The Louisiana Purchase
What is it?
The Louisiana Purchase was started when the French persuaded the Spanish to return to the Louisiana Territory. Spain secretly returned the territory to France, before the US knew. This scared the United States, because they were afraid that a strong French presence would force the US into an alliance with Great Britain during the war between the French and British. President Jefferson sends Monroe and American Ambassador Robert Livingston to Paris to try and buy New Orleans and the Florida area. After great troubles in the French colony of Haiti, Napoleon decided to abandon the Louisiana Territory and sell the entire piece of land to America. The American government bought the land for the price of $15 million dollars. This territory stretched all the way over Mississippi River, and was quite beneficial to the foundation of our country. It doubled the size and provided much need waterways and natural resources.
The Political cartoon named "Intercourse or Impartial Dealings," depicts Thomas Jefferson being held up for money by King George and Napoleon. This cartoon was created by critics of president Jefferson. The idea they were trying to get across was that Jefferson had paid too much money for Louisiana. It also was criticizing Jefferson's embargo on trade on the french and british.