Question

President Thomas Jefferson approved the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. He and other Democratic-Republicans had doubts about the decision, however, because
A.
the Constitution never said that the president has authority to make land purchases.
B.
the purchase had been supported by the Federalists, who were Jefferson's opponents.
C.
the Constitution clearly defined U.S. territory as being east of the Mississippi River.
D.
the purchase would possibly make the U.S. too large to remain a single united country.

Answer 1

A. The Constitution never said that the president has authority to make land purchases.

Jefferson, a strict constructionist, worried the Constitution did not explicitly authorize the executive to buy foreign territory, so he justified the Louisiana Purchase under the treaty-making power even though some also feared the vast new territory might strain national unity.