The Louisiana Purchase

The Control of New Orleans

• Before the Louisiana Purchase, the port of New Orleans was controlled by France.
• The main reason for Jefferson wanting to purchase New Orleans was to ensure American access to the Mississippi River and the Port of New Orleans, which was crucial for trade.

The Negotiation of the Purchase

• Jefferson sent James Monroe and Robert Livingston to Paris to negotiate the purchase of New Orleans.
• The outcome of James Monroe's negotiations in Paris was the signing of the Louisiana Purchase Treaty.

The Louisiana Purchase

• The United States paid $15 million for the Louisiana Territory in the Louisiana Purchase.
• The Louisiana Purchase increased the size of the United States by approximately 828,000 square miles, effectively doubling the country's territory.

Impact on American Trade

• Jefferson's concerns regarding the port of New Orleans and American trade were that it was a critical route for commerce and that without it, American trade would be severely hindered.
• The main problem that the United States faced in terms of ports on the Gulf of Mexico was the lack of access to the Mississippi River, which was controlled by France.

Constitutional Issue

• The Louisiana Purchase raised a constitutional issue regarding the power of the federal government to acquire new territory, which was not explicitly stated in the Constitution.