Answer:
D. France had recently regained control of Louisiana, and the United States wanted access to the port.
Step-by-step explanation:
Originally, Thomas Jefferson, the then United States President, want to approach the French about purchasing the Port of New Orleans.
This is as a result of the fact that France had recently regained control of Louisiana, and the United States wanted access to the port.
This is because Thomas Jefferson believed that French control of New Orleans, might not favor the voyage of western Americans who wanted to carry out trading activities through the port.
Hence the correct answer is option D: France had recently regained control of Louisiana, and the United States wanted access to the port.