Question

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

Answer 1

C

Jefferson was a strict constructionist and worried the Constitution did not explicitly give the president authority to buy territory; he therefore feared the purchase might be unconstitutional.