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Mostly he needed the cash as he was in the middle of a World War with the Brits and the rest of Europe at the time. Plus he simply did not have the resources to hold or maintain a huge possession that far away when he had to use all of his money and military power much closer to home. He had enough problems just getting his warships out of port in the face of the British blockade. There was zero chance that he could or would have tried to send them (and the large numbers of ground troops required) to the New World to hold Louisiana in the face of American Expansion on land and the British Navy at sea. He took the money and ran.
The French didn't give up on the New World though. They were still trying to hold Mexico right through the American Civil War.
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The French did not feel all that strongly about Louisiana. Despite the French colonization, it had been the Spanish running the territory for decades. The French got it back primarily to give to the US, and the Spanish gave it up mostly because they were afraid of Napoleon taking over the Spanish mainland instead.
The French didn't really want it. They didn't have the ability to control it; they needed all of their troops in Europe to fight Napoleon's wars. So selling Louisiana to the Americans killed several birds with one stone:
- It got rid of a territory he didn't have the money to administer
- It gave him a nice infusion of cash
- It helped cement the alliance between the US and France
- It strengthed the US, especially giving them additional ports to control. That gave the US an incentive to strengthen its navy
It wasn't enough. The British navy had stomped the French one definitively a few years later, and Napoleon pretty much fought a land battle after that.
Still, the Battle of Waterloo was awfully close. It didn't help to have the British navy distracted by the War of 1812; those ships would have been better used for logistics from England. If the battle had turned just slightly differently, the sale of Louisiana to the US might be hailed as one of Napoleon's most fore-sighted achievements.
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoHe needed the money and it was too difficult for him to defend it against the English, and Americans in North America. France was defeated badly in the French and Indian wars and their claim on North America went downhill from there.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoto make France's Caribbean coloneis more profitable
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoHe needed cash to continue his European war.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoHis wife said he should be sucking more that caring about louisiana
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoFor the same reason everyone else sells very valuable things. Greed of Money.
Wiki User
∙ 10y agoBonaparte planned to use the land around the Mississippi River to grow crops and raise animals to feed his colony in Santo Domingo.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoTo collect money in order to face the financial purposes related to the war against Great Britain.
Hannah R
He sold it in order to pay for a war in Great Britain. -apex
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How were the territories of Louisiana and Alaska acquired?
The U.S. purchased the Louisiana territory in 1803 from Napoleon, who at that time was the leader of France. It was not until 1819 that the boundaries of the land were fully determined. they ate subway
Which territory did the US acquire first?
Louisiana Territory was purchased in 1803. Florida Territory was purchased in 1821, California, New Mexico and Arizona Territory followed with the Mexican American War. Alaska in 1867.
What two reasons did napoleon have for selling Louisiana to US?
He needed money and was very poor so he sold it and he was under the law not to
What was the result of Napoleon selling Louisiana?
It was a win, win, situation for both the US and Napoleon. The US gained land for westward expansion and the Port of New Orleans and the Mississippi River, both of which were essential for commerce and growth in the midwest. Napoleon gained the funds needed to continue his European war and also this sale was certain to be upsetting to Great Britain since it had prior claims to lands on the Pacific Coast of North America and an interest in commerce via New Orleans.
What political party is Senator David Vitter from Louisiana in?
Vitter is a Republican. The other US Senator from Louisiana is Mary Landrieu a Democrat.
What territory was acquired by the US from Napoleon?
The Louisiana Territory which is most often called the Louisiana Purchase.
Who sold Louisiana to America?
The Louisiana Territory was purchases from Napoleon Bonaparte of France.
What did Napoleon Bonaparte have to do with Louisiana?
He sold the Louisiana Territory to the US for $15 million.
When did Napoleon offer to sell the territory of Louisiana to the US?
In 1803.
What Napoleon sold the US this territory in order to finance his European war?
Napoleon sold the Louisiana Territory to the US to finance his European War.
How much did Napoleon want for the Lousiana Territory?
US paid to Napoleon US $ 11,250,000 plus cancellation of debts worth US $ 3,750,000 for Louisiana Territory.
Did France sell the Louisiana Territory to the US in 1803?
YES. The sale of the Louisiana Territory was concluded between Napoleon and Jefferson.
Did the US fight France for control over the Louisiana Territory?
No , Napoleon Bonaparte gave the United States the Louisiana Territory for 3 cents an acre for various reasons
Who sold the Louisiana Territory To the unites States?
Napoleon sold French Louisiana to the US in 1803 as the Louisiana Purchase.
Who made the treaty with Napoleon to buy the Louisiana Purchase?
US President Thomas Jefferson concluded a treaty with Napoleon to buy the Louisiana Territory.
Who did the US purchase the Louisiana Territory from in 1803?
The French sold their territory 'la Louisiane' (Louisiana) to the US in 1803.
What leader of what country offered to sell the Louisiana territory t the US?
Napoleon Bonaparte
