0
Why did Jefferson go against his strict constructionist views of the constitution to make the Louisiana Purchase?
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Jefferson believed that the powers of the federal government and the executive branch were constrained by the enumerated powers granted to them in the constitution. The constitution, however, did not explicitly grant them the power to appropriate funds for the purchase of new lands. He also believed that the federal government should not spend money it did not have, and the Louisiana purchase greatly increased the deficit (by the standards of the time). Jefferson made the purchase anyway.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoBecause ownership of the Louisiana Territory (and especially control of New Orleans) was fundamental for the United States to be able to trade freely and expand into the rest of the continent, which Jefferson wanted. Jefferson's opinion on the constitutionality of the purchase was essentially "Nobody is going to object to us doing this, so why refuse a good deal?"
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
Why would Jefferson who was a strict constructionist regarding the constitution support the purchase of Louisiana when buying of such lands by the united states is not mentioned in the constitution?
Trick question The two are not connected.
How is the Louisiana purchase a departure from jeffersons political beliefs?
Jefferson was originally a strict constructionist when it came to the Constitution. That meant that he believed the government could only do what the Constitution said it could do. There was nothing in the document that gave the federal government the right to purchase land. Jefferson at first wanted to get an amendment added to the Constitution to give the national government the right to buy land. But, Jefferson was also a pragmatist. His advisers convinced him that Napoleon might withdraw the offer of Louisiana at any time so Jefferson agreed to make the purchase.
Why was Jefferson unsure as to whether or not he could buy the Louisiana territory?
He was a strict constructionist and since the Constitution never explicitly stated that the President had the authority to purchase land, he was conflicted between his views and the incredible opportunity to purchase the entire Louisiana Territory from the French for a mere $15 million. Obviously he ended up making the purchase but his belief in explicit interpretation of the Constitution was what made him unsure.
What happened when Jefferson purchase Louisiana?
It was Jefferson who was offered the land by France and he had fight Congress to get the money. There was nothing in the Constitution about the purchase of land.
Jefferson completed the Louisiana purchase even though what?
He was unsure that the Constitution allowed the deal.
Why would Jefferson who was a strict constructionist regarding the constitution support the purchase of Louisiana when buying of such lands by the united states is not mentioned in the constitution?
Trick question The two are not connected.
Historians regard Thomas Jefferson's decision to purchase the Louisiana Territory from France as being out of character for him because?
he was a strict constructionist who believed in a limited interpretation of the Constitution. The Louisiana Purchase, which doubled the size of the United States, required Jefferson to take an expansive view of the Constitution's implied powers. However, Jefferson justified the purchase on the grounds that it would secure the future of the agrarian republic and prevent European powers from gaining control of the Mississippi River.
As a strict constructionist's President Thomas Jefferson questioned the constitutional right to?
Thomas Jefferson questioned the right to buy the Louisiana Purchase.
How is the Louisiana purchase a departure from jeffersons political beliefs?
Jefferson was originally a strict constructionist when it came to the Constitution. That meant that he believed the government could only do what the Constitution said it could do. There was nothing in the document that gave the federal government the right to purchase land. Jefferson at first wanted to get an amendment added to the Constitution to give the national government the right to buy land. But, Jefferson was also a pragmatist. His advisers convinced him that Napoleon might withdraw the offer of Louisiana at any time so Jefferson agreed to make the purchase.
Why was Jefferson unsure as to whether or not he could buy the Louisiana territory?
He was a strict constructionist and since the Constitution never explicitly stated that the President had the authority to purchase land, he was conflicted between his views and the incredible opportunity to purchase the entire Louisiana Territory from the French for a mere $15 million. Obviously he ended up making the purchase but his belief in explicit interpretation of the Constitution was what made him unsure.
Loose construction or strict construction what was Thomas Jefferson's view on the constitution?
He was a strict constructionist. He viewed interpretted the Constituion narrowly. Strict constructionist were also called antiFederalists.
What happened when Jefferson purchase Louisiana?
It was Jefferson who was offered the land by France and he had fight Congress to get the money. There was nothing in the Constitution about the purchase of land.
When President Thomas Jefferson acquired the Louisiana Territory from France he demonstrated that he modified his belief that?
the federal government should have strict interpretation of the Constitution. Previously, Jefferson had been a strict constructionist, believing that the federal government should only exercise powers explicitly granted to it by the Constitution. However, the Louisiana Purchase was not explicitly authorized by the Constitution, leading Jefferson to interpret the necessary and proper clause to justify the acquisition. This demonstrated his willingness to adapt his beliefs when necessary for the benefit of the country.
Jefferson completed the Louisiana purchase even though what?
He was unsure that the Constitution allowed the deal.
What was true about Jefferson decision to buy the Louisiana territory?
He was unsure if the purchase was allowed by the constitution.
How does Jefferson solve the dilemma over whether it was constitutional to purchase Louisiana?
Necessity. Jefferson had historically been a strict constructionist prior to the acquisition of the Louisiana Purchase. However, when he was provided with the offer to buy all of the French Louisiana territory, he saw it as too good of an offer to refuse. So, he found that although the Constitution had no provision that would expressly allow him to buy land, he was allowed to make treaties with foreign nations (Art. II, Section 2, Clause 2). Therefore, he treated the land purchase as a treaty and followed the provisions provided in the Constitution for the approval of treaties.
Why did thomas Jefferson purchase Louisiana territory?
What did Thomas Jefferson purchase the Louisiana
