159. Book Review | Jefferson's Great Gamble by Charles Cerami [A look at the Louisiana Purchase]

One president and two future presidents worked together on the Louisiana Purchase. This book dives into the story of how they did that, and what it took to coordinate the deal with Napoleon Bonaparte’s France. If you don’t know this story, I recommend you listen to this book review. So, listen below to learn why you need to know this story.

Thomas Jefferson (pictured) was the president during the Louisiana Purchase. — Thomas Jefferson, President during the Louisiana Purchase

Problems of the Louisiana Purchase

The purchase of the Louisiana Territory was no small feat. Nor was there a clear deal to be made. In fact, Napoleon and his forces were planning on occupying the territory at first, squeezing the western Americans out of their best seaport. But, what started as peace negotiations from a point of weakness soon turned into a much different conversation as time went on.

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Here’s the size of the Louisiana Territory:

Here's the size of the territory bought in Louisiana Purchase.

“The happy Union of these States is a wonder; their Constitution a miracle; their example the hope of Liberty throughout the world.”
James Madison

Fallout of the Louisiana Purchase

The Monroe doctrine is one of the major developments that came from this deal. This is the idea that America would push any major powers out of our hemisphere. Instead of allowing European and Asian powers to meddle in politics on the Americas, the Monroe Doctrine insists that the United States would lead.

Furthermore, this deal more than doubled the size of America, posing new problems. How will America fill this vast, new expanse? How much land did they actually buy? What’s out there? All these questions and more were dealt with throughout the 19th century. And, the answers were crucial in the shaping of the America we know today.