why did jefferson want to buy it?

Answer 1

Jefferson wanted New Orleans because it was a major port that American goods went through. However it was a good idea to buy the whole territory to prevent the Spanish or British from being on our western border.

Answer 2

Jefferson had the foresight to realize that this nation was going to expand all the way to the Pacific ocean. He also knew that Napolean was in a financial strain. He wanted to do as much as possible to prevent another war with a European nation....So when the opportunity came to buy the land, he jumped on it. While it did not include the southwest (texas to California and Oregon and Washington), it did include the heartland of the country). He actually tried to work out a deal for that to....since that failed, we ended up fighting for the rest.

Answer 3

Talk about a deal you couldn't refuse. The US gains control of the Mississippi River anchored by the port of New Orleans. It also eliminated the threat of French expansion and provided security to the newborn republic. The deal was incredibly cheap and not even Jefferson realized the scope and future importance of the Louisiana Purchase as it became the basis of our nation from "sea to shining sea."

Answer 4

he wanted to buy New Orleans and its immediate surroundings, not the entire Louisiana territory (wich is larger than the current state of Lousiana).