Final answer:
Thomas Jefferson wanted to make the Louisiana Purchase to expand the United States and secure vital trade routes, despite reservations about its constitutionality. He argued that the benefits outweighed the concerns. Whether it was the right decision is subject to personal interpretation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Thomas Jefferson wanted to make the Louisiana Purchase because he believed it was an opportunity to expand the United States and secure control of key trade routes, such as the Mississippi River and the port of New Orleans, which were crucial for American agricultural commerce.
However, he also had reservations about the purchase because it went against his strict interpretation of the Constitution. In the end, Jefferson prioritized his vision of an agrarian society, which required farmable land for the masses, over constitutional considerations.
Jefferson's argument for his final decision was that the benefits of acquiring the territory, such as the potential for westward expansion and the availability of land for farming, outweighed any concerns about the constitutionality of the purchase.
It is difficult to say whether it was the right decision or not as it ultimately depends on one's perspective. From an expansionist point of view, the acquisition of the Louisiana Territory allowed for significant growth and increased national security.
However, from a strict constitutional interpretation standpoint, Jefferson's decision could be seen as an overreach of executive power. Ultimately, it is a matter of debate and subject to individual interpretation.