Why did Jefferson purchase Louisiana even though the constitution said nothing about the presidents right to buy land?

Answer 1

There were a number of factors in the acquisition of the Louisiana Territory on both sides of the purchase. Until it finally came into the hands of the U.S. in 1803, the territory changed hands many times. It was originally claimed by France, but eventually it ended up in the hands of the Spanish. Spain held the territory until 1800, when it was returned to France under the Treaty of San Ildefonso. The treaty was kept a secret, and Spain retained the territory until the deal was announced just three weeks before the purchase in December, 1803. At the time of the Louisiana Purchase, Jefferson was a Republican, which, in the period, was the party that favored strict interpretation of the constitution. Jefferson was the well-respected leader of the party back then, and he was the brain behind the party's platform. Even so, when France was desperate to receive funds from selling off territory and offered the U.S. the unbelievable opportunity to purchase it for only $15,000,000, Jefferson realized that the constitution granted no right for the federal government to purchase land. As a strict constructionist, Jefferson had a conundrum. In the end, he decided to go against his own party's values and call the purchase a "treaty" in order to bypass the lack of a territory acquisition clause in the constitution. As it turned out, his risk payed off and hardly anyone in his party held his lapse of loyalty against him.

Answer 2

The country had a serious and immediate need to have free access to the Gulf of Mexico via the Mississippi River. Napoleon offered an attractive price so Jefferson wisely agreed. He did have to get the Senate to ratify the agreement and the entire Congress had to raise the money so he did not do it all on his own. He buried whatever constitutional reservations he had for the overall good of the country.

Answer 3

He was unsure that the Constitution allowed the deal.

Answer 4

Jefferson was unsure that the constitution allowed the deal

Answer 5

because it was a good deal.