Why was Jefferson given monumental credit for the Louisiana Purchase?

Question

Couldn't Jefferson predict the inevitability of US expansion to include the Louisiana territory? Perhaps he wanted to avoid war with France. Still, why not just annex it and claim it for the US? Seems to me that Jefferson just wasted a lot of money giving it to Napoleon when he could have just taken the land.

Answer 1

He was incorrectly given credit because the democratic party wanted to continue his false legacy.

He sent James Monroe to talk to Napoleon about buying SHIPPING RIGHTS in the port of New Orleans, he personally did not believe that the Constitution allowed for the buying or taking of land from other nations to add to the USA.

Napoleon believed that Britain, Spain or the US would take the Louisiana Territory by force, and as he did not have the ability to transport sufficient troops and supplies to N. America to defend it, he thought that it was better to sell it to America then to lose it outright. So Monroe was surprised when his offer to buy shipping rights was turned into a counter-offer by Napoleon into buying the entire territory.

Monroe INSTANTLY recognized the importance of such and offer and drafted a treaty for signature and ratification by the US Senate. When news reached America, Jefferson was outraged and wanted to kill the treaty, but James Madison, the father of the USC, convinced him that it was within the powers of the USC and that it would be a terrific thing for America as it would remove a world power from our borders.

The REASON Jefferson did not just annex the territory was that he believed that republicanism was best in a small country and the Louisiana Purchase would increase the US beyond the abilities(in his diseased mind) of the people of the USA to govern their country responsibly.

whale

Answer 2

Because in 1801, Spain and France signed a secret treaty ceding Louisiana to France. France suddenly posed a potential threat to America. There was a fear that if America did not purchase New Orleans from France, it could lead to war. The change of ownership of this key port resulted in its closing to Americans. Therefore, Jefferson sent envoys to France to try and secure its purchase. Instead, they returned with an agreement to buy the entire Louisiana Territory. By completing this purchase, Jefferson had to put aside his principles because the allowance for this type of transaction was not expressly listed in the Constitution. Waiting for a Constitutional amendment might cause the deal to fall through. Therefore, Jefferson decided to go through with the purchase. Luckily, the people of the United States basically agreed that this was an excellent move.

Answer 3

I have to agree with you on that aspect, at the rate that the United States was growing and expanding at the time ( with the belief system of "manifest destiny" ), they didn't essentially have to pay so much money just to gain the land, although I cannot remember how much money Jefferson paid to purchase it. All they had to do was over throw Napolean anyways since he saw it coming to him. France wouldn't wage war with the United States at the time , they had too much respect for them since the past was that the French gave aid to the United States in the French and Indian war when they were fighting against the British and so forth. Also, they might of had some very little issues, but I think that if Jefferson was to annex the land instead of purchasing it, they maybe would have had a little war but not so much that would start any sort of world war or anything, because I believe the United States was militarily too powerful at the time since their gains of the lands and so forth. Anyhow, it was best that they just purchased the land, it's on e of the few things they have done right from then to now since they have been established as a nation-state and on. So, thats my take on the situation, although it very much so is arguable on several aspects. Thanks for your time.

Answer 4

As the United States had expanded westward, navigation of the Mississippi River and access to the port of New Orleans had become critical to American commerce, and the proposal of Spain to cede the land to France was a cause of great concern. Napoleon, who took power in 1799, aimed to restore France's presence on the continent. Spain's King Charles IV signed a decree transferring the territory to France and the Spanish agent in New Orleans, acting on orders from the Spanish court, revoked Americans' access to the port's warehouses.
While some urged war, to take the territory by force, Jefferson wanted to establish a foreign policy that would show Europe that the new United States was capable of peacefully establishing itself, dealing fairly with other countries and able to use statecraft as a more viable alternative to arms.
The Louisiana Purchase, approved by treaty in April of 1803, transferred from France to the United States over 800,000 square miles of land. Overnight it doubled the size of the United States. The land purchased eventually made all or part of fifteen American states: Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, North Dakota, Texas, South Dakota, New Mexico, Nebraska, Kansas, Wyoming, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Colorado and Montana.

Answer 5

The Louisiana Purchase was Jefferson's greatest achievement. Jefferson had to put aside his own beliefs of less government power to make this deal. This deal doubled the size of the United States and thwarted off an invasion by France which would have been disastrous. The purchase opened up exploration to the west.

Answer 6

Thomas Jefferson, being and honorable man, recognized the value in buying the land and avoiding a confrontation with the French. Why fight for it when you can have it given to you at a reasonable price? This was mostly a purchase of the City of New Orleans and the Mississippi than a land deal. It made perfect sense considering the inevitable expansion of the US.

Answer 7

Because he had a good press agent -- his newspaper people lauded him. Remember the LA Purchase was technically illegal and unconstitional. Today Geo Bush would be impeached for such a move! Jefferson had to lie to Congress about it -- he was only authorized to negotiate Natchez to the Sea for a Mississippi outlet for Western agriculture! Napolean needed cash to go to war against the Brits. So he sold it all. Jefferson had no authority so he got an illegal loan from -- of course, Britsh Banks -- to make up the difference from what he got from Congress to buy the water outlet. The Brit Banks gladly made the loan since war is good biz for banks, even if it is against their own country! So the true story is better than the fiction, huh?

Answer 8

He paid next to nothing for all that land and no, you don't want to get into a fight with Napoleon Bonaparte.