Essentials of United States history . Louisiana. Napoleon intended to make Louisianaan important colony of France. 240. The Louisiana Purchase. — Spain had previouslyagreed to allow New Orleans to be an open port of depositto the people of the United States. In 1802, however, justbefore Louisiana was turned over to France, the Spanishgovernor closed the port of New Orleans to American naturally alarmed the people of the Ohio and the Mis-sissippi valleys, since for them the port of New Orleans wasthe one doof to the commerce of the world. Jefferson, toavoid any conflict with France
Essentials of United States history . Louisiana. Napoleon intended to make Louisianaan important colony of France. 240. The Louisiana Purchase. — Spain had previouslyagreed to allow New Orleans to be an open port of depositto the people of the United States. In 1802, however, justbefore Louisiana was turned over to France, the Spanishgovernor closed the port of New Orleans to American naturally alarmed the people of the Ohio and the Mis-sissippi valleys, since for them the port of New Orleans wasthe one doof to the commerce of the world. Jefferson, toavoid any conflict with France, proposed to buy from Francethe island of New Orleans. This island is formed by theIberville River, Lake Pontchartrain, the Gulf, and the Mis-sissippi. If the island could be bought, he reflected, thenthe United States would hold the left bank of the river toits mouth and the Mississippi could never be closed to us byany foreign power. Accordingly, Robert R. Livingston, ourminister to France, was authorized by the President to buy. 202 ESSENTIALS OF UNITED STATES HISTORY the island of New Orleans. Monroe, also, was sent over toaid him and to hasten the negotiations. At this time Napoleon was on the eve of a war withGreat Britain, and he feared that power would capture NewOrleans and take from France the whole province. He there-A stretch ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^ Louisiana to the United States, and theof Consti- treaty was signed early in 1803 by our ministers,tutionai Livingston and Monroe. Mr. Jefferson found° ^ nothuig in the Constitution giving authority topurchase more territory, but the treaty was so obviously forthe good of the country that he signed it, and it was rati-fied liy the Senate. Congress made the necessary api)ro-priations, and the price, fifteen milUon dollars, was paid. We thus doubled our territory and out of the newly acquiredsection have come twelve great states. This purchase was thej^gjyg most important transaction of Jeffersons eightStates from years as Presi
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