I believe it is the last option... "Its political system cannot be easily changed.
The Louisiana Purchase helped to double the size of the country and provided control of the Mississippi River. The Louisiana Purchase was a massive land purchase by the U.S. from France under President Thomas Jefferson's administration.
The Constitution of the United States divides the federal government into three branches to make sure no individual or group will have too much power:
Legislative—Makes laws (Congress, comprised of the House of Representatives and Senate)
Executive—Carries out laws (president, vice president, Cabinet, most federal agencies)
Judicial—Evaluates laws (Supreme Court and other courts)
Each branch of government can change acts of the other branches:
The president can veto legislation created by Congress and nominates heads of federal agencies.
Congress confirms or rejects the president's nominees and can remove the president from office in exceptional circumstances.
The Justices of the Supreme Court, who can overturn unconstitutional laws, are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate.
Candidate Party Electoral Votes
Abraham Lincoln Republican 180
John C. Breckinridge Democratic 72
John Bell Constitutional Union 39
Stephen A. Douglas Democratic 12