Final answer:
France, under Napoleon Bonaparte, sold the Louisiana Territory due to financial strain from European conflicts and the loss of Haitian territory, as well as the desire to counter British influence in North America. The U.S. acquisition, led by President Thomas Jefferson, allowed control over New Orleans and the Mississippi River, thereby doubling the country's size and facilitating westward expansion.
Step-by-step explanation:
Reasons Behind France's Willingness to Sell the Louisiana Territory
France was willing to sell the Louisiana Territory to the United States for several reasons. Napoleon Bonaparte, the leader of France, faced financial difficulties due to various circumstances including the expense of French campaigns, particularly the failed attempt to suppress the Haitian Revolution. Faced with the prospect of war with Britain and the strategic loss of Haiti, he realized that maintaining and defending this vast territory would be too costly and difficult.
Moreover, Napoleon's vision of a French empire in the Americas was fading, and he was in need of funds to support ongoing conflicts in Europe. The Louisiana Purchase provided an opportunity to bolster the French treasury. Relinquishing the territory also meant that France was diminishing the potential threat of British control in the region by strengthening the United States, which could serve as a buffer against British expansion.
Thomas Jefferson's administration saw this as an incredible opportunity to double the size of the United States, ensuring control over the Mississippi River and the crucial port of New Orleans, essential for the agrarian economy. The purchase was completed for $15 million, a bargain at the time, and set forth American westward expansion, fulfilling Jefferson's vision of an agrarian republic.