Through history people believed that some choices made by presidents were unconstitutional or they abused their power as president. The purchase of Louisiana made by Thomas Jefferson is one of the events that happened in history were people believed that the choice he made to purchase Louisiana was unconstitutional. The purchase of Louisiana made by Thomas Jefferson was constitutional and he didn’t abuse his power as president. There was nothing in the constitution that said the president couldn’t buy land from foreign countries. He bought Louisiana to avoid future war, collect new resources, and lastly it the purchase would expand land.
On April 30, 1803 the land of Louisiana that was owned by Spain then given to France, was bought by Thomas Jefferson, president of the United States that current time. Thomas Jefferson who was a strict constitutional follower was shamed and argued upon saying that he shouldn’t of have bought the land from a foreign country. Thomas Jefferson bought it from French minister Charles Maurice de Talleyrand. Jefferson knew that he had messed up on buying it but had many reasons to do so. To expand America and avoid the future war that was to come if Thomas Jefferson didn’t buy Louisiana. Thomas Jefferson was a man who followed the constitution very strictly. But when he bought the Louisiana territory from France it caused a major uproar. People said that the president didn’t have such power to make a decision like that. Also people said that it was unconstitutional. But there was nothing in the constitution that said president couldn’t buy land from foreign countries. Jefferson gave a letter or speech to John Breckinridge; he said “The constitution has made no provision for our holding foreign territory, still less for incorporating foreign nations into our union.” What Jefferson meant by this speech or letter is that the constitution does not allow incorporating a foreign nation into the U.S union. But to basically say that the U.S could buy land and have it is a part of the U.S. People thought that Thomas Jefferson bought Louisiana without reason, they were wrong. Jefferson bought it so he could end a war that never even started and gain power. “The acquisition of Louisiana by giving the exclusive navigation of the Mississippi, it avoids the burthens & sufferings of a war, which conflicting interests on that river would inevitably have produce, at no distant period” (Thomas Jefferson to Legislature ). Jefferson was making a valid point to the legislature of Tennessee on December 24, 1803. Jefferson was pointing out that the region of the Mississippi River had fertile land to hold provide settlements for farming. This would attract the attention of the U.S and France. People would have fought over this land causing a war. If they were to go to war both sides would have lost many people. Jefferson later said, “I had rather ask an enlargement of power from the nation, where it is necessary, than to assume it by a construction which would make our power boundless” (Jefferson to Cary Nicholas). Jefferson meant that buying the territory from France would give the nation more power and look intimidating with its size. With the current power that America had at the time, no one would dare to start a war. With the purchase of Louisiana came great land. Jefferson knew he made a smart move when purchasing the mass land of Louisiana. "The acquisition of approximately 827,000 square miles would double the size of the United States." With this sweet deal, France proposed, Jefferson had to take the deal but at a cost. Although the …show more content…
People were angry that the president did a action that would surpass the president’s power. Also many believed that the president shouldn’t allow other nations to join the U.S and incorporate their government.” It destroys the perfect union contemplated between the original parties, by interposing an alien and a stranger to share the powers of government with them…” (Speech by Representative Roger Griswold) Roger was saying that if Thomas Jefferson was to buy Louisiana, France would probably try to strike dealing and propose that they should have their ruling of government be combined with the U.S government to change a few
On April 30, 1803 the land of Louisiana that was owned by Spain then given to France, was bought by Thomas Jefferson, president of the United States that current time. Thomas Jefferson who was a strict constitutional follower was shamed and argued upon saying that he shouldn’t of have bought the land from a foreign country. Thomas Jefferson bought it from French minister Charles Maurice de Talleyrand. Jefferson knew that he had messed up on buying it but had many reasons to do so. To expand America and avoid the future war that was to come if Thomas Jefferson didn’t buy Louisiana. Thomas Jefferson was a man who followed the constitution very strictly. But when he bought the Louisiana territory from France it caused a major uproar. People said that the president didn’t have such power to make a decision like that. Also people said that it was unconstitutional. But there was nothing in the constitution that said president couldn’t buy land from foreign countries. Jefferson gave a letter or speech to John Breckinridge; he said “The constitution has made no provision for our holding foreign territory, still less for incorporating foreign nations into our union.” What Jefferson meant by this speech or letter is that the constitution does not allow incorporating a foreign nation into the U.S union. But to basically say that the U.S could buy land and have it is a part of the U.S. People thought that Thomas Jefferson bought Louisiana without reason, they were wrong. Jefferson bought it so he could end a war that never even started and gain power. “The acquisition of Louisiana by giving the exclusive navigation of the Mississippi, it avoids the burthens & sufferings of a war, which conflicting interests on that river would inevitably have produce, at no distant period” (Thomas Jefferson to Legislature ). Jefferson was making a valid point to the legislature of Tennessee on December 24, 1803. Jefferson was pointing out that the region of the Mississippi River had fertile land to hold provide settlements for farming. This would attract the attention of the U.S and France. People would have fought over this land causing a war. If they were to go to war both sides would have lost many people. Jefferson later said, “I had rather ask an enlargement of power from the nation, where it is necessary, than to assume it by a construction which would make our power boundless” (Jefferson to Cary Nicholas). Jefferson meant that buying the territory from France would give the nation more power and look intimidating with its size. With the current power that America had at the time, no one would dare to start a war. With the purchase of Louisiana came great land. Jefferson knew he made a smart move when purchasing the mass land of Louisiana. "The acquisition of approximately 827,000 square miles would double the size of the United States." With this sweet deal, France proposed, Jefferson had to take the deal but at a cost. Although the …show more content…
People were angry that the president did a action that would surpass the president’s power. Also many believed that the president shouldn’t allow other nations to join the U.S and incorporate their government.” It destroys the perfect union contemplated between the original parties, by interposing an alien and a stranger to share the powers of government with them…” (Speech by Representative Roger Griswold) Roger was saying that if Thomas Jefferson was to buy Louisiana, France would probably try to strike dealing and propose that they should have their ruling of government be combined with the U.S government to change a few