Final answer:
The circumstances of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 were driven by events outside of Thomas Jefferson's control. The consequences included the acquisition of the Louisiana territory, the expansion of American influence, and divisions over slavery.
Step-by-step explanation:
The circumstances of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 were driven by events outside of Thomas Jefferson's control. Spain had controlled New Orleans and had given the United States the right to trade in the port without paying customs duties. However, in 1801, Spain ceded Louisiana (and New Orleans) to France. The United States lost its right to deposit goods free in the port in 1802, causing outrage.
The consequences of the Louisiana Purchase were significant. The United States, under Jefferson's leadership, acquired the Louisiana territory from France for $15 million, effectively doubling its size. This purchase greatly enhanced the Jeffersonian vision of an agrarian republic and bolstered trade in the West. It also provided an opportunity for American exploration and expansion.
One of the consequences of the Louisiana Purchase was the expansion of American influence and power, as exemplified by the journey of Lewis and Clark's Corps of Discovery to explore and map the newly acquired territory. The purchase also sparked divisions over slavery, as the addition of more slave states raised concerns among northerners about representation in the North.
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