Apr 27, 2019 3 min read

This week (May 2) in 1803, the United States and France formally signed the treaty that transferred the Louisiana Territory, including the port city of New Orleans, to the United States for the paltry sum of $11,250,000. The Louisiana Purchase, as it is known, is considered one of the greatest land deals in American history, not only because it was a bargain – costing about 3 cents an acre – but also because it more than doubled America’s size, giving America the middle third of the continental nation it would eventually become.

Quite understandably, U.S. President Thomas Jefferson jumped at the opportunity to make this purchase. But why was France’s leader, Napoleon Bonaparte, willing to sell it?

There were several reasons, including his belief that his New World possessions, including the Louisiana Territory and the island of Haiti, were more trouble than they were worth. A recent native revolt against French plantation owners in Haiti had forced Napoleon to send thousands of French troops to the island to put down the revolt, and between French deaths on the battlefield and even more deaths by mosquito-caused yellow fever, his losses had been staggering. Having decided to relinquish Haiti, Napoleon lost interest in New Orleans and the Louisiana Territory, which he actually considered of lesser importance.

Another reason Napoleon agreed to sell was his decision to concentrate on his European empire, which he knew would mean future wars, so he would need money to wage those wars. In 1803, $11,250,000 was a tidy sum.

A third reason was his fear he might lose the Louisiana Territory by force, either to the Americans or, more probably, the British, in some future conflagration – so selling it would gain him significant financial compensation. Also, he much preferred selling it to the Americans over the British, because the British always had been and always would be his main enemy. In contrast, selling to America might turn a potential enemy into a friendly neutral, perhaps even ally, in any future war France waged against the British.

In doing so, Napoleon displayed uncanny foresight in seeing America as a future rival to the British Empire at least the equal of France. That is why, although Jefferson had initially sought to purchase only New Orleans, Napoleon offered him the whole territory. “They asked of me a town and I give them an empire,” he said.

And to what future purpose would this new American empire be put? “I have just given to England a maritime rival [America] that sooner or later will humble her pride,” Napoleon answered, and he was right.

Speaking of foresight, two weeks after the sale was completed, France and Britain were, once again, at war.

Bruce G. Kauffmann’s email address is bruce@historylessons.net