The Greatest Land Deal in the History of the United States! The Louisiana Purchase

Where Was the Original Louisiana Territory?

French 1682 — French explorers claimed the entire Mississippi River drainage and named it for King Louis V — New Orleans, established by a private French trading company for the shipment of exports from the Mississippi Valley, mainly furs, tobacco, and indigo, became the capitol of the Territory. New Orleans

British 1763 — In the Treaty of Paris, which concluded the Seven Years' War (known as the "French and Indian War" in North America), major land exchanges are made. All of Louisiana east of the Mississippi, except New Orleans, goes to Britain. New Orleans and all of Louisiana west of the Mississippi goes to Spain. Mississippi River New Orleans SPANISH WEST BRITISH EAST LOUISIANA.

Spanish 1783 — Following the American War of Independence, Britain cedes its old Louisiana Territory land east of the Mississippi, to the United States, and gives Florida back to Spain. Mississippi R. New Orleans and Florida U.S. West of the Mississippi East of the Mississippi SPANISH

Spanish New Orleans 1795 — Charles Pinckney, U.S. Minister to Spain, negotiates an agreement with Spain allowing Americans to use New Orleans as a duty-free port for foreign commerce, for renewable three-year periods. Charles IV, King of Spain Si! si! America may use my beautiful port.

Napoleon and the Mosquitoes Napoleon, an aggressive, ambitious military genius. Mosquito, an aggressive, yellow-fever-carrying insect. O K Guys, I’m taking over! That’s what you think!

Why Does Napoleon Want Louisiana? Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte has a vision of a renewed western empire for France. Control over the vast Louisiana Territory would halt the westward expansion of the young United States and would supply French colonies in the West Indies with the goods they needed.

Napoleon’s Scheme His scheme includes the recapture of Louisiana from a very weak Spain. Napoleon takes a break from his conquests in Europe to send French troops to the West Indies. I LOVE power!

The BIG Secret 1800 — Secretly, under pressure from Napoleon Bonaparte, King Charles IV of Spain, gives ALL of Louisiana, including New Orleans, back to France, on condition that it not be sold or given to any other country. Weak Spain and strong France secretly sign the Treaty of San Idelfonso. First Consul Napoleon Bonaparte Oui, Charlie. For dis, I weel geeve your son- in-law a leetle Italian kingdom.

Thomas Jefferson Meanwhile….back in the U.S.A.

1801 When Thomas Jefferson became president in 1801, two out of every three Americans lived within fifty miles of the Atlantic Ocean. Only four crude roads crossed the Allegheny Mountains. The U.S. ended on the eastern banks of the Mississippi River. Florida was governed by Spain Ohio River Allegheny Mountains Spanish Florida Mississippi River

The Secret is Discovered 1801 — President Thomas Jefferson is shocked when he learns the secret Treaty of San Idelfonso. Considering strong French control over New Orleans to be a serious threat, he instructs his Minister to France in Paris, Robert R. Livingston, to try to buy New Orleans and Florida, or at least western Florida. Jefferson just wants a little port. Robert Livingston, Minister to France

Jefferson Stands Up to Napoleon Also, Jefferson let it be known that the U.S would ally itself with England and fight France if the French start a war on the continent. The French decline to sell New Orleans or western Florida. I weel have it all!! Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte

Toussaint L’Overture Two years later…the French army off the coast of Florida in the West Indies is having some problems. Haiti Florida The West Indies

Napoleon’s Plan Collapses Napoleon's plan collapses when his Caribbean army is defeated by yellow fever carrying mosquitoes and a brilliant black general named Toussaint L’Overture who has been leading a slave revolt on French Haiti for 12 years. I LOVE power! General Toussaint L’Overture

The Best-Laid Plans… The remaining French troops are forced to return to France defeated. Thus preventing them from reaching their ultimate destination--Louisiana-- and from being able to defend it. As Napoleon's New World empire disintegrates, the loss of French Haiti makes Louisiana unnecessary. I hate mosquitoes !

What Jefferson Wanted I just want a little port near the Mississippi River.

Jefferson Persists President Jefferson, learning that the defeated French might be willing to consider selling some land after all, sends Monroe to Paris with instructions from Secretary of State, James Madison, to buy a small piece of land. Congress appropriates $2 million. You can count on me to secure the deal, Mr. President. James Monroe, Minister to Spain and France

The French Reply Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Perigord, the French Minister of Foreign Relations, declines the offer. $2 million? No deal! Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Perigord, the French Minister of Foreign Relations

The BIG Surprise! Needing money to prosecute his campaigns elsewhere on the globe, Napoleon changes his mind and decides to offer to sell ALL of Louisiana, (including New Orleans) to the United States. You may have zee whole territory. I’m going home.

Let’s Make A Deal Robert Livingston is prepared to pay only $2 million for a PORT such as New Orleans. Talleyrand says Louisiana would be worthless to France without the port city, and asks Livingston to make an offer. Louisiana Purchase negotiations

Jefferson Acts Quickly Although there are no provisions in the Constitution for buying territories, Jefferson, a Republican, has Congress appropriate $10 million. The Federalist Party is very unhappy. I will stretch my presidential power ‘till it cracks! President Thomas Jefferson

The Final Offer How about $15 million for ALL of it? Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Perigord, the French Minister of Foreign Relations Robert Livingston, Minister to France Let’s see James, Congress only gave us $10 million. James Monroe, Minister to France and Spain

A Waste of Money? Amazed by the offer, Jefferson accepted and rushed the treaty through Congress, in spite of doubts about its constitutionality. Federalists attacked the purchase not only as a blatant use of executive power, but as a waste of money. Nevertheless, the treaty was signed. Louisiana Purchase Treaty

What Jefferson Got April 30, the United States negotiates the purchase of the Louisiana Territory including the port of New Orleans from France for $15 million. With a stroke of a pen America doubled in size, making it one of the largest nations in the world. $15,000,000!

A Sweet Deal! The sale included over 600 million acres at a cost of less than 3 cents an acre in what today is the better part of 13 states between the Rocky Mountains and the Mississippi River.

Without Shedding A Single Drop of Blood! For President Thomas Jefferson it was a diplomatic and political triumph. In one fell swoop the purchase of Louisiana ended the threat of war with France and opened up the land west of the Mississippi to settlement. The Transfer of Louisiana in St. Louis, 1804.

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