How Did Napoleon's Louisiana Purchase

Section I, 1. Why was Napoleon willing to sell the Louisiana Territory to the United States? How did Jefferson’s Louisiana Purchase transform America’s understanding of itself and its future? Was it inevitable that the West would become part of a much greater United States?
Napoleon Bonaparte, before he decided to sell Louisiana was already facing many problems. Toussaint Louverture, a French Revolutionist, succeeded in taking over Hispanola and was now the ruler and was now the ruler of French territory. This didn’t sit well with the French Emperor Bonaparte and he sought to suppress the black republic. Another problem Napoleon faced was his military being defeated in Egypt. Bonaparte felt as if he was backed into a corner at this point, and he most definitely was. When Thomas Jefferson came to the French with a proposal for the Louisiana territory, Napoleon, needing to find a way to regroup for another war accepted fifteen million and America gained Louisiana. …show more content…
Like most missions during these times leaders sought outland to expand their nation, and with this purchase it more than doubled the size of the United States. The economy started to thrive as well as trade but not without some discrepancies. The West becoming a part of the U.S. was definitely unavoidable. Much of the West was acquired through the purchasing of Louisiana. There is always more land out there to explore which in turn leads to more settlement and a larger U.S. The Lewis and Clark expedition is a prime example, Jefferson wanted them to see what life was like in the newly land that was attained. Making maps of the land and learn the ways of the settlers in the area. At the same time, the voyagers were, “solidifying claims,” as stated in the textbook pg.