Louisiana Purchase and France Research Paper

Louisiana Purchase

One of the most important events in the history of the United States is the Louisiana Purchase, which had significant impact on the nation's geography. The shape and course of the history of the United States was changed when Thomas Jefferson bought the Louisiana territory. The impact of this event on the shape and history of the United States is that it almost doubled the size of the country. As a result of its impact on the size and geography of this country, the Louisiana Purchase was one of the most important land transactions in history. This event occurred in 1803 when the United States purchased a land estimated to be 828,000 square miles in the west of the Mississippi River for $15 million from France. To this extent, an understanding of America's history and development, particularly in the early years, involves examining the Louisiana Purchase and its impact on the country.

Background of the Louisiana Purchase

The Louisiana Purchase is an event whose history can be traced back to the 1760s following the presence of Spain in the Mississippi River and the likelihood of France to control this region. In 1795, a conflict regarding maneuvering or navigating Mississippi had been resolved through a treaty in which the use of the river by the United States was recognized by Spain (Monticello par, 3). This treaty also recognized the right and freedom of America to deposit goods in New Orleans for transportation to vessels that traveled on the ocean. However, Spain may have quietly reserved New Orleans for several years as the country increased her pacific dispositions despite recognizing America's right to use this place.

While Spain's presence was not provocative due to this agreement, President Thomas Jefferson's desire to gain territory from Span was threatened by the likelihood of neighboring a more potent France, which was led by Napoleon Bonaparte. After France surrendered its possessions in North America when the French-Indian War came to an end, areas in west of the Mississippi River including Louisiana and New Orleans were transferred to Spain in1762. During this period, Britain took control of French territories that were located east of the Mississippi. The election of President Napoleon as French president in 1799 generated significant challenges to this arrangement because he sought to restore the country's presence on the continent.

Napoleon's attempts to re-establish France's influence over the continent reached fever pitch when the Louisiana situation emerged. This crisis occurred in October 1802 when King Charles IV of Spain signed a decree that transferred the Louisiana territory to France and Spanish agents in New Orleans. This decision created a crisis since Spain had earlier signed a treaty with the United States to recognize America's right to use Mississippi River and New Orleans for some of its activities. King Charles IV's decision was prompted by a court order from Spain that rescinded United States' right to access or utilize the port's warehouses. Consequently, the decision generated concerns and outrage in the United States, which resulted in the Louisiana crisis. President Jefferson sought to resolve this crisis through diplomacy whereas other factions wanted the declaration of war and secession in order to be utilized in resolving the issue.

Negotiations in the Louisiana Purchase

American policymakers had for a long period of time been comfortable that the nation's westward expansion would face no challenges in the future since Spain, which controlled it, had a weak empire (Office of the Historian par, 2). These assumptions were soon challenged by Napoleon's plans to re-establish France's presence and control in the continent. To counter these efforts, President Jefferson sought to resolve the ensuing crisis through diplomacy, which in this case entailed purchasing this territory from France. Efforts…