Resource Sheet U5-1

(1 of 2)

So How Did the Louisiana Purchase Impact the Nation?

Directions:In order to assess the degree to which the Louisiana Purchase impacted the nation complete the following.

Part I: In Opposition

In 1803, Thomas Jefferson’s decision to purchase the Louisiana territory created quite a bit of controversy. Although very little was known about the Louisiana territory, opponents of the purchase in Congress claimed the following:

  • The territory was a “worthless desert”.
  • The Constitution did not say that Jefferson could buy land.
  • Jefferson was adding to the national debt.
  • WashingtonD.C. would not be able to control settlers who moved west.

Part II: Immediate Impact

Directions:Use information from the chart to answer the following questions.

The United States Before and After the Louisiana Purchase
Before / After
States / 15 / 16 (Kentucky)
Area / 888,811 sq. miles / 1,716,811 sq. miles
National Debt / $81.5 (amount being repaid) / $96.5 (includes $15 million for the Louisiana Purchase)
Native American Tribes Within U.S. Borders / 9 / 19
Land Available for Future Settlement / 746,793 square miles / 1,574,793 square miles

1.How did the Louisiana Purchase impact the United States in 1803?

2.Based upon the above information, what challenges did the Louisiana Purchase create for the federal government of the United States?

Resource Sheet U5-1

(2 of 2)

Part II: Defending Decisions

In 1803, the Louisiana Purchase consisted of 828,000 square miles of land. The transaction cost the United States $15 million. Thirteen states were created from the territory. Current information for five of the states can be found below. Use information from the chart to respond to the following.

Louisiana Purchase States / Recent Population / Acres of Farmland (in millions) / Value of Farmland
(in billions) / Manufacturing Sales / Income per Household
Colorado / 4,500,000.00 / 32.6 / 19.9 / 40,012,820 / 21,587
Louisiana / 4,500,000.00 / 7.9 / 9.0 / 80,423,978 / 16,912
Minnesota / 5,000,000.00 / 26 / 29.9 / 76,244,894 / 23,198
Missouri / 5,700,000.00 / 28.8 / 30.0 / 93,115,478 / 19,936
Oklahoma / 3,500,000.00 / 33.2 / 20.0 / 37,453,197 / 17,646
TOTAL / 23,200,000.00 / 128.5 / $97.8 / $327,250,367 / $19,856

Imagine that you are a historian researching the impact of the Louisiana Purchase on the United States. What current evidence could you provide that refutes the claims made by opponents in Congress in 1803 who did not want Jefferson to purchase the territory? How did Jefferson’s decision regarding the Louisiana Purchase impact the nation? Explain.

2006-07U5-1