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[[File:Louisiana_Purchase.png|thumbnail|left|250px| Louisiana Purchase]]__NOTOC__The Louisiana Purchase encompassed 530,000,000 acres of territory in North America that the United States purchased from France in 1803 for $15 million. As the United States spread across the Appalachians, the Mississippi River became an increasingly important conduit for the produce of America’s West (which at that time referred to the land between the Appalachians and the Mississippi). Since 1762, Spain had owned the territory of Louisiana, which included 828,000 square miles. The territory made up all or part of fifteen modern U.S. states between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains.

As ==Napoleon wanted to expand the French Empire in North America==The Pinckney treaty of 1795 had resolved friction between Spain and the United States spread across over the Appalachians, right to navigate the Mississippi River became an increasingly important conduit and the right for the produce of America’s West (which Americans to transfer their goods to ocean-going vessels at that time referred to the land between New Orleans. With the Appalachians Pinckney treaty in place and the Mississippi). Since 1762, Spain had owned the territory weak Spanish empire in control of Louisiana, which included 828,000 square miles. The territory made up all or part of fifteen modern U.S. states between American politicians felt comfortable that the Mississippi River and United States’ westward expansion would not be restricted in the Rocky Mountainsfuture.

The Pinckney treaty of 1795 had resolved friction between Spain and This situation was threatened by Napoleon Bonaparte’s plans to revive the United States over French empire in the right New World. He planned to navigate recapture the Mississippi valuable sugar colony of St. Domingue from Toussaint Louverture and then use Louisiana as the right granary for Americans to transfer their goods to ocean-going vessels at New Orleanshis empire. With Louverture not only led the Pinckney treaty in place original revolt but had become the governor of Saint Domingue and the weak Spanish empire had declared self-rule in control of 1801. France acquired Louisiana, American statesmen felt comfortable that the United States’ westward expansion would not be restricted from Spain in 1800 and took possession in the future1802.

This situation was threatened by France wanted to end Louvertre's rule and reinstate slavery. Napoleon Bonaparte’s plans to revive the sent a massive 30,000 troops French empire expeditionary force commanded by his brother-in the New World-law Charles Victor Emmanuel Leclerc to St. He planned Domingue to recapture accomplish this goal. The French force's size suggests that the valuable sugar colony army was not just sent to take control of St. Domingue from a slave rebellion, and then use but Napoleon clearly wanted the army to occupy the Louisiana as the granary Purchase for his empireFrance. This army put France acquired Louisiana from Spain in 1800 and took possession in 1802, sending a large French army to St. Domingue and preparing to send another to New Orleansdirectly at odds with the United States' ambitions.

Westerners became very apprehensive about having the more-powerful French ==Why France's ambitions in control of New OrleansNorth America fall apart?==[[File: President Thomas Jefferson noted, “There is on the globe one single spot, the possessor of which is our natural and habitual enemy. It is New Orleans1200px-Leclerc_Expedition.”png|thumbnail|left|250px|Leclerc's Haitian Expedition]]

Westerners became very apprehensive about having the more-powerful French in control of New Orleans: President Thomas Jefferson noted, “There is on the globe one single spot, the possessor of which is our natural and habitual enemy. It is New Orleans.” In addition to making military preparations for a conflict in the Mississippi Valley, Jefferson sent James Monroe to join Robert Livingston in France to try to purchase New Orleans and West Florida for as much as $10 million. Failing that, they were to attempt to create a military alliance with England.

MeanwhileUnfortunately for France, the French Army yellow fever decimated Napoleon's army of 30,000 troops in St. Domingue (Haiti) during its expedition. Similarly, ten years earlier, British troops suffered a similar fate on the island and had casualty rates as high as 70%. France was being decimated by utterly unprepared to deal with yellow fever. Additionally, and the war between France and England still threatenedposed a serious threat to French ambitions in North America. The deadly outbreak of yellow fever ultimately ended Napoleon 's North American dreams. He decided to give up his plans for Louisiana, and offered a surprised Monroe and Livingston the entire Louisiana territory of Louisiana for $15 million. Although this far exceeded their instructions from President Jefferson, they agreed.

==Conclusion==When news of the sale reached the United States, the West was elated. President Jefferson,however, was in a quandary. He had always advocated strict adherence to the letter of the Constitution, yet there was no provision empowering him to purchase territory. Given the public support for the purchase and the obvious value of Louisiana to the future growth of the United States, Jefferson decided to ignore the legalistic interpretation of the Constitution and forgo the passage of a Constitutional amendment to validate the purchase. This decision contributed to the principle of implied powers of the federal government.

<div class="portal" style='float:left; width:35%'>====Related Articles===={{#dpl:category=History of the Early Republic|ordermethod=firstedit|order=descending|count=10}}</div> * Republished from [https://history.state.gov/| Office of the Historian, United States Department of State]* Article: [https://history.state.gov/milestones/1801-1829/louisiana-purchase| Louisiana Purchase, 1803] [[Category:US State Department]] [[Category:Wikis]][[Category:United States History]][[Category:History of the Early Republic]] [[Category:18th Century History]] [[Category:Political History]] [[Category:Diplomatic History]]