{"id":11937,"date":"2023-12-08T20:40:26","date_gmt":"2023-12-08T19:40:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/?p=11937"},"modified":"2023-12-08T20:40:26","modified_gmt":"2023-12-08T19:40:26","slug":"why-did-jefferson-seek-to-control-the-mississippi-river","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/why-did-jefferson-seek-to-control-the-mississippi-river\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Did Jefferson Seek To Control The Mississippi River"},"content":{"rendered":"
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History of Jefferson’s Influence<\/h2>\n

Thomas Jefferson was the third President of the United States of America. He had a vision of a strong and independent government that would be a model of republicanism throughout the world. As part of his vision, Jefferson sought to gain control over the valuable Mississippi River.<\/p>\n

Jefferson’s primary the goal was to keep the Mississippi River a viable transportation route. Since the early days of the Republic, the Mississippi River had been seen as the backbone of the western expansion and economic prosperity of the United States. Jefferson believed in the importance of the river for transportation, commerce and communication. He saw it as essential for the growth of the country and its expansion into the various territories.<\/p>\n

Jefferson was determined to gain control of the river from the various French and Spanish territories. He negotiated the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, acquiring the area of the United States from present-day Louisiana to the Canadian border for $15 million. As part of the Purchase, he was granted the freedom to navigate the Mississippi River from its source to the Gulf of Mexico. This allowed the United States to become a major power on the river, changing its geopolitical landscape.<\/p>\n

Jefferson also sought to use the Mississippi River to move goods and supplies to the ports of New Orleans and Mobile. Since the river was the main means of transportation between the North and South, Jefferson wanted to ensure that goods and supplies could move freely. He saw it as an opportunity to expand the United States’ access to the Atlantic Ocean, providing increased resources and strengthening trade.<\/p>\n