control, he wanted to be the opposite of Alexander Hamilton, who Jefferson disagreed with on most subjects. He was able to put his principles aside on order to improve upon America. Many citizens of the nation saw this as a great opportunity to grow the United States, and that this would allow a further expansion of the