Final answer:
France sold the Louisiana Territory due to economic pressures and a shift in military strategy after the failure of their plans in Haiti, compounded by financial difficulties from the Napoleonic Wars, leading to the Louisiana Purchase.
Step-by-step explanation:
The major factors that likely led France to sell the Louisiana Territory include economic pressures and a reassessment of military strategy following military defeat in the region. The sale was directly influenced by the Haitian Revolution, which overthrew the French colonial regime in Haiti. This revolution, led by enslaved Black people, thwarted Napoleon's plans to use Louisiana as a source of food for Haiti, a highly profitable colony for France. Moreover, after the costly campaigns of the Napoleonic Wars, France faced significant financial hardship. These economic and strategic factors made Napoleon amenable to selling the large tract of land. Consequently, President Thomas Jefferson capitalized on the opportunity, resulting in the Louisiana Purchase, which doubled the size of the United States.