LOUISIANA territory
THE YELLOW SECTION OF THE MAP SHOWS THE REGION OF THE LOUISIANA TERRITORY
THE WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY, AND HOW:
In 1800, Napoleon Bonaparte convinced Spain to give Louisiana to France. Napoleon had hoped to settle the territory with thousands of French farmers. Napoleons plans made frontier farmers worried. Since New Orleans was part of Louisiana closing off the ports would leave farmers no way to get their crops to market. In 1803, Thomas Jefferson sent James Monroe to France with a huge offer to buy New Orleans for 7.5 million dollars. Once Monroe reached France, Napoleon had changed his plans. A few years later, a slave led a slave revolt in the French Caribbean colony. The former slaves defeated the French troops who tried to take back the colony causing Napoleon to no longer need Louisiana.
At the time France and Great Britain were on the brink of war. Napoleon knew he might lose Louisiana to Britain so it just made more sense for him to sell it to the United States.
On April 30, 1803, James Monroe signed a treaty giving Louisiana to the United States in exchange for 15 million dollars. Of course the offer came as a shock to Monroe.
In 1800, Napoleon Bonaparte convinced Spain to give Louisiana to France. Napoleon had hoped to settle the territory with thousands of French farmers. Napoleons plans made frontier farmers worried. Since New Orleans was part of Louisiana closing off the ports would leave farmers no way to get their crops to market. In 1803, Thomas Jefferson sent James Monroe to France with a huge offer to buy New Orleans for 7.5 million dollars. Once Monroe reached France, Napoleon had changed his plans. A few years later, a slave led a slave revolt in the French Caribbean colony. The former slaves defeated the French troops who tried to take back the colony causing Napoleon to no longer need Louisiana.
At the time France and Great Britain were on the brink of war. Napoleon knew he might lose Louisiana to Britain so it just made more sense for him to sell it to the United States.
On April 30, 1803, James Monroe signed a treaty giving Louisiana to the United States in exchange for 15 million dollars. Of course the offer came as a shock to Monroe.