Mississippi River Borders
The Mississippi River is one of the largest rivers in the United States, stretching from Minnesota down through the Gulf of Mexico. It is an important feature of the geography of the country, and forms a natural border between Louisiana and its neighboring states. When the United States purchased the Louisiana Territory in 1803, the boundaries of the new land were vague and largely uncertain. What was known was that the Mississippi River formed the western border, but any further details had to be determined through negotiations.
Louisiana Purchase Debate
At the time of the Louisiana Purchase, there was much debate as to whether the new land should include the Mississippi River itself, or just the land that was east of the River. The issue was unclear until President Thomas Jefferson suggested the idea of “ownership in common of the Mississippi.” Although the exact meaning of this phrase is unclear, it is believed to mean that although Louisiana would be primarily responsible for the management of the river, no single state would have full control over it.
Conflicting Interests
This decision was made to accommodate the interests of the state’s involved. Louisiana wanted full access to the Mississippi River which was the primary route of transportation for their goods. The states north of Louisiana, on the other hand, did not want to give them such access as this could potentially interfere with their own access to the river. Thus, the compromise was that the Mississippi River would be an “in between” border, meaning that neither state would have full control of it.
Implications of Louisiana Purchase
This compromise had many implications for the present and the future. It meant that the states involved would have to cooperate in the management of the river, as the river was of vital importance to the transportation of goods in the region. This agreement laid the foundation for the later development of the Mississippi River Trading System, which would be a major source of economic growth in the United States over the next hundred years.
It also meant that the Louisiana Territory had to find other ways of accessing international markets as its neighbors’ control over the river meant that it could not rely on the Mississippi as a primary avenue of transportation for its goods. This led to the development of other transportation hubs such as ports in New Orleans, Galveston and Mobile, which were essential for the success of the Louisiana Territory.
Impact on International Trade
The agreement to share control of the Mississippi River had a lasting impact on the international trade of the United States. It allowed for easier transport of goods between the states, which in turn made it easier for states to access resources from other parts of the country. This made it easier for states to specialize in certain industries and export their goods to other states. This increased the competitiveness of the United States in international trade and laid the foundation for the modern economic system.
Conclusion
The Mississippi River is an important feature of the Louisiana Territory, and its role in the Louisiana Purchase is undeniable. The decision to add it to the new land, instead of to just have east of the river as the boundary, was a wise one as it allowed for greater collaboration and cooperation between the states involved and laid the foundation for increased economic prosperity in the region.
Uncertainty of Imminent War
At the time of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, there was much uncertainty as to whether war between France and the United States was imminent. This was due to the fact that the French, who had sold the land, had been unsuccessful in achieving their objectives in former colonies and were willing to take drastic measures to prevent the United States from gaining a strategic foothold in North America. This war could have been disastrous for the United States and its people, making it crucial that an agreement was made quickly to purchase the land and secure the peace.
Exploring Options
In an attempt to avoid war and secure the territory, President Thomas Jefferson began exploring a number of options. One of these was to offer to purchase the land from the French, as this had been a successful strategy in the past. The difficulty was that the exact boundaries of the land were not determined and, so negotiations for the purchase were delayed as the two sides attempted to come to an agreement.
Treaty of Paris
The negotiations led to the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1803, which solidified the sale of the Louisiana Territory to the United States. The treaty gave the U.S. full control of the land and allowed them to set their own boundaries, within a specified area. It also gave the United States control of the Mississippi River, which was an important factor in the negotiations and one that would have serious implications for the future.
Debate About Mississippi River
Once the decision was made to purchase the land, there was still much debate as to whether the United States should gain full control of the Mississippi River or if the two sides should share control. The former would give the United States full access to the river and the ability to control trade and travel, while the latter option would allow for more collaboration between the two sides. Ultimately, President Jefferson proposed the idea of “ownership in common,” which meant that neither side had full control of the river.
Accommodating Interests
The decision to share control of the Mississippi River allowed for the interests of both sides to be accommodated. For Louisiana, it allowed them to have access to the river and its transportation opportunities, while the states north of Louisiana retained the ability to control their own access to the river. This compromise allowed the United States to purchase the Louisiana Territory without going to war, and it allowed for increased economic prosperity in the region.
Economic Implications
The agreement to share control of the Mississippi River also had far-reaching economic implications. By allowing states to have access to transportation through the river, it enabled them to access resources from other states and to specialize in certain industries. This made them more competitive in international trade and set the stage for the modern economic system we have today.
Legal Precedents
Finally, the agreement to share control of the Mississippi River set an important legal precedent for the later negotiation of river rights across the United States. By setting the example of two states sharing control of a single river, other states were encouraged to reach similar compromises. This led to the development of the modern legal system surrounding river usage rights, which still exists today.
Economic Growth
The decision to include the Mississippi River as a shared border when the United States purchased the Louisiana Territory was an important one. It allowed for increased trade and cooperation between the states and laid the foundation for increased economic prosperity in the region. It also set important legal precedents for river rights, which still exist today, and it enabled the states involved to become more competitive in international trade. In this way, the Mississippi River was an important factor in the Louisiana Purchase, and its implications are still felt today.
