The Louisiana Purchase 1803

Purchase of over 2 million square kilometres of land from France (Napoleon) in 1803 by the Jefferson administration.

US paid $15 million for the land as well as to settle outstanding debts to France, incurred during the war of independence. Payment was carried out via the Barings Bank in London.

Land encompassed territory between the Mississippi river and the Rocky mountains, covering what are now the states of: Mississippi, Alabama, Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana, Oklahoma, Colorado and Louisiana.

Jefferson’s reasons to purchase
Port of New Orleans was crucial to American trade. Commerce between the South and the North could take place via the Mississippi river or Gulf of Mexico and the eastern sea board. Jefferson was keen to wrest control of this territory from French and Spanish jurisdiction and sent James Monroe and Robert Livingstone to Paris.

Napoleon’s reasons to sell
France seemed likely to lose the war in Saint Domingue. The slave uprising, led by Toussaint L’overture, was in its final stages with France set to lose it’s major source of resources in the Caribbean. Without raw materials from the slave colony, a French colony in Louisiana was no longer worth keeping.

Napoleon also planned to invade Britain and needed the money to fund what would be the first Napoleonic War.

Quotes
“We have lived long but this is the noblest work of our lives…”
Robert Stevenson

“This accession of territory affirms forever the power of the United States, and I have given England a maritime rival who sooner or later will humble her pride”

Napoleon

Thomas Jefferson

April 13 1743 (a year after Newton died) – July 4 1826 [83] (a year before Beethoven died)

1760: Studied Philosophy and mathematics from College of William and Mary in Virginia. Philosophically influenced by John Locke, Francis Bacon and Isaac Newton.

1768: Built his neo-classical estate and plantation called Monticello.

1774: Spurred into revolutionary zeal by the coercive acts imposed by the British Parliament. Jefferson published A Summary View of the rights of British America which brought him to national attention and won him a place as a delegate on the continental congress in 1776.

1776: Principal author of the DOI. Founded idea of America as the ‘empire of liberty’ whose responsibility it was to spread freedom around the world. Jefferson’s criticism of slavery in the first draft was removed by delegates from South Carolina and Georgia.

1779: Governor of Virginia during war of independence.

1783: after war of independence, America is ruled by various congresses until Washington is elected president in 1789. Jefferson during this time (1785-89) becomes ambassador to France and lives in Paris.

1790: Secretary of State to George Washington. Disagreed fundamentally with Alexander Hamilton over fiscal policy, taxation and the extent to which government should interfere in the lives of its citizens. Forms Democratic-Republican party with James Madison.

1796: Lost election to John Adams, who raised taxes and passed the Alien & Seditions Act during the Quasi war (1798-1800) with France. Jefferson described the A&SA as a violation of 1st amendment.

1800: Becomes president. Wages Barbary War 1801-05 against state-funded North African pirates. Founded Military academy at West Point 1802. Believed in forced removal of native Americans from territories.

Vice president first term: Aaron Burr, second term: George Clinton

1803: Louisiana Purchase from France for $15 million. Lewis and Clark Expeditions 1804-6 to chart the newly acquired territory.

1825: Founded University of Virginia with campus centred around a library modelled on the Roman Pantheon.

Had a lisp. Hated giving speeches. Donated 6000 books to create Library of Congress.

An abolitionist who owned slaves. Believed to have fathered children with Sally Hemings, one of his slaves.

Second from the left on Mount Rushmore (constructed 1927-41).