What were the political and economic consequences of the Louisiana Purchase? Why is this purchase considered “Jefferson’s most glorious achievement as president?”
... as President to be the acquisition of the Louisiana Territory, which became an area of political and economic opportunity for decades to come. There were many political consequences that occurred as a result of the acquisition of the Louisiana Territory. First, America avoided war with France, which might have proved fatal for a new, weak nation that was certainly not looking to become entangled in European affairs. Also America avoided having to align itself with Great Britain in its ongoing conflict with France. A boost of national unity in America was another positive outcome of the acquisition of Louisiana. There were however certain influential politicians, among them disheartened Federalists who were not in favor or the Purchase. Finally, and perhaps the most important effect of all was that the purchase of Louisiana set the precedent for the acquisition of foreign lands by future presidents. These political effects of the Louisiana Purchase have altered the lives of Americans even until the present day. The economic consequences of the Louisiana Purchase, though fewer than the political ones, were nonetheless very meaningful. “In the spring of 1804, Jefferson sent his personal secretary Meriwether Lewis and young army officer named William Clark to explore the northern part of the Louisiana Purchase” (Bailey, 220). This exploration of the new area ultimately led to the development of more farmland and a new place for people to settle westward, which had been prohibited by England. New farmland meant there was now the possibility to grow a greater variety of crops and an increase in the production of crops, which would give the federal government more opportunity to tax. This taxation would provide the government with a substantial increase in revenues. There was also a tremendous heterogeneity of people in this area, which could act as a stimulus to increase trade. Obviously the strategic location of the port of New Orleans at the mouth of the Mississippi would have a tremendous effect upon American trade along the river. There was an incredible economic upside to the acquisition of the port of New Orleans and the remainder of the lands in the Louisiana Purchase. Americans would find out just how valuable Jefferson’s purchase was in years to come. Despite the fact that we now recognize the Louisiana Purchase to be “Jefferson’s most glorious achievement as president,” Jefferson had to struggle within himself to decide whether to purchase this land or not. On the one hand he believed in a strict interpretation of the Constitution, which did not specifically give him the power to buy the land. On the other hand he w...