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Hypocrisy of Thomas Jefferson
A paper on the impact of the Louisiana purchase
Research question about the louisiana purchase
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“Thomas Jefferson’s moral dilemmas for the Louisiana Purchase” The Louisiana Purchase posed several moral dilemmas for Thomas Jefferson among these were many difficult factors to consider. Firstly it went against his strict constructionists views. There was also much opposition to buying the vast land. Lastly he could not ignore that if the French gained controlled of this region it could lead to severe problems that he could not ignore. This was a very big decision for President Thomas Jefferson and he was very conflicted about it but with much consideration he decided to make a deal that would end up changing the fate of American forever. One of the most vital dilemmas Jefferson faced was that purchasing of Louisiana went against all his …show more content…
A Nation built on the backs of farmers is what he truly believed in and he believed the Louisiana Purchase would ultimately meet this goal, Jefferson stated that “If we can settle happily the difficulties of the Mississippi, I think we may promise ourselves smooth seas during our time.” (Carnes, Garraty p.g 181). Another great moral dilemma Thomas Jefferson faced was the great opposition towards the Louisiana Purchase among the people and congressmen. For Northerners the idea of spending fifteen million dollars on what one Federalist described as a “Gallo-Hispano-Indian” collection of “savages and adventures” (Carnes, Garraty p.g. 181) would not only be unconstitutional due to the lack of power assigned to do so, but would only really benefit the southern and western people due to most of the land being in that region. These ideas of who would be benefiting most lead to the idea of whether this land would become one mass state or several groups of states. People were also concerned because of the possible upsetting of the balance between slave states and non-slave states. This vast land scared and excited most Americans and Senators alike and posed another potential problem for if Americans were to migrate to these lands so distant and …show more content…
The senators wanted the government to still have some control and they viewed this as something that would thin our government’s power, but the Louisiana Purchase opened the door for future leaders to take advantage of powers not specifically enumerated in the text of the Constitution lessening the influence the states had in domestic issues. (Bostian, 2001). Despite all the moral dilemmas that Thomas Jefferson faced when making the Louisiana Purchase the one thing most concerning was the idea that France may gain complete control of this area. Lead by the notorious general Napoleon Bonaparte the French posed a big threat to American trade, especially in the case of New Orleans which was one of the most important ports for trading with other countries. Jefferson’s concerns in this matter were made clear when he said “The day France takes possession of New Orleans we must marry ourselves to the British fleet and nation.” (Carnes, Garraty 2005 p.g. 179). When Jefferson considered everything set before
The number 1 president of the U.S. Is George Washington. He was a commanding officer while the American Revolution was taking place and he is still one of the main authoritative and famous people in U.S. history. His benefaction stretches out really far out maybe even compared to others in the history of America. George was incorporated two different times in Germantown taking part in history. While the rebellion was taking place (1770s) George directed the U.S. forces in the Germantown war. The way to avoid the Yellow Fever Epidemic (1773), was that the statehouse had to move to Germantown, from Philadelphia. Inside of the Germantown homestead inhabitant Major Franks, George stayed there and encountered his council, that involved Alexander
Thomas Jefferson had two options, to follow the constitution and what states has to say or to buy the Louisiana Purchase from France, and this was a dilemma. Not going through the states to get approval was a flaw saw by the people who were strong believers of the constitution. Though he himself was a strong believer in the constitution he chose to go ahead and buy the Louisiana Purchase. He knew he had to take this opportunity, for he wanted westward expansion. With that good of a mindset, Jefferson knew we would of course gain land, open up waterways, and help us grow as a country. He thought of things to benefit the U.S as a whole. He was not taking advantage of his power, nor was this was nothing as a selfish or conceited act. But was this the best for the U.S you may ask? Both Jefferson and I, think this will only benefit us.
This transaction would come to be known as the Louisiana Purchase and nearly doubled the size of the new nation. While George Washington and John Adams made efforts at westward expansion, Thomas Jefferson secured the Louisiana Purchase and initiated the Lewis and Clark expedition. According to Wulf, “maybe Lewis would find the huge mastodon roaming across the plains; discover profitable crops, flowers in exotic shapes and sizes, and trees that would soar even higher than those already encountered. Jefferson planned this expedition in the name of science, but it would also be the beginning of a distinctly American glorification of the wilderness” (Wulf, 157). The Lewis and Clark expedition and the Louisiana Purchase had such a significant impact on America’s identity.
Jefferson recognized that the purchase would be “beyond constitutional,” (Jefferson) but his desire to expand America undermined his “legal scruples” (book). The Republicans and Thomas Jefferson supported the acquisition, because it was favorable to the “immediate interests of” the “western citizens” (book). The also believed it would create a more safe and peaceful environment, in a way that would separate French and American authorities. The federalists on the other hand, disagreed with the treaty for various reasons. They were worried that westward expansion would increase wages on the Atlantic coast by “reducing and lowering the value of real estate in their region” (book). The federalists knew that the states to that would be created from the new land would be settled by Jeffersonian Republicans, ultimately establishing a stronger Republican foothold in the country. Despite the feuds between the two groups, the Senate ratified the treaty with a vote of twenty-six to six, and on December 20, 1803, America took possession of the Louisiana
The states above 35 30 latitude line in the Louisiana purchase were all free states. States below the line were slave states. Former president Thomas Jefferson saw what the potential anger build up could lead to and tried to warn the congress. Henry Clay came up with the American System which is where the government paid for road and canals. Monroe took no time shooting this idea down. Monroe believed that states and cities should pay for the roads and canals.
The Louisiana Purchase came as a surprise that neither Thomas Jefferson nor anyone else had ever dreamed of. It began with Thomas Jefferson sending two men, James Monroe and Robert R. Livingston, to Paris to negotiate the acquisition of New Orleans with the government of the feared Napoleon Bonaparte. Napoleon had roused fears once France acquired Louisiana from the Spanish. Concerned with French intentions, Thomas Jefferson took immediate action and sent his two men to negotiate. The negotiation didn’t go as intended at all. We asked to buy New Orleans, but Napoleon offered the entire Louisiana Territory. Apparently, Napoleon had little use for Louisiana. He also couldn’t spare any troops to defend the enormous amount of territory. Napoleon needed funds more than anything, so he could support his military ventures in Europe. This led to the exhilarating time of April, 1803 when Napoleon offered to sell Louisiana to the United States.
result of this purchase, the U.S. population was able to expand and increase. The Federalist favored the sale of large land parcels to wealthy speculators instead of small parcel sales to farmers and contributed to the inflation of land values. Federalists were in control so they could determine anything that they wanted as far as the land goes. Thomas Jefferson was aloud to spend 10 million dollars on the Louisiana Purchase. However, he spent 15 million dollars putting the US in a 5 million dollar debt. “In a government which is founded by the people, who possess exclusively th...
There wasn’t much issue surrounding the purchase of the Louisiana Territory. A war wasn’t even required to acquire the land as document 5 explains. The major problem was that the Federalist Party argued that the Louisiana Purchase was a worthless dessert, and the constitution did not provide for the acquisition of new land or negotiating treaties without the consent of the Senate (Document 5).
As Jefferson’s presidency wore on, the Jeffersonian Republican beliefs began drifting farther away from the original ideals they began with. Some of the decisions made by Jefferson proved to follow the loose construction of the Constitution of the Federalists. When he made the decision to purchase the Louisiana Territory, he never obtained congressional approval. He...
Once again, Jefferson changed from Republican views to Federalist views because of his realist and public official side. Jefferson knew this would help the United States grow and it would keep Louisana out of the hands of other countries in Europe. Because of the war between France and Britain, the United States wanted to perserve their neutrality. The United States could trade with either of the countries without facing attacks. Jefferson asked Congress for an embargo.
Did Thomas Jefferson make the right deal on purchasing the Louisiana Territory in 1803? I believe Thomas Jefferson made the right choice of accepting the deal Napoleon Bonaparte offered. The Louisiana Purchase was one of the biggest and cheapest land deals in United States history. The Louisiana Purchase involved two countries, the United States and France, and a big bill for the newly formed United States. Thomas Jefferson doing his best to follow the constitution would soon find it difficult to do so. When Spain gave the Louisiana territory back to France, Jefferson was hit with a dilemma. Thomas Jefferson was caught between his ideas and reality, and with the Pinckney Treaty now void, Jefferson had to find a way to get access to the Mississippi
to Europe to try to persuade the British to accept a military alliance should the
Though initially his decision was criticized, Thomas Jefferson 's pursuit of the Louisiana Purchase doubled the size of the United States, as well as impacted the economy, religion, and race of the nation.
In 1803 the United States would make the largest and possibly most controversial land purchases in American history, the Louisiana Purchase. During the years leading up to this event the United States was still trying to solidify a national identity. There were two subjects that were causing for division of the new national identity, one being westward expansion. The Northern states and Federalists opposed the idea of westward expansion while the Southern States and the Jeffersonians backed this purchase. Although there was a struggle for a single national identity and this controversial purchase did not aid in finding that single identity, it was still the right decision for the United States. By purchasing this land from the French the United States would not share a colonial boundary with the French who were continuing to gain power under Napoleon. Purchasing the Louisiana Territory would prove to be beneficial for the United States for more reason than one.
President Jefferson was instrumental in the Louisiana Purchase, which secured an area extending from Canada to the Gulf and the Mississippi to the Rockies, for fifteen million dollars. This purchase also led to the planning and organization of the Lewis and Clark expedition. However, the argument over whether or not Florida was included in the Louisiana Purchase caused many sarcastic attacks on Thomas Jefferson from members of congress.