Monday, October 29, 2007

Louisiana Purchase

In 1800, Napoleon Bonaparte (France), persuaded Spain to return the Louisiana Territory. Spain recieved it from France in 1762. This alarmed the Americans. Jefferson thought that buying New Orleans and western Florida from the French, would prevent a strong French presence, and keep the U.S. from being forced into an alliance with Britain. Napoleon sold the Louisiana Territory to the U.S. for $15 million. Jefferson wasn't sure if the purchase was constitutional; he wasn't sure the Constitution gave the government power to obtain new territory. Jefferson later submitted the treaty finalizing it; the Senate ratified it. The Louisiana Purchase doubled the size of the U.S.

The Louisiana Purchase helped the U.S. in a major way. By doubling the size of the country, it provided more space for more people. If there are more people, the population becomes more diverse. This also helped the Americans learn more about the Native American tribes that lived in the area that was purchased. The U.S. also gained scientific knowledge of unknown plants and animals.

1 comment:

K.Kelley said...

You did a good job talking about the Louisiana Purchase, but where was the part about you actually being there. It seems like you paraphrased out of the book; talking like a narrator instead of an actual person that was there. And you didn't answer the question in the second paragraph.