Land for SaleLand for Sale Napoleon & the Louisiana PurchaseNapoleon & the Louisiana Purchase

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Presentation created by Robert MartinezPrimary Source Content: America’s HistoryImages as cited.

In 1799, Napoleon Bonaparte In 1799, Napoleon Bonaparte seized power in France and seized power in France and

began an ambitious campaign began an ambitious campaign to a French empire in Europe to a French empire in Europe

and in America.and in America.

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In 1801, he coerced Spain In 1801, he coerced Spain into signing a secret treaty into signing a secret treaty that returned Louisiana to that returned Louisiana to

France.France.

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A year later, he directed A year later, he directed Spanish officials in Louisiana Spanish officials in Louisiana to restrict American access to to restrict American access to

New Orleans, violating the New Orleans, violating the terms of Pickney’s Treaty.terms of Pickney’s Treaty.

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Meanwhile, Napoleon planned Meanwhile, Napoleon planned an invasion to restore French an invasion to restore French

rule in Haiti a rich sugar island rule in Haiti a rich sugar island seized in 1793 by rebellious seized in 1793 by rebellious

black slaves led by Toussaint black slaves led by Toussaint L’Ouverture.L’Ouverture.

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Napoleon’s aggression Napoleon’s aggression prompted Jefferson to prompted Jefferson to

question his party’s pro-question his party’s pro-French foreign policy.French foreign policy.

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““The day that France takes The day that France takes possession of New Orleans,” possession of New Orleans,”

President Jefferson warned, “we President Jefferson warned, “we must marry ourselves to the must marry ourselves to the

British fleet and nation.”British fleet and nation.”

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Jefferson feared that the Jefferson feared that the French might close the French might close the

Mississippi River to western Mississippi River to western farmers, threatening his vision farmers, threatening his vision

of an expanding yeoman of an expanding yeoman republic.republic.

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He instructed, Robert He instructed, Robert Livingston, the American Livingston, the American

minister in Paris to minister in Paris to negotiate the purchase of negotiate the purchase of

New Orleans.New Orleans.

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Simultaneously, Jefferson Simultaneously, Jefferson sent James Monroe to sent James Monroe to Britain to negotiate an Britain to negotiate an

alliance in case of war with alliance in case of war with France.France.

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By 1802, the French invasion of By 1802, the French invasion of Haiti was faltering in the face of Haiti was faltering in the face of disease and determined black disease and determined black

resistance, a new war threatened in resistance, a new war threatened in Europe, and Napoleon feared an Europe, and Napoleon feared an American invasion of Louisiana.American invasion of Louisiana.

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Acting with characteristic Acting with characteristic decisiveness, the French ruler decisiveness, the French ruler

offered to sell not only New offered to sell not only New Orleans but the entire Orleans but the entire

territory of Louisiana for $15 territory of Louisiana for $15 million dollars.million dollars.

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The Louisiana Purchase The Louisiana Purchase forced the president to forced the president to

reconsider his strict reconsider his strict interpretation of the interpretation of the

Constitution.Constitution.

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Jefferson had always maintained Jefferson had always maintained that the national government that the national government

possessed only the powers possessed only the powers “expressly” delegated to it in the “expressly” delegated to it in the

Constitution, but there was no Constitution, but there was no constitutional provision for adding constitutional provision for adding

new territory.new territory.

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In this case, a pragmatic In this case, a pragmatic Jefferson accepted a loose Jefferson accepted a loose

interpretation of the interpretation of the Constitution, using the treaty-Constitution, using the treaty-

making powers authorized making powers authorized there to complete the deal there to complete the deal

with France.with France.

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A scientist as well as a statesman, A scientist as well as a statesman, Jefferson wanted detailed Jefferson wanted detailed

information about the physical information about the physical features of the new territory, its features of the new territory, its

plant and animal life, and its plant and animal life, and its Native peoples.Native peoples.

Species collectedDuring the

Lewis & ClarkExpedition.

In 1804, he sent his In 1804, he sent his personal secretary, personal secretary,

Meriwether Lewis, to Meriwether Lewis, to explore the region with explore the region with William Clark, an army William Clark, an army

officer.officer.

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With the help of Indian guides, With the help of Indian guides, Lewis and Clark and their party of Lewis and Clark and their party of

American soldiers and frontiersmen American soldiers and frontiersmen traveled up the Missouri river, traveled up the Missouri river,

across the Rocky Mountains, and, across the Rocky Mountains, and, venturing beyond the bounds of the venturing beyond the bounds of the

Louisiana Purchase, down the Louisiana Purchase, down the Columbia River to the Pacific Ocean.Columbia River to the Pacific Ocean.

 

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After two years, they returned After two years, they returned with the first maps of the with the first maps of the

immense wilderness and vivid immense wilderness and vivid accounts of its natural accounts of its natural

resources and inhabitants.resources and inhabitants.

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