Educating Young People about the Constitution

Presidents and the Constitution, Vol. 2 Federal Power: Thomas Jefferson and the Louisiana Purchase

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Presidents and the Constitution Resources

Thomas Jefferson bought the Louisiana Purchase for $15 Million dollars. However, the Constitution makes no mention of the Presidents ability to buy land. Since all Executive power comes from Article II, how can Presidents come to different conclusions about what they can do? What are the limits of the Presidency? Directions: Read Dr. Marc Landys Essay The Presidency and Federal Power on pages 4-6. Underline or highlight the facts you think are important.

Impeachment and the Constitution

Constitutional Connection Activity

Thomas Jefferson and the Louisiana Purchase

Critical Engagement Question Why did President Thomas Jefferson, an advocate for strict construction of federal power, approve of the Louisiana Purchase.

Thomas Jefferson and the Louisiana Purchase

Objectives Understand the events leading up to the Louisiana Purchase
Analyze Thomas Jeffersons views of the Purchases constitutionality. Assess the constitutionality of the Louisiana Purchase. Appreciate Jeffersons dilemma between expedience and constitutional scruples.

Map of Territorial Acquisitions from 17831853

Thomas Jefferson and the Louisiana Purchase

Background/Homework Read Handout A: Thomas Jefferson and the Louisiana Purchase and answer the questions: 1) How did Republicans believe the powers of the national government should be interpreted? 2) Why was new Orleans important to the American economy? 3) What did Jefferson instruct James Monroe and Robert Livingston to do on their diplomatic mission in 1803.

Thomas Jefferson and the Louisiana Purchase

Background/Homework continued 4) What were Jeffersons concerns about the constitutionality of the Louisiana Purchase Treaty? 5) One Historian has described the Louisiana Purchase as raising in Jeffersons mind a conflict between constitutional scruples and expedience. What did he mean?

Napoleon Bonaparte, who sold the Louisiana Purchase to the U.S. for $15 million dollars; about 3 cents an acre

Thomas Jefferson and the Louisiana Purchase

Warm-Up Get a quotation card from Handout B: Jeffersons Views on the Louisiana Purchase Discuss the main ideas of your card. Write the quotation in your own words.

Thomas Jefferson and the Louisiana Purchase

Activity Copy the drawing below onto your paper. Review the quote cards and discuss how you wrote it in your own words. Mark where your quote card falls on the drawing (below) Once finished, discuss the question: What do you notice about the changes in Jeffersons views.

The Louisiana Purchase DOES require a constitutional amendment.

The Louisiana Purchase DOES NOT require a constitutional amendment.

Thomas Jefferson and the Louisiana Purchase

Thomas Jefferson 1791 1821

Wrap-Up Discuss Thomas Jeffersons views on the necessity of a constitutional amendment to authorize the Louisiana Purchase in regards to the following ideas: 1) Did his views actually change? 2) Given the force of Jeffersons earlier statements about the importance of holding the national government to the exercise of its enumerated power only, would it be fair to call him a flip-flopper? Why or Why not?

Thomas Jefferson and the Louisiana Purchase

Homework Draw a political cartoon about the purchase of the Louisiana Purchase without a constitutional amendment that might have appeared in a Federalist newspaper Draw a political cartoon about the purchase of the Louisiana Purchase without a constitutional amendment that might have appeared in a Republican newspaper Both cartoons should feature the Constitution as a central graphic argument Post the cartoons and discuss them.

Treaty purchasing the Louisiana Purchase

Thomas Jefferson and the Louisiana Purchase

Extensions Opportunity or luck? Conduct additional research on the circumstances around the Louisiana Purchase and write a position paper in which you persuasively argue that Jefferson does or does not deserve the credit for the Louisiana Purchase.

Portrait of the Lewis and Clark expedition. President Jefferson commissioned Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to explore and map the Louisiana Purchase in 1803