Why was Napoleon willing to sell Louisiana to the United States?
A. President Jefferson agreed to allow the French to maintain a military force in the state, ensuring that it
would never fall under British control.
B. The United States offered to enter into a trade agreement with France in exchange for being allowed to
purchase the state, which would make France the only European country with access to American goods.
C. All of the major ports in the state, most importantly New Orleans, had been destroyed as a result of
France's war with the British. This made it impossible for France to export goods back to their country.
D. President Jefferson threatened to align the United States with Britain, which was at war with France, in
order to gain control of the state.
Answer:D. President Jefferson threatened to align the United States with Britain, which was at war with France, in order to gain control of the state.
Explanation:
In 1762, France ceded the territory of Louisiana west of the Mississippi River to Spain, but Spain returned it to France in 1800.
Alarmed by this potential strengthening of French authorities, President Thomas Jefferson has threatened to form a coalition with Britain.
Napoleon then sold the entire territory of Louisiana to America, though its borders remained undefined; its northwest and southwest borders were not established until 1818-1819.
