What was the Louisiana Purchase?

1. What was the Louisiana Purchase?

2. A Secret Treaty In 1800, Spain made a secret treaty, or written agreement, with France. Spain gave Louisiana back to France. Napoleon Bonaparte, the French ruler, wanted Louisiana out of British (English) control.

3. President Jefferson In 1801, Thomas Jefferson became the third President of the United States. He grew concerned when he learned about the French treaty between Spain and France. Farmers shipped their goods down the Mississippi River to the French-owned port of New Orleans.

4. President Jefferson wanted to guarantee American access to New Orleans and the Mississippi River. In 1803 he offered to buy Louisiana for $15 million. Napoleon agreed. In March 1804 in St. Louis, the French gave Louisiana to the United States.

5. This Louisiana Purchasedoubled the size of the United States. It also added to the nation’s resources – land, timber, water, minerals, animals. Jefferson told Congress that Americans would spread “the blessings of freedom and equal laws.” However, he did allow slavery in the new territory.

6. Louisiana Purchase • An area of land bought by President Jefferson that doubled the size of America. Back to text