Editing Thomas Jefferson (section)

====Louisiana Purchase====
{{Main|Louisiana Purchase}}
[[File:Louisiana Purchase.png|thumb|The 1803 [[Louisiana Purchase]], completed during [[Presidency of Thomas Jefferson|Jefferson's presidency]], added {{convert|827987|lk=in|mi2|abbr=off}}, which doubled the geographic size of the United States.]]

Spain [[Third Treaty of San Ildefonso|ceded ownership]] of the Louisiana territory in 1800 to France. Jefferson was concerned that [[Napoleon]]'s interests in the vast territory would threaten the security of the continent and [[Mississippi River]] shipping. He wrote that the cession "works most sorely on the U.S. It completely reverses all the political relations of the U.S."<ref>[[#Meacham|Meacham, 2012]], pp. 383–384.</ref> In 1802, he instructed [[James Monroe]] and [[Robert R. Livingston (chancellor)|Robert R. Livingston]] to negotiate the purchase of [[New Orleans]] and adjacent coastal areas.<ref>[[#Wood2010|Wood, 2010]], p. 368.</ref> In early 1803, Jefferson offered Napoleon nearly $10&nbsp;million for {{convert|40000|mi2|abbr=off}} of tropical territory.<ref name=Freehling2005>[[#Freehling05|Freehling, 2005]], p. 69.</ref>

Napoleon realized that French military control was impractical over such a vast remote territory, and he was in dire need of funds for his [[The United Kingdom in the Napoleonic Wars|wars on the home front]]. In early April 1803, he unexpectedly made negotiators a counter-offer to sell {{convert|827987|mi2|abbr=off}} of French territory for $15&nbsp;million (~${{Format price|{{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=15000000|start_year=1803}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}), doubling the size of the United States.<ref name=Freehling2005/> U.S. negotiators accepted the offer and signed the treaty on April 30, 1803.<ref name="Meacham387"/> Word of the unexpected purchase did not reach Jefferson until July 3, 1803.<ref name="Meacham387"/> He unknowingly acquired the most fertile tract of land of its size on Earth, making the new country self-sufficient in food and other resources. The sale also significantly curtailed European presence in North America, removing obstacles to U.S. [[Territorial evolution of the United States|westward expansion]].<ref name=Ellis208>[[#Ellis2008|Ellis, 2008]], pp. 207–208.</ref>

Most thought that this was an exceptional opportunity, despite Republican reservations about the Constitutional authority of the federal government to acquire land.<ref name="The Rise of American Democracy">[[#Wilentz|Wilentz, 2005]], p. 108.</ref> Jefferson initially thought that a Constitutional [[History of the United States Constitution#Senate changes|amendment]] was necessary to purchase and govern the new territory; but he later changed his mind, fearing that this would give cause to oppose the purchase, and urged a speedy debate and ratification.<ref>[[#Meacham|Meacham, 2012]], pp. 389–390.</ref> On October 20, 1803, the Senate ratified the purchase treaty by a vote of 24–7.<ref>[[#Tucker37|Tucker, 1837]], v. 2, pp. 152–154.</ref> Jefferson personally was humble about acquiring the Louisiana Territory, but he resented complainers who called the vast domain a "howling wilderness".<ref>[[#Peterson2002|Peterson (2002), p. 47]]</ref>

After the purchase, Jefferson preserved the region's Spanish legal code and instituted a gradual approach to integrating settlers into American democracy. He believed that a period of the federal rule would be necessary while Louisianans adjusted to their new nation.<ref>[[#Peterson70|Peterson, 1970]], p. 777; [[#Ellis2008|Ellis, 2008]], p. 230; [[#Wood2010|Wood, 2010]], p. 372.</ref>{{efn|Louisiana nevertheless gained statehood nine years later in 1812.<ref>[[#Wood2010|Wood, 2010]], p. 373.</ref>}} Historians have differed in their assessments regarding the constitutional implications of the sale,<ref>[[#Ellis2008|Ellis, 2008]], pp. 231–232.</ref> but they typically hail the Louisiana acquisition as a major accomplishment. [[Frederick Jackson Turner]] called the purchase the most formative event in American history.<ref name="Ellis208"/>