The article is about the deal that French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte made with the United States to sell the French Louisiana territory. Nearly 30 years after France had lost the French and Indian War and its vast territories in North America, the nation changed radically. In the 1790s, the country went through the French Revolution, which would not end until Napoleon Bonaparte took control of the government in 1799. Napoleon wanted to reclaim the former French territory of Louisiana in order to restore France’s position in North America. So in 1800, he began negotiations with Spain and its king, Charles IV. King Charles IV was willing to return Louisiana, and November 30, 1803 was set as the day in which Louisiana would return to French control. Even though the treaty was supposed to be secret, the US learned of it in 1801. The US President Jefferson wanted to obtain land near the Mississippi River, as Spain had closed off New Orleans to the Americans in 1802 and made trade down the river almost impossible. So in the spring of 1803, he sent Robert R. Livingston and James Monroe to France in order to negotiate a deal for the French controlled New Orleans and Florida for $10 million. However, to their surprise, France was willing to sell all of Louisiana for $15 million. Napoleon wanted to sell Louisiana because he felt that the territory was remote and hard to defend. So Napoleon sold the entire territory to the US. On December 30, 1803, the US took possession of Louisiana. The vast land doubled America’s size and increased its prestige and power. Today, the territory comprising Louisiana makes up all or part of 15 US states. And as it only cost a cheap 3 cents per acre, it was the deal of the century. [1] That is the article’s thesis. The events leading up to the purchase are explained in the article, and it is also explained why it was the deal of the century in the end of the article.
The strength of the article is in the way that it presents the details about the events leading up to the Louisiana Purchase. Most of the events that led up to the purchase and caused it were included and detailed in the article. Such events included the French Revolution, the negotiations between Napoleon and Charles IV of Spain for Louisiana, and the United States’ desire for land near the Mississippi in order to protect its trade interests in the area. The article is easy to follow as it summarizes and simplifies the events that led up to the Louisiana Purchase. The reader doesn’t have to read a lot to understand what is going on. The article also details well why Napoleon had wanted Louisiana at first, and why he had changed his mind. Napoleon had wanted Louisiana at first in order to provide food and timber for France to restore its position in North America. But, as the article points out very well, Napoleon had changed his mind after 2 problems he had: instead of going to Louisiana, the army he had sent had gone to Haiti to quell a slave rebellion, but had been defeated. Napoleon also wanted to stay on America’s good side, as he was about to go to war with Great Britain and he needed all his remaining forces with him. These 2 events had made Napoleon realize that Louisiana was remote and hard to defend, so he sold the territory to the US, who could use the territory better than they could. The article explains why the US wanted the land. The US had originally only wanted New Orleans and Florida so that they could trade along the Mississippi River, as Spain had earlier blockaded New Orleans making trade almost impossible. To their surprise, France sold them all of Louisiana. The Louisiana territory doubled America’s size, increased its prestige, and gave it more land for its settlers to expand westward. The details given in the article answer the readers’ questions as to why Napoleon would reclaim the land only to later sell it, and why the United States wanted the land. This is what the article presents well.
But there are also a few things that the article fails to present well and falls short in. The article fails to explain how US officials learned of the secret treaty between France and Spain in 1801. The article talks about tensions that was going on between Spain and the US after Spain withdrew the right of American ships to store their goods at New Orleans in 1802, but it does not explain why Spain did that. At least a brief explanation would have helped readers understand more about what was going on between Spain and the US. The article also includes no references or footnotes/endnotes, so it is unknown what sources the author is getting his information from or how reliable it is. The article also has a few assumptions, such as that Thomas Jefferson “preferred the weaker Spain as a neighbour”. The article also fails to mention how even though the price for Louisiana was small, it was still too much for the US. The US was forced to borrow from 2 European banks at 6 percent interest, and did not finish paying the loan until 1823, at which time the price had risen to over $23 million.[2] But overall, the article is very strong and detailed in presenting the events that were going on during the Louisiana Purchase.
The article’s purpose was to describe the events of the Louisiana Purchase, and explain why it was the Deal of the Century and was a good deal for the United States. The article accomplished this purpose, because it explained and described very well the events that led up to and caused the Louisiana Purchase. Such events that were described in the article include the French Revolution, Napoleon’s negotiations with King Charles IV of Spain for the Louisiana territory, America’s desire for land near the Mississippi to protect its interests there, and the looming war between France and Great Britain. The article summarizes all these events for the reader and makes them easy to follow. The article also explained why the deal was good for the United States, and why Napoleon had wanted to sell the land. The article could be improved by including references and/or footnotes/endnotes, so that it is known where the author is getting his information from or how reliable it is. It could also explain a couple points better including how the US found out about France and Spain’s treaty and why Spain withdrew the US’ trading rights to the Mississippi River. But overall, it was a great article that accomplished its purpose. This article would be recommended for people who are learning about the Louisiana Purchase or are interested in it, because a lot can be learned about Napoleon and the Louisiana Purchase by reading the document.
Notes
[1] “Deal of the Century”, Cobblestone, (September 1, 2015): Canadian Reference Centre, EBSCOhost (accessed April 9, 2017)
[2] History, “8 Things You May Not Know About the Louisiana Purchase”, published September 30, 2013, http://www.history.com/news/8-things-you-may-not-know-about-the-louisiana-purchase
Bibliography
“Deal of the Century.” Cobblestone, (September 1, 2015). Canadian Reference Centre, EBSCOhost (accessed April 9, 2017).
History. “8 Things You May not Know about the Louisiana Purchase.” Published September 30, 2015. http://www.history.com/news/8-things-you-may-not-know-about-the-louisiana-purchase
[1] “Deal of the Century”, Cobblestone, (September 1, 2015): Canadian Reference Centre, EBSCOhost (accessed April 9, 2017)
[2] History, “8 Things You May Not Know About the Louisiana Purchase”, published September 30, 2013, http://www.history.com/news/8-things-you-may-not-know-about-the-louisiana-purchase
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