Louisiana Purchase
Storyboard Text
- By: Arav Luthra
- Give me the Louisiana territory! I shall be very powerful!
- Boo! We want New Orleans!
- Ok, fine! We are too weak!
- I do not want war! Go to Paris! Buy New Orleans and as much land to the east as you could for no more than $10 million!
- France Losesiana for a Bargain!
- Screw sugar, screw coffee, screw colonies!
- King of Spain ceded the immense trans-Mississippi region of Louisiana to Napolean Bonaparte of France through a secret pact in 1800. This included the New Orleans area. Americans relied on the right of deposit guaranteed by the Pinckney’s Treaty of 1795 in New Orleans, and these deposit privileges being taken away sparked rage amongst Americans.
- No way! $5 million more won't be too bad!
- Want to have the ENTIRE Louisiana Territory? Well, it's your lucky day! $15 million is the price tag!
- Several Americans urged for war against France, but Jefferson wanted to avoid war while trying to regain access to the New Orleans region, so he sent James Monroe and Robert R. Livingston to buy New Orleans and as much eastern land they could get for $10 million.
- The people are happy and satisfied with this treaty! The deal will go through!
- Dear Senators, I am ashamed to announce that these treaties are unconstitutional, but I hope you approve for the ratification of this treaty.
- Surprisingly, Napoleon became willing to sell the land. This is because he failed to reconquer Haiti and wanted to concentrate French resources on fighting the British. Moreover, Napoleon hoped that the United States would become a supreme power that would destroy any sort of British interest in the New World.
- In Paris, both of the U.S. delegates were stunned that France was willing to sell the entire Louisiana territory. They eventually negotiated a treaty where the United States agreed to pay $15 million for the Louisiana Territory, even though Jefferson had strictly ordered them to not go beyond $10 million.
- Despite some questions raised on the constitutionality of the Louisiana Purchase, Jefferson shamefacedly gave the Senate the treaties drafted. To his relief, the senators would approve the treaties for ratification and the Americans pulled off one of the most magnificent real estate bargains in history.
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