[ushistory84]

We know that Thomas Jefferson made the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 for $15 million, which doubled the size of the United States, but I'm curios to know.. Was Jefferson initally afraid to make the purchase because he was afraid that doing so would cause a war with France?

[Curlyben]

Good place to start your research: Louisiana Purchase - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Wondergirl]

Is this homework or idle curiosity? We don't do homework, but will help you once we see you have made an effort.

Who owned the Louisiana territory before the US did? What was going on between Spain and France? Why was there a possibility of war with France? What did Jefferson do to prevent war? What resulted from his decision?

[ushistory84]

Its just idle curiosity. I recently watched a documentary on Thomas Jefferson and I'm interested in learning more about him. France previously owned the Louisiana territory.

The sale of the territory by Spain back to France in 1800. I think that there was a possibility of war over the fear of an eventual French invasion spread nationwide when, in 1801, Napoleon sent a military force to secure New Orleans. The war was prevented by The Treaty of Louisiana

[tickle]

Thomas Jefferson lived in France for a period of his life; he did not want to jeopardize his accumulation of land for the US by alienating the French who he considered to be a good trade resource and a strong allie. By the way, France and Spain were always at war.