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

Where Was the Original Louisiana Territory?

Who Claimed the Louisiana Territory? Native Americans French British Spanish Americans

France held a claim for 80 years. Shape Shifting France held a claim for 80 years.

British 1763 — In the Treaty of Paris which concluded the French and Indian War, major land exchanges were made. All of Louisiana east of the Mississippi River - except the port city of New Orleans - was given to Britain. New Orleans and all of Louisiana west of the Mississippi River was given to Spain. SPANISH WEST BRITISH EAST LOUISIANA . Mississippi River New Orleans

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

Spain held a claim for 38 years. Shape Shifting Spain held a claim for 38 years.

Why Did Napoleon Want Louisiana? Around 1800, French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte had 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 I LOVE power! His scheme includes the recapture of Louisiana from a very weak Spain. Napoleon took a break from his conquests in Europe to send French troops to the West Indies. In exchange, Napoleon agreed to give Spain a small kingdom in Italy. The treaty was made in 1800; the territory was officially ceded to France in 1802. Secretly…the Spanish king and Napoleon signed a treaty - Spain gave France back all of Louisiana, including New Orleans, on condition that it not be sold or given to any other country.

France held a claim for 3 years. Shape Shifting France held a claim for 3 years.

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

1801 Mississippi River 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. western boundary ended on the eastern banks of the Mississippi River. Florida was owned and ruled by Spain. Allegheny Mountains Ohio River Spanish Florida

Western U.S. Territories The half-million Americans (one out of 10) who already lived west of the Appalachian Mountains felt they had found their own “national” interests. Out West, we frontiersmen have our own agenda. APPALACHIAN MTS. Ha! Ha! In the East, we have all the good port cities

Western U.S. Territories Many people along the Mississippi River viewed themselves as the seeds of an independent nation that would tap into the world marketplace, not by going east to the Atlantic seaboard, but by following the Ohio and Mississippi river system down to the Gulf of Mexico.

Jefferson’s Plan Jefferson knew the inhabitants of this region posed a risk of secession from the United States. After all, the nation, only 18 years old, was born of rebellion. He was determined to obtain the vital trading port of New Orleans for the United States, in part to prevent the West from breaking away. Port of New Orleans (1870)

The Secret is Discovered Jefferson just wants a little port. 1801 — President Thomas Jefferson was shocked when he learned about the secret treaty between France and Spain. Considering strong French control over New Orleans to be a serious threat, he instructed his Minister to France in Paris, Robert R. Livingston, to try to buy New Orleans and Florida or at least western Florida. Robert Livingston, U.S. 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 started a war on the continent. The French declined to sell New Orleans or western Florida. I weel have it all!! Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte

Toussaint L’Overture Florida The West Indies Haiti Two years later…in 1803 the French army off the coast of Florida in the West Indies was having some problems.

The Best-Laid Plans… I hate mosquitoes! The remaining French troops were 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 disintegrated, the loss of French Haiti made Louisiana unnecessary.

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

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

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

You may have zee whole territory. I’m going home. The BIG Surprise! You may have zee whole territory. I’m going home. Needing money to continue his military campaigns elsewhere in the world, Napoleon changed his mind and decided to offer to sell ALL of Louisiana (including New Orleans) to the United States.

Let’s Make A Deal Minister Robert Livingston was prepared to offer 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 I will stretch my presidential power ‘till it cracks! Although there were no provisions in the Constitution for buying territories, Jefferson - a Democratic-Republican (formerly of the Anti-Federalists) - had Congress appropriate $10 million. The Federalist Party was very unhappy. President Thomas Jefferson

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

Louisiana Purchase Treaty 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 deliberate use of executive power, but as a waste of money. Nevertheless, the treaty was signed. Louisiana Purchase Treaty

What Jefferson Got April 30, 1803 - the United States negotiated with France for the purchase of the Louisiana Territory, including the port of New Orleans for $15 million. Upon taking possession of the Louisiana territory on December 31,1803, 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 a large part of the land area 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. The purchase of the Louisiana Territory ended the threat of war with France and opened up the land west of the Mississippi to American settlement. The Transfer of Louisiana in St. Louis, 1804.

The Heart of America: New Lands to Explore The Lewis and Clark Expedition 1804-1806