Kelly-Anne Kidston
One of Thomas Jefferson’s greatest achievements was the Louisiana Purchase, in which the United States acquired 828,800 square miles of the French territory La Louisiane in 1803 😁 Encompassing all or part of 14 current U 👍S 😎 This land covered all the states of today, including Arkansas, Missouri. Iowa, Oklahoma. Kansas. Nebraska. It also included parts of Minnesota west of Mississippi River. The land purchased today makes up approximately 23% the country’s territory. [1]
French claims on the Mississippi watershed, and the central Gulf Coast date back to late seventeenth century and early eighteen centuries. French explorers descend the Mississippi from Great Lakes. French officials establish Biloxi (1699), Mobile (1702), or New Orleans (1718). Although these new settlements and the surrounding areas grew slowly over time, their importance in French ambitions was enormous. New Orleans was to be the southern counterpart to Quebec and Montreal, providing the same commercial and governmental functions for Louisiana—the whole of the Mississippi watershed—that those cities provided for New France—the whole of the St. Lawrence watershed. France built new trading posts and fortifications hundreds of miles north of Gulf of Mexico in the 1740s to reinforce its connections with its colonies, and protect its claim against British colonists along the Atlantic Coast. [2]
The Louisiana Purchase This is a demonstration of Jefferson’s pragmatic ability to make political decisions. Even though it was against some of Jefferson’s central principles, Jefferson had made bold decisions to ensure western expansion. These gains were significant as 13 additional states would be added to the union by the acquisition of the new territory. Louisiana, which was first to be joined by the Union through land purchased during the acquisition of the territory, became a member in 1812. Louisiana was granted entry to the union United States Its French legal traditions are largely preserved. Louisiana’s law code still includes many elements which are not English-based. Common law traditions. It is possible for the federal system to be extremely flexible. [3]
Ushistory.org He then mentions how Jefferson was able to take pragmatic decisions in politics through the Louisiana Purchase. Though it’s going against his core principles, Jefferson was so committed to western expansion that he’s taking bold actions. These gains were significant as 13 additional states would be added to the union by the acquisition of the new territory. Louisiana was the first state to be joined the Union from the land it’s having purchased in 1812. Louisiana was allowed entry to the United States in 1812 with most of its French legal traditions intact. Louisiana’s law code still has many elements that are not consistent with English common law traditions. It is possible for the federal system to be quite flexible. [4]
