What first caused President Jefferson to believe the United States should purchase the Louisiana Territory? A. France had threatened to invade the United States. B. Spain had closed the port of New Orleans to American trade. C. France offered the region the the United States at a reduced rate. D. Spain gave the Louisiana Territory back to France.

Question

What first caused President Jefferson to believe the United States should purchase the Louisiana Territory?  A. France had threatened to invade the United States.  B. Spain had  closed the port of New Orleans to American trade. C. France offered the region the the United States at a reduced rate.  D. Spain gave the Louisiana Territory back to France.

GPT-4o mini · Answer

The correct answer is **D. Spain gave the Louisiana Territory back to France**. This event heightened concerns for President Jefferson and his administration about French control of the territory and its implications for American access to the Mississippi River and New Orleans, which were vital for trade. This led Jefferson to consider the purchase of the Louisiana Territory to secure American interests.