Unit 3 DBQ: The Louisiana Purchase _Short Answer Questions

Note: The stronghold of the Federalist Party in 1803 was New England. Both the “Columbian Centinel” and the “Hartford Courant” were part of the Federalist opposition to the Louisiana Purchase. Several Federalist concerns are expressed in these two newspaper excerpts. For context, it’s important to know that the US at this time was more than $80 million in debt.

Primary Source:

“We are to give money of which we have too little for land of which we already have too much… This unexplored empire of the size of four or five European kingdoms will… drain our people away from the pursuit of a better husbandry (farming; growing crops and raising animals) and from manufacturers and commerce.

~Columbian Centinel (Boston), 13 July 1803

“Fifteen million dollars for bogs, mountains, and Indians! Fifteen million dollars for uninhabited wasteland and refuge for criminals! And for what purpose? To enhance the power of Virginia’s politicians. To pour millions into the coffers of Napoleon on the eve of war with England.”

~Hartford Courant (Connecticut) July 1803

Note: Jefferson believed in a strict interpretation of the Constitution. This meant that the president’s power was limited to what was clearly spelled out in the founding document. The opportunity to buy the Louisiana Territory from France created a dilemma for Jefferson. Although Article II of the Constitution gave the president the power to make treaties, Jefferson did not believe that included the authority to purchase land from a foreign country. However, he also believed that getting Louisiana for three or four cents an acre was a very good deal. He was also afraid that Napoleon would change his mind in the time taken to amend the Constitution. He shares his concerns in this letter to John Dickinson, a former governor of Deleware who helped draft the Constitution.

Primary Source:

Monticello, Aug 9, 1830.

Buying this land has some problems that upset certain people, even though they haven't figured it out yet. Our group is only allowed to do things within the rules set by the Constitution. The national government can only do what the constitution lets it do, and it doesn't have the power to buy foreign land and add it to the country. We might need to change the Constitution to make this possible. For now, we have to agree to the purchase, pay the money like we said we would, and trust that the nation will support a decision made for its benefit, even if it wasn't approved in advance.