The Louisiana Purchase and its Consequences Essay - 994 Words

The Louisiana Purchase could be known as one of the greatest real estate deals of all time. On April 30, 1803, America expanded from seventeen states to a country almost doubled that size for the price of fifteen million dollars. That equates to about three cents per acre. About 828,000 square miles of western territory that became six states and parts of nine additional present day states. (History.com Staff 2009) The Louisiana Purchase was a result of many factors that took place. A couple of these factors are the Spanish control of New Orleans and Napoleon’s desire for the Caribbean Island of Haiti. The boundaries of the territory consist of the Mississippi River on the east, the Gulf of Mexico on the south, the Rocky Mountains on†¦show more content†¦(Randolph n.d.) In 1802 Spain again blocked the United States for passing goods through New Orleans again. President Thomas Jefferson, at the time, had concerns about this since this was not the first time Spain r estricted usage of New Orleans. Under the Jefferson administration, the United States became aware of the secret Treaty of San Ildefonso which said that Spain would give back the Louisiana Territory back over to the French. This sparked major concern; based on the history France and their aggression over territory, this was considered a threat to the US western border. (Dictionary of American History 2003) This was an attributing factor that identified the need for the United States to purchase the port city of New Orleans. If it wasn’t for Napoleon’s vision for Haiti, along with Haiti’s struggle for independence, there may have not been a Louisiana Purchase. Napoleon Bonaparte knew that Haiti was an extremely valuable asset to France because it provided two thirds to France’s foreign trade. At that particular time the colony of Haiti had an abundance of wealth, in part, due to sugar production. Working on the sugar plantations in Haiti were several t housands of slaves. The slaves were treated very brutally which lead to the Haitian slave rebellion led by Toussaint LOuverture. Inspired by the French Revolution, LOuverture led a very gory revolt which was a result of how badly the slaves, including him,Show MoreRelatedThe Legacy Of Louisiana Purchase1286 Words   |  6 PagesLouisiana Purchase, more prominently known as an acquisition that doubled the size of the country we reside in, was much more than just a simple purchase, much less an easy one. Thomas Jefferson had to consider all the aspects, consequences, and effects that the decision of buying 2,144,500 square kilometers of land would have on the country (Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia 1). This purchase brought many improvements to the country, but also had unexpected consequences that would transform the countryRead MoreIn The Year Of 1803, The U.S. Had Just Acquired The Louisiana900 Words   |  4 Pageshad just acquired the Louisiana Territory. The 3rd president Thomas Jefferson bought the Louisiana Territory from France for $15 million. All eyes were on the Louisiana affair. Some Americans disagree with the U.S. gaining such big piece of land. They thought that it was not worth the money. But the Louisiana Purchase benefited America in many ways. The purchase doubled the size of the U.S. and it made the U.S. one of the biggest countries in the world. The Louisiana Purchase had made America biggerRead MoreAnalysis Of A Wilderness So Immense By John Kukla1487 Words   |  6 PagesImmense by John Kukla explores the events leading up to and the enduring effects of the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. 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The Louisiana Purchase was one of the most influential events in American history because it helped not only double the sizeRead MoreThe Mexican -american War And The Annexation Of The Republic Of Texas Essay1659 Words   |  7 PagesSome examples are the Louisiana purchase from1803 and the Spanish Florida annexation. One of the most significant and controversial in the antebellum years was the Texas annexation which was a result of the War between Mexico and the war of independence by Texan rebels on the late 1830’s and 1840’s. Therefore, the annexation of the Republic of Texas exis ted from 1836-1845 produced controversy and consequences on both sides of the border. In order to understand the consequences of the war, it is importantRead MoreThe Louisiana Purchase Treaty1363 Words   |  6 PagesThe Louisiana Purchase impacted the United States significantly. 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