Ch. 6 Spanish Louisiana Pt 4
Napoleon Bonaparte After killing the French king, French general Napoleon Bonaparte became dictator of France He wants Louisiana back
Treaty of San Ildefonso Fall of 1800 Napoleon forced Spain to SECRETLY give Louisiana back to France. Spain could not fight the French military. Spain still ran the colony until the French could get enough military to Louisiana Rumors circulate & President Thomas Jefferson is very worried that France wants to attack the U.S.
The U.S. Becomes Concerned
WWJD: What Will Jefferson Do? Jefferson knew he couldn’t win a war with France for control of the Mississippi River & New Orleans Jefferson would try to BUY the land Robert Livingston worked out a deal for the land and James Monroe went to France to talk to Napoleon.
Napoleon Sells!! He agrees to sell Louisiana to the United States Napoleon agrees because: France is broke & he needs money to fight England He gets money & gets rid of a colony he doesn’t need. Napoleon lost Saint Domingue, it’s last colony in North America. ** Napoleon makes this decision in the bathtub!!**
The Louisiana Purchase April 30, 1803 Jefferson allows Monroe & Livingston to purchase Louisiana for $15 million. About 3 cents per acre & doubles the size of the U.S. 15 states will be made. U.S. borrowed the money from England!!
Louisiana Purchase
Assimilating Louisiana The U.S. and Louisiana were both concerned. Most U.S. people were English speaking Protestant Most Louisianans were Catholic and spoke French, Spanish or Creole Jefferson sent William C.C. Claiborne to take possession of Louisiana
3 Flags in 3 Weeks Spanish Flag, French Flag & American Flag
U.S. Flag Raising at the Cabildo