Thomas Jefferson and the Louisiana Purchase - Essay Example

Thomas Jefferson and the Louisiana Purchase Introduction The Louisiana Purchase by Thomas Jefferson is one of the major occurrences that have completely changed the course of the world history. Despite the fact that reaching such a decision was definitely bound to cause misunderstandings and possible protests from some of the white settlers who considered the move unconstitutional and ill-intended, Thomas Jefferson was decisive in accomplishing the Louisiana Purchase, owing to the fact that without access to the territory, then, the lives of the people in the then United States of America would be difficult economically, since it was hard to use the land for the much needed commerce and transportation (Burgan, 2). France owned the whole of the Louisiana territory, which extended to a massive 600 million, which effectively divided some parts of the United States, with the western region completely secluded from access to the east over the land, and thus making the regions on the west of Appalachian Mountains unable to move their goods to the markets through the use of land, since it would be very expensive and practically impossible (The Louisiana Purchase transcriptions treaty, n.p.). Therefore, the region wholesomely depended on the Mississippi River to transport their products to the, markets, and thus the action by the French to block the USA access to the Orleans Port in the Mississippi River completely threatened the economy of the USA, since it would no longer be possible for the country to continue undertaking the much needed trade, which was entirely depended by the USA economy for its growth (Corrick, 33). Thus, simply put, the Louisiana Purchase decision by Thomas Jefferson represents one of the most pragmatic and decisive decision-making in history. The Louisiana Purchase defines one of the largest land deals that have ever been entered in the world history, which entailed the purchase of over 600 million acres of land by the USA from France, a move that completely changed the world history in two notable ways. First, the Louisiana Purchase served to double the size of the United States and consequently reduce the size of France territory (Nugent, 15). This has defined the size of the USA to present day, which would otherwise be smaller in size, while France would by now be an enormous territory (Blumberg, 22). Secondly, considering the enormous size of the territory that was purchased, and further considering the strategic position of the land, which had the greater control of the Mississippi River as well as Port Orleans, which is a strategic facility for commerce and transport, the purchase has defined the status of the United States, as a major economy in the world, and also as a superpower (Burgan, 11). However, the occurrence is also a major influence in the shift of the previous stance held by President Thomas Jefferson, who was initially an anti-federalist, thus opposed to the unification of the different State under one federal government (Cerami, 108). It is the need to have the Louisiana territory co-joined as a part of the whole American union, owing to its strategic position for transport infrastructure and commerce that influenced President Thomas Jefferson to change is perception, and opt to have the whole territory united under one jurisdictional control, to enhance the economic prosperity of America (Lewis, 85). Nevertheless, there are two major factors that define the Louisiana Purchase as one of the pragmatic decisions ever made in the history of the USA. First, the Louisiana Purchase was marred by controversy, considering that there was internal and external resistance from the white settlers in the USA and the inhabitants of the French territory respectively, but President Thomas Jefferson still went ahead and implemented the decision (Nugent, 13). This happened despite the fact that it caused the aggravation of secession move that was being advocated by the white settlers, to move out of the Union, poising their argument on the fact that; the purchase of new lands was against the provisions of the USA constitution (Corrick, 36). Secondly, the decision to implement the Louisiana Purchase happened at a terribly wrong time for the USA economy, owing to the fact that it required a huge amount of $15 million to purchase the lands, yet such an amount was very huge for the economy of the then USA to bear, considering that it would raise its debt by a very big margin (The Louisiana Purchase transcriptions treaty, n.p.). However, notwithstanding the two major factors that were definitely working against the implementation of the Louisiana Purchase decision, President Thomas Jefferson considered the need for prosperity of the USA trade and economy, as the major factor that overrides the interest of all opposing parties involved in blocking the President from implementing the decision, and therefore went ahead to authorize the Louisiana Purchase, against all these odds (Lewis, 88). The Louisiana Purchase is yet a major move towards the implementation of a decision that was not expressly provided under the United States constitution. Despite the fact that President Thomas Jefferson was considered as one of the staunch advocates of constitutionalism, as can be traced in his role in writing the declaration of independence (Corrick, 24). However, the Louisiana Purchase presented the President with an entirely new challenge, considering that it called upon him to implement a decision that was not expressly provided for by the USA constitution, against his own principles, and against the wish of many of the white settler who were active participants in the establishment of the USA constitution that effectively brought colonialism to an end. Faced with this challenge, President Thomas Jefferson was forced to retract on his previous assertions, which held that any constitutional mandate that was not expressly provided for under the constitution was no longer the mandate of the federal government to interpret, but the mandate of the States (Blumberg, 37). In advocating for this assertion, President Jefferson had previously opposed the establishment of the United States National Bank under the provisions of the USA constitution, clause 18, Section 8 of Article I, which implied that the federal government could create such a body, but the provision was not express (Nugent, 18). However, the economic challenge that the country was facing was dire, that it forced President Jefferson to backtrack on his previous held provision, and opt to implement a move that was not expressly provided under the USA constitution, by authorizing the Louisiana Purchase on the basis of a provision of the USA constitution Article II, Section 2 that authorized the federal government to enter into treaties with foreign powers (Burgan, 17). Another reason that presents the Louisiana Purchase as a major decision in the history of the world is that it was a decision that was made in violation of more than three countries’ legal provisions and wishes, and yet it still pulled through. First, the decision to sell the Louisiana territory to the USA was against the provisions of the 1800 Third Treaty of San Ildefonso, which prohibited France from selling or otherwise extending its owned territory to foreign powers, yet Napoleon went ahead and sold the Louisiana territory to the USA, in due disregard of such legal provisions (Cerami, 141). Secondly, the sale of the Louisiana territory was against the legal provision that was entered into by the Spanish and the French governments, which provided that the French government that acquired the territory from the Spanish government, from extending or selling the Louisiana region to any other country (Lewis, 97). However, considering that Napoleon needed money badly to be able to keep up the fight against the British, he found an opportunity to obtain a large amount of money that would support the bid, without further straining the country’s economy, and thus decided to enter into a sale agreement. Despite the protest that was staged by the Spanish regarding the sale, nothing could stop the Napoleon from selling the territory due to the money France need for the war, while nothing could stop President Jefferson from continuing with the purchase deal, since the territory was fundamental for the economic prosperity of the USA (Nugent, 9). The Louisiana Purchase also emerge as a major decision that has changed the history of the world, considering that it was a most effective deal that was ever entered into in the previous centuries, that made it possible to alleviate a looming war that was very eminent between France and the USA (Burgan, 44). The fact that France had effectively blocked the Louisiana territory from the access of the Americans, and especially the fact that France had closed the Port of Orleans from the use by the Americans in transport of their commodities to the market, was a sure cause of a future territorial war between the two countries, considering that the Americans living in the west regions of the federal states, as well as those living on the west side of Appalachian Mountains did not have any either cheap and practical means of transport, other than through the use of the Mississippi River and the Port of Orleans (The Louisiana Purchase transcriptions treaty, n.p.). The options available for the USA to gain the access and use of the Louisiana territory, and most especially the Port of Orleans which was a strategic infrastructure for transport, was either through conquest of the territory, or through a mutual agreement between nations, in form of a treaty (Blumberg, 54). While the application of the treaty was faced with much resistance from the Spanish and the French citizens that were living in the region, as well as internal resistance with the USA, it was the most plausible means of acquiring the rights to use the territory, considering that the acquisition of the territory through conquest would still be raising problems until present day. Therefore, the Louisiana Purchase is a major decision in the history of the world that effectively served to avert a looming territorial conflict between the USA and France, and thus avert future crisis regarding the same (Cerami, 205). Further, the Louisiana Purchase stands as a major decision in the history of the world, due to the fact that it was a major milestone towards reinforcing ethnic and communal integration, that later defined the future constitutional changes in the USA and around the world, for the recognition and acknowledgement of the rights of the minorities (Burgan, 48). While the Louisiana Purchase was faced with major resistance from various quarters, the most fundamental factor that influenced the resistance was the fear of integrating the ethnic communities from the territory, which consisted of the French, the Spanish and the Free Blacks, with an argument that it was not proper to grant USA citizenship to those ethnic communities that were living in New Orleans, considering that they were not well acquainted with the concept of democracy, and thus they would not be easily integrated (Blumberg, 23). The other major resistance that sparked such resistance in regard to the ethnic tensions was an argument that the addition of the new territory would effectively bring in more slave-holding states, which would certainly create a clash with the white settler states of the south, an aspect that increased the tension between the South and the Northern states, creating a wave of session threats from the Southern States (Cerami, 176). However, the mere fact that the ethnic minorities from the new Louisiana territory were effectively granted the American citizenship and fully integrated into the democracy and constitutionalism concepts, the minorities gained further grounds to advocate for their rights, something that gained momentum in the world throughout the 19th and the 20th century starting from the USA. Thus the Louisiana Purchase served as a major decision, acting as a basis for advancing the rights of the minority (Corrick, 51). Conclusion Thomas Jefferson and the Louisiana Purchase is a concept that represents a major historical decision in various perspectives, since it has effectively served to influence the shape and history of the world. The Louisiana Purchase defines one of the biggest land deal ever entered in the modern history of the world. In addition, the Louisiana Purchase is a decision of its kind that saw the advent of the interpretation of the USA constitution in a non-express way, while also representing a decision that was ever implemented against the provisions and wish of three countries, since the Louisiana Purchase was implemented against the will of Spain and sections of France and the USA. Finally, Louisiana Purchase decision marks the turning point of the rights advocacy for the minorities in the world, since it gave a basis for the minorities to consider full integration and citizenship rights, which were not previously granted. Simply put therefore, Thomas Jefferson and the Louisiana Purchase is a concept that defines one of the pragmatic and decisive decision-making in history. Works Cited Blumberg, Rhoda. What's the Deal? Jefferson, Napoleon and the Louisiana Purchase. Washington, DC: National Geographic Society, 1998. Print. Burgan, Michael. The Louisiana Purchase. Minneapolis, Minn.: Compass Point Books, 2002. 1-48. Print. Cerami, Charles A. Jefferson's Great Gamble. Sourcebooks, Inc., 2003. 112-207. Print. Corrick, James A. The Louisiana Purchase. San Diego: Lucent Books, 2001. Print. The Louisiana Purchase transcriptions treaty between the United States of America and the French Republic. National Archives and Records Administration. Retrieved November 30, 2013 fromhttp://www.archives.gov/exhibits/american_originals/louistxt.html Lewis, James E. The Louisiana Purchase: Jefferson's Noble Bargain. UNC Press Books, 2003. 85-112. Print. Nugent, Walter. Habits of Empire: A History of American Expansionism. Random House, 2009. Print. Read More