Pros And Cons Of The Louisiana Purchase

As America was developing as a new, independent country, many topics were up for debate. The Constitution was created to answer most of them, but many problems arose that people had trouble defining constitutional or unconstitutional. One of the major issues was the purchasing of the Louisiana Territory from France. The Louisiana Purchase was a worthwhile purchase for America because of the new resources it brought, it doubled the size of the country, strengthened the relationship with the Native Americans, and gave America control of both sides of the Mississippi River. When Meriwether Lewis and William Clark went on their expedition of the territory, they reported an abundance of lakes and live animals that could support a large number …show more content…
As a developing country, it was essential for America to expand westward. The larger the nation became, the stronger and more stable it looked to other countries. The expansion of the United States brought a multitude of benefits as well. It increased trade, strengthened our economy. Document F, a map of the Lewis and Clark expedition shows the vast 50 million acres America would be gaining. It being labeled with rivers, important cities and other territories show that it is in a prime location. It’s near the Spanish for trade, near St. Louis, the Mississippi and Missouri rivers and will expand our country …show more content…
Though America was allied with France, it is dangerous to have another country controlling trade just a river’s width away. There could be surprise attacks or even a trade monopoly put on by France. According to James Madison (Document C) “It will be of great importance also to take the regulation and settlement of that Territory out of other hands, into those of the U.S who will be able to manage both for general interest and conveniency.” This excerpt, along with the whole document, serves the purpose of convincing Robert Livingston to agree to purchase the land. This letter was written right as America was deciding to say yes or no to France. His main purpose was to state that the purchase favors liberty, saves expenses and America needs to have control over the Mississippi River. Madison also believed in a loose interpretation of the constitution, which is a bias to why he supported the Louisiana Purchase. Along with the Mississippi River, America would gain New Orleans, an important port for trade. Having the port and the river would increase trade, importations and exportations and bring profit into America. Bringing profit into the new nation would also be essential to paying off war debts to England as