The First Period of Continental Expansion

The US needed and wanted land. It needed land for farmers and wanted land for the expansion of democracy and christianity, as well as to develop a greater level national security.

It also needed to establish itself as a power if it was going to avoid becoming a European pawn.

John Adams and The Quasi War with France

Adams became the president in 1796. He felt that his major accomplishment was the avoidance of war in 1800.

The XYZ Affair

The dispatch of a three man foreign ministry who came to the US and asked for a bribe. This event was publicized by John Adams in the Capitol. It nearly started a war, as the US felt it was being asked for tribute.

US Congress: Nulification of the treaties with France (July 1789)

Lots of inflamatory speeches led by John Adams. Congress authorized the commission of a 10,000 man provisional army under the command of George Washington and John Hamilton. The US Navy was established (engaging in 9 naval conflicts in the caribean and capturing 80 French merchants, though the US lost 300 merchant ships during the same period).

But the US could not have any hope of winning a serious naval engagement with France.

The French did not want a war. The French ambassador communicated, through the ambassador's of other nations, his willingness to sign a peace treaty.

During this period a private citizen negotiated peace with France, without federal approval. This caused the Logan Act of 1799, which banned unauthorized private citizens from negotiating with foreign governments.

The Convention of Peace, Commerce, and Navigation (September, 1800)

A three-man mission to France negotiated for 8 months. The US wanted two main points: settlement of the maritime dispute and compensation for the seized ships, and a break of past treaties.

TheFrench finally agreed to a mutual cancellation of all treaties, but refused to pay any compensation. The US federal government compensated its citizens for lost ships itself.

Jefferson and the Louisiana Purchase

Jefferson defeated John Adams in the election of 1800. Adams did not take it well. <The two would later be friends again, communicate through correspondance, and finally pass away on the very same day, the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence>.

Jefferson had the well-meaning intention of sharing American culture, society, religion and government with all the people's of the Americas. He followed a policy of idealistic imperialism.

The Louisiana purchase was the first diplomatic crisis encountered by President Jefferson, and one that resulted in nothing but happy gains for the US.

Background

Spain had held Louisiana since they took it from the French in the Seven Years' War. When Napoleon came to power, he and Talaryand dreamed of recapturing the French Empire, and Louisiana was part of his dream. It was to be a food storehouse that would support a great sugar industry in Santo Domingo.

In 1800 Napoleon negotiated a deal with Spain to transfer Louisiana back to France, in a deal with his son in law, in trade for Tuscany, Italy. The transfer was to take place in 1802, after receiving a written pledge that France would never transfer Louisiana to any third party.

• The Treaty of Ildefonso (October, 1800)

• Transfer of Louisiana to France (October 2, 1802)

US-French Negotiations:

New Orleans Closed by Spain (October, 1802)

Spain closed the use of the Missisipi to the US. This combined with the arrival of the French in the Americas to create a diplomatic crisis. The US had only settled peace with France two years before, and still felt hostility. The western settlers talked of starting a war and taking Louisiana from the French by force, with or without sanction by the federal government.

Back in April, 1802, Jefferson had indicated that if France were to gain New Orleans the US would ally with Britain against France.

James Monroe's Mission

Monroe was sent to negotiate the purchase of New Orleans (which they mistakenly thought was part of the Louisiana territory), and west Florida. Jefferson had previously thretened an Anglo-American alliance.

Napoleon had suddenly chganged his mind and was eager to sell Louisiana for several outside reasons:

• Santo Domingo had fallen to a slave uprising, dangerous to the French colonial rule. Led by Toussaint L'ouverture, a talented strategist and charismatic leader. The rebellious slaves became fanatical, choosing to die rather than give in to French rule again. Napoleon was forced to abandon the colonization dream after he had lost 50,000 men and his favorite brother in law. Without Santo Domingo, he no longer needed Louisiana.
• Napoleon planned renewed hostilities with Great Britain. He wanted to get rid of those hard-to-defend American territories, make a bit of cash, and get the American's on his side as an ally. The day he announced he would abandon Santo Domingo, he offered the sale of Louisiana. Monroe arrived the next day and quickly concluded a deal.

Treaty Concluded (April 30, 1803)

The French purposefully kept the borders of the Louisiana territory vague in order to inspire conflict between Spain and the US.

Constitutional Problems of the Louisiana Purchase

The constitution does not give the federal government the right to acquire territory. While an unconstitutional act, Jefferson justified the action, saying national security is more important than legalism, and that acts performed for the security of the US could be justified even if they were beyond the law.

Legal Problems of the Louisiana Purchase

The French had no right to sell Louisiana, having signed an agreement to that effect with Spain and having failed to transfer the lands of Tuscanty, Italy, to Spain. Secondly, Napoleon had no righ to sell Louisiana without legislative approval.

Spain lodged a complaint, but was pointed toward France and told to settle their problems with the French.

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