{"id":11164,"date":"2023-10-15T13:55:10","date_gmt":"2023-10-15T12:55:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/?p=11164"},"modified":"2023-10-15T13:55:10","modified_gmt":"2023-10-15T12:55:10","slug":"how-did-napoleon-bonaparte-plan-to-use-the-mississippi-river","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/how-did-napoleon-bonaparte-plan-to-use-the-mississippi-river\/","title":{"rendered":"How Did Napoleon Bonaparte Plan To Use The Mississippi River"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Napoleon Bonaparte and The Mississippi River<\/h2>\n

Napoleon Bonaparte, the French Emperor from 1804 to 1815, was known for his ambition and his military genius. His plans to marshal French forces to new heights of glory did not end with his military campaigns. He had his sights set on global domination through economic prowess.<\/p>\n

One of the ways he sought to realize this ambition was to gain control of the Mississippi River. He believed that through control of the river he could gain access to the North American market and increase his political and global power. His plan to use the Mississippi River in this way was ambitious and far-reaching. <\/p>\n

Napoleon was an avid reader, and his understanding of the emerging industrial economy was as strong as anyone else’s of the time. He understood the value of transportation and the importance of trade, and saw the Mississippi River as a key artery of transportation and eventual world domination. He also believed controlling the river would give him access to the rest of the North American continent.<\/p>\n

In 1802 Napoleon wrote to General Victor Gerard-Laray, who was in charge of the Louisiana Territory, with instructions to ensure French control of the river. He stated that the river must not fall into the hands of a foreign power, and if the Spanish were an obstacle, then force should be used. He believed that if he were successful in controlling the river, he could open France to the economic advantages offered by the North American continent.<\/p>\n