When Napoleon made a reverse decision to sell the Louisiana Territory completely to the United States and pull out of North Amer
ica to pursue his European ambitions, why did Jefferson see this as a constitutional dilemma? He did not believe the Constitution gave him the right to add this expanse of territory via treaty.
He felt that he could not authorize the purchase since it was not in the best interest of United States to acquire Louisiana.
He did not feel that he had the authority to manage an area that had been formerly controlled by Spain and France.
He felt the purchase would eventually lead to war with both Spain and France.
He perceived this as a major threat to building relations with the European nations.
"<span>He did not believe the Constitution gave him the right to add this expanse of territory via treaty" is correct. In the end, however, he made the purchase because it was such a bargain. </span>
"He did not believe the Constitution gave him the right to add this expanse of territory via treaty"
Explanation:
Thomas Jefferson, at that point President of the United States, was worried that the French may endeavor to close the port of New Orleans to American traffic. The Mississippi River by then was the country's essential port; if the U.S. were to lose access to New Orleans, the nation may be choked financially. Despite the fact that Jefferson was something of a Francophile and had little use for the British, he understood that such a circumstance may expect him to consult with the British, just on the grounds that they were at war with France and Napoleon.
Jefferson was concerned to the point that he kept in touch with his envoy in France: "The day that France takes possession of New Orleans, we must marry ourselves to the British fleet and nation."
