Louisiana Purchase WebQuest


 
 

 Introduction

What was the Louisiana Purchase? Why is it so important? These are maybe some questions running through your mind. These and many other questions will be answered once you have completed your project.

 

  

 

 

 

After America gained independence from the British. They had to expend, because they could not be one small country. What if the British try to get back there land? They had to be stronger then ever. To do this they first need more land. Sonly the Americans will buy a land that will nearly double the size of there country. What land was it? The Louisiana land. The France what’d to do the same thing? Guess what the France owned this land during this time. Emperor Napoleon (he was the ruler of France during this time) needed some money for this war. He also knew that the President Thomas Jefferson (President during purchase) might what some more land or might what to buy the Louisiana territory.  So the president bought it by treat.

 

Though the Constitution did not specifically empower the federal government to buy new land by treaty.  President Thomas Jefferson told the Senate this was a great deal and that it will double the U.S.A in size. The Senate voted ratification on Oct. 20, 1803. So they were ready to buy this land. How much did the land cost? It cost the U.S.A about $15 million dollars. The France has ceremony at New Orleans on Nov. 30, 1803. On, the second ceremony, on Dec. 20, 1803, the French turned Louisiana over to the United States. The U.S.A had full ownership of the Louisiana territory.

 

 The U.S.A did double in size. Are you wondering why the French would give this land? One, they need more money. So they sold that territory for 15 million. Also, let’s take a step back. Louisiana was given to the France by Spain on 1762.  Napoleon Bonaparte envisioned a great and better French empire in the New World, and he also hoped to use the Mississippi Valley as a food and trade center to supply the island of Hispaniola, which was to be the heart of this empire.  First, he had to restore French control of Hispaniola. Without this island he would have little use of Louisianan. So he really did not need Louisianan. Napoleon just sold it to the U.S.A.

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