What was the Lousiana Purchase? Why did France want to sell this to the US?

Answer 1

The Louisiana Purchase has been described as the "greatest real estate deal in history" . In 1803, The United States government purchased the Louisiana Territory fron Napolean I of France for 60 million Francs, or, about $15,000,000. $11,250,000 was paid directly and the remainder was covered by French debt to U.S. citizens.

The Louisiana Purchase was consumated in order to secure free navigation of the Mississippi River. President Jefferson sent two negotiators - James Madison and Robert Livingston to France to convince Napoleon I to sell the city of New Orleans. Time was of the essence because many viewed Napoleon's acquisition of the Louisiana Territory as a means to invade the United States. Napoleon offered not only New Orleans, but the entire Louisiana Territory for sale. Because a constitutional amendment would take too long, and because Napoleon wanted the deal finalized quickly, Jefferson held the issue to a vote. Americans overwhelmingly voted in favor of purchasing the Louisiana Territory. Its 800,000 square mile area quickly doubled the size of the United States. Soon after the acquisition, Jefferson sent Meriwether Lewis and William Clark on an expedition through the new lands in which hundreds of new animals were discovered as well as Native American tribes and a route to the Pacific Ocean.

Bonaparte's constant focus on Europe as the state for his exploits and as the theatre of French greatness naturally reduced his ability to view the western hemisphere as important in its own right. To Bonaparte, Europe was the world. In the final analysis, the Louisiana Territory was not the restoration of a French colonial empire in North America, but a mere money- making enterprise designed to grease the wheels of a mighty military machine.

When James Monroe arrived in Paris in April 1803, Bonaparte had not revealed his plans to sell Louisiana but needed money quickly in case war with Great Britain arose. On April 10, Napoleon met with Francois Barbé-Marbois, his minister of finance, and approached him with a plan to sell all of Louisiana to Livingston and Monroe.

The next morning, Livingston was offered all of Louisiana on behalf of the United States. Surprised by this offer, he reiterated that the United States had only intended to purchase New Orleans and the Floridas but was reminded by the French foreign minister Talleyrand that without New Orleans, Louisiana would not be worth much to France.

Answer 2

The Louisiana purchase is what doubled the US in size. It was purchased in 1803 by president Thomas Jefferson from Napoleon Bonaparte of France for $ 15 million.
France had to sell this territory because of debt.
However this purchase was not made without controversy. Remember Jefferson’s strict constitutional views? Well this purchase strayed from the specifications of the constitution. Nowhere does it say that you can purchase or sell such large tracts of land. Because of this Jefferson ended up modifying his constitutional views.

Answer 3

The Louisiana Purchase was the acquisition by the United States of about 530,000,000 acres (828,000 sq mi or 2,100,000 km²) of territory from France in 1803, at the cost of about 4¢ per acre (7¢ per ha); totaling US$15 million or ₣80 million. Including interest, America finally paid $23,213,568 for the Louisiana territory.

Answer 4

Napoleon sold the the lands known as the "Louisiana Purchase"
to help finance his wars. Europe was more important to him than France's possessions in the New World. Anyway he knew that France couldn't defend it. This doubled the size of the U.S.

Answer 5

Louisiana Purchase was when Napoleon sold Louisiana (essentially all of the mid-west in the modern U.S.) for 15 million dollars in 1803.

France wanted to sell it to the U.S. because it wasn't useful to them anymore. France lost the island of Santa Domingo (modern day Haiti and the Dominican Republic) around the turn of the century. Napoleon intended Louisiana to provide food for Santa Domingo, which would earn Napoleon money with its sugar industry. When he lost Santa Domingo, he saw no further use for Louisiana, so he sold it to the U.S.

Answer 6

In addition to many of the above mentioned factors the territory would essentially be difficult for the French to access in times of war because there sea power was not strong enough against the British. To try to hold onto a territory that offered no advantage and would just likely fall to an enemy made the decision easier.

Answer 7

The Louisiana purchase was a huge plot of land west of the Mississipi River that Napoleon sold to finance his wars.

Answer 8

One argument as to why Napoleon had to sell Louisiana is that his troops in the Caribbean suffered horrendously from disease, mainly yellow fever. I think his army there was reduced to something like a tenth of its original size. Some authorities hold that had this not happened, he could have hung on to Louisiana with who knows what results.

Answer 9

The Louisiana purchase become the acquisition by technique of the USA of about 530,000,000 acres (828,000 squaremi or 2,one hundred,000 km²) of territory from France in 1803, on the cost of about 3¢ consistent with acre (7¢ consistent with ha); totaling US$15 million or ?80 million. which includes pastime, u.s. finally paid $23,213,568 for the Louisiana territory.[a million] The land offered contained all of present-day Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Minnesota south of Mississippi River, a lot of North Dakota, the huge majority of South Dakota, northeastern New Mexico, northern Texas, the parts of Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado east of the Continental Divide, and Louisiana on both area of the Mississippi River, which includes the city of latest Orleans. as well, the acquisition contained small parts of land that would want to ultimately develop into area of the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan. The land protected contained in the acquisition contains round 23% of the territory of the famous u . s . a ..[a million] the acquisition become an major second contained in the presidency of Thomas Jefferson. on the time, it confronted kinfolk competition as being probable unconstitutional. Jefferson offered Louisiana because he felt uneasy about France and Spain having the flexibility to dam American investors get entry to to the port of latest Orleans. on the grounds that Napoleon become the ruler of France, he become in administration of Louisiana (which become many cases larger than present day Louisiana). He initially meant to apply Louisiana as a "breadbasket," yet determined it would want to be extra effective to promote it. at the same time as he become contained in the tub, of all places, Napoleon offered Louisiana to the USA of u.s.. The Napoleonic Code governs the State of Louisiana to this present day. WHY? further reasoning for why Napoleon divested himself of that land seem in “Louisiana purchase,” by technique of Donald Barr Chidsey. On web page 134, he applies Ambassador Robert Livingston's reasoning: without both a extra effective army than tremendous Britain’s, or some type of way station between France and Louisiana, Napoleon might want to no longer wish to carry the land there. “as well to, he become dedicated to an invasion of england.” (Henry Adams echoes this reasoning - the French were dedicated to absolutely defeating the English and installation their own colonies both in u.s., Africa, or elsewhere.) to attain his larger objectives, Bonaparte mandatory money and he mandatory to concentration his energies.

Answer 10

War debts! .............. AND it was too expensive to protect such a large acquisition that was so far from home.