Step-by-step explanation:
Thomas Jefferson was initially concerned about the potential for the federal government to become too powerful and infringe on individual liberties. However, his decision to purchase the Louisiana Territory in 1803 contradicted these fears because it was an exercise of strong federal power.
The Louisiana Purchase involved the federal government acquiring a vast amount of land without specific authorization from the Constitution. This move was a clear expansion of federal power, which Jefferson had previously warned against. However, Jefferson saw the acquisition of Louisiana as a way to secure American interests in the West, including the Mississippi River and the port of New Orleans, as well as to provide more land for American settlers.
Despite his initial concerns, Jefferson's decision to make the Louisiana Purchase was a pragmatic move that helped secure America's future expansion and interests. However, it also set a precedent for future exercises of federal power and could be seen as contradicting his earlier political philosophy of limiting federal power.