In 1803,Thomas Jefferson had the opportunity to secure a majestic western border, creating a safer country for all. With Louisiana safely in hand, the French threat would largely disappear, along with Napoleon's dreams of an American colonial empire. Jefferson's accomplishment in eliminating this threat is staggering, and even more so in the face of Napoleon. Many times, the French fought for control of Louisiana. In the Seven-Years war, the French were forced to cede the land to Spain, a decrepit monarchy that posed no threat to America. The threat of violence increased in 1799 when Napoleon executed a series of secret pacts and diplomatic moves, taking control of Louisiana once again. The intrinsic importance of the Louisiana territory cannot be overstated. …
