In 1803, the United States of America acquired what was then called the Louisiana Purchase, or the lands east of the Mississippi River and west of the contiguous United States. The purchase marked a significant and unprecedented addition to the lands of the newly formed nation, spanning all or parts of fifteen current US States. This acquisition would go on to shape the United States as it exists today, but did the Louisiana Purchase involve just land located east of the Mississippi?
The answer to this question is both yes and no. To begin with, it is important to understand that the Louisiana Purchase was an agreement between France and the United States. Although the Louisiana Purchase doubled the amount of land comprising the United States, it did not include the portion of the Mississippi River itself. As such, the Mississippi River was not, by itself, part of the Louisiana Purchase.
For the first few years of the Purchase, it was not clear who exactly owned the Mississippi River. As such, the river was open to navigation and trading by both France and the United States, as well as to other foreign powers. It was not until 1819, in the Adams-Onis Treaty between the United States and Spain, that the United States was granted sovereignty over the entire length of the Mississippi River; prior to this, the river was considered international waters.
At the same time, it is important to note that certain lands along the Mississippi River were part of the Louisiana Purchase. The northernmost tip of what was then the Louisiana Purchase — now the state of Missouri — extended just south of the mouth of the Arkansas River, and so technically included stretches of what is now the northern half of the Mississippi River. From this perspective, the Mississippi River could be viewed as part of the Louisiana Purchase in that some of the land lying within its banks was part of the Agreement between France and the United States.
This ambiguity in the ownership of the Mississippi River helped fuel the debate over states’ rights in the decades following the Louisiana Purchase. Several states, including Mississippi and Arkansas, asserted that the river was part of their respective territories, and thus subject to the laws and regulations of those respective states. This claim was eventually denied by the Supreme Court, in the historic ruling of Woodruff v. Davis (1852).
The Mississippi River was, however, instrumental in shaping the United States’ ability to colonize and develop lands purchased in the Louisiana Purchase. The river acted as a trade route and transportation corridor between ocean ports and inland territories, allowing the newly formed nation to access the land acquired by Thomas Jefferson and spread its influence further west. In this sense, it could be argued that the Mississippi River served, in many respects, as an unofficial “boundary” between the old, eastern United States and the newer, western territories inhabited by settlers.
In conclusion, while technically not part of the Louisiana Purchase, the Mississippi River was and is an integral part of the land acquired by the United States in 1803. Although it was not legally recognized as such until 1819, the river served to facilitate the growth of the United States and strengthen the nation’s claims to these western territories.
Exploration of Louisiana Purchase
The lands purchased in the Louisiana Purchase opened up a new expanse of land for settlement in the early 19th century. With the promise of expanding farmland and untapped resources, Americans were eager to explore the lands secured in this agreement. The geographer Zebulon Pike was among the first to chart the new lands, and was credited with the first American reconnaissance of the Louisiana Purchase. Pike’s journey would help define parts of the Louisiana Purchase, resulting in new settlements and eventual state boundaries.
The real boom in exploration of the Louisiana Purchase, however, began to take place in the decade following the purchase. A number of significant figures, both American and European, took to mapping and surveying the newly acquired lands. Meriwether Lewis and William Clark conducted one of the most famous expeditions of the Louisiana Purchase, traveling from the Missouri river to the Pacific ocean. Their journey provided valuable insight into the untapped resources and potential of the West, and fueled the American settler’s lust for the new land.
In the following decades, the boundaries of the Louisiana Purchase were gradually solidified and organized into states. Among these was the incorporation of what is now southwestern Mississippi and northeastern Louisiana into the newly created state of Mississippi. Prior to this, these lands had been part of the French “desert” of Louisiana, and firmly established the use of the Mississippi River as a border between two states.
Today, the exploration of the Louisiana Purchase stands as a remarkable chapter in American history. Although largely unknown to many people, the exploration and settlement of this area is critical for understanding the Westward Expansion of the United States, as well as the presence of current US states such as Arkansas, Missouri, and Mississippi.
Slave Trade in the Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase increased the size of the United States and its population in the early 19th century, laying the groundwork for the nation’s population growth for decades to come. At the same time, however, the Louisiana Purchase was also responsible for the spread of the slave trade in America. Although practices like slavery were already commonplace in many parts of the country prior to 1803, they would become increasingly prevalent in the newly transferred lands.
Prior to its transfer to the United States, the land now comprising Louisiana and Mississippi was part of France’s North American territories. Within these territories, slavery was legal and practiced, and thus became part of the agreement in the Louisiana Purchase. As such, the spread of slavery into newly acquired lands has remained a part of the historical record, although this was not the primary motivator for the acquisition of the land.
The slave trade was heavily ingrained into the economies of various states, as well as the internal politics of the United States. This was especially true in the areas of the Louisiana Purchase where agriculture was prominent, leading to an increased demand for labor. Thus, in addition to those who had already been enslaved prior to the purchase, thousands more African American slaves were forcefully transported to the new lands, turning them into an even larger population of slaves than what had previously existed.
The legacy of the slave trade in the Louisiana Purchase remains a difficult part of history to reconcile. On the one hand, the purchase brought many advantages, allowing settlers to access new land and resources and inspiring the expansion of the United States in the East. On the other hand, it also led to the forced transportation of thousands of African American slaves, deepening the rift between Americans of different backgrounds and sowing the seeds of racial inequality which persist today.
Legacy of the Louisiana Purchase
Nearly two centuries after the Louisiana Purchase, its legacy continues to shape the United States, making it arguably one of the most important events in American history. Among the most significant achievements of the Purchase was, of course, the expansion of US territory. As can be seen from looking at a map, nearly all of America’s Midwest and West, including states such as Kansas, Nebraska, and Wyoming, can trace their boundaries to the Louisiana Purchase.
At the same time, the Purchase was also significant for setting the groundwork for the nation’s system of government. As mentioned above, the presence of the Mississippi River in the Purchase resulted in a lengthy and contentious debate on states’ rights. Although the Supreme Court’s eventual ruling on this issue was far from perfect, it provided a major stepping-stone towards the formation of stronger bonds between states and the federal government.
Finally, the Louisiana Purchase was also responsible for facilitating communication and trade between disparate parts of the country. The Mississippi River, in particular, provided a vital transportation and trading route between the Eastern and Western halves of the United States. As such, the Louisiana Purchase helped to cement the nation’s ties with each other, giving rise to a more unified nation.
Impact of Louisiana Purchase on US-French Relations
The Louisiana Purchase was one of the most significant agreements between the USA and France, providing an opportunity for the two countries to work together towards a common goal. The purchase was driven largely by the United States’ desire to increase its territories, particularly in the West, but it had the added bonus of providing an opportunity for closer ties between the two countries.
The success of the Louisiana Purchase helped to improve relations between the USA and France. In the years immediately following the Purchase, the two nations agreed on a number of other matters, such as the imposition of tariffs and a joint mission to explore the American territories. In the wake of the Purchase, the US-France trade relationship also improved, culminating in the signing of the Franco-American Convention of 1831, which served to normalize relations between the two countries.
At the same time, it is also important to note that not all Americans viewed the Louisiana Purchase favorably. Since the purchase was primarily driven by the economic interests of France, there was some pushback from Americans who did not agree with the assessment that the United States had simply “bought” land from another foreign power.
The purchase also faced scrutiny due to its potential to weaken the power of the Union. In essence, by acquiring the territories of the Louisiana Purchase, the United States was able to add fifteen new states to the union, whose populations and interests could potentially conflict with the existing ones. This tension, however, would ultimately evolve in the nation’s favor as the United States began to expand its power and influence.
The legacy of the Louisiana Purchase would go on to shape the United States and its foreign policy for generations to come. Today, its importance in the history of the nation and its relationship with France is difficult to overstate.
Conclusion of the Effect of the Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase was one of the most significant events in US history, providing an opportunity for the nation to expand its borders and its power. The purchase of these lands ushered in a new era of expansion, with settlers taking to the newly acquired territories and the government solidifying its claims over the West. Moreover, the purchase ushered in closer ties between the United States and France, and set the groundwork for further agreements between the two nations.
At the same time, as previously discussed, not all aspects of the Louisiana Purchase may be viewed as entirely positive. The presence of slavery in the purchased territories played a key role in the development of tensions between the various states and the federal government, and provided a critical source of labor for the burgeoning economies of the western states. The legacy of the Louisiana Purchase, therefore, must be viewed in light of the complex history of the nation.
