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Je erson Uses Fourth of July to Announce Louisiana Purchase

By: JORDAN B. DARLING

With the Fourth of July just around the corner, it is important to look back and remember why we celebrate, and maybe take a walk down American history lane as to other fascinating things which have fallen on Independence Day.

As we all know the Declaration of Indepdence was signed on July 2, 1776, and officially adopted two days later on July 4.

The Continental Congress officially declared our independence from England and from then on the American people have celebrate with food, friends, and fireworks.

However, in 1803, America had a whole new thing to celebrate. An expansion of the territory. On July 4, 1803, Thomas Jefferson announced a tentative deal to purchase 530,000 acres of territory which would later be known as the Louisiana Purchase, according to the National Constitution Center website. Jefferson sent James Monroe, appointed Envoy Extraordinary, to France to join U.S. Minister to France Robert Livingston to obtain land east of the Mississippi or, at the bare minimum, obtain rights to New Orleans, the conjoining port, and the Mississippi River.

Monroe arrived in Paris on April 12, 1803, where Napoleon Bonaparte had a deal in mind which was more than the United States had hoped.

He offered to sell the United States the entirety of its Louisiana property.

Napoleon’s Minister of Finance, Francois de Barbe-Marbois, had been counseling the emperor to relinquish the land in the Americas after a slave rebellion in Saint Domingue, modern-day Haiti, had tied up the French army.

Barbe-Marbois argued that without the island, the territory in America was less valuable. With a war with Britain on the horizon, the territory would probably be taken by British forces in Canada and lost anyway, so why not sell to the United States.

Monroe and Livingston went into negotiations with an authorized $10 million. On April 30, 1803, they reached an agreement that doubled the size of the country and exceeded their budget by $5 million, according to the Monticello website.

Jefferson received the notification just in time to make the announcement on Independence Day.

The Senate ratified the treaty on Oct. 20, 1803, in a 24 to 7 vote. Spain, who was holding Louisiana at the time, was greatly upset by the treaty but did not have the military to stop it. Therefore, they formally returned the territory to France on Nov. 30, 1803. France transferred the territory to the United States on Dec. 20, 1803, and the country took formal possession on Dec. 30, 1803.

Shutterstock photo

The Louisiana Purchase added 827,000 square miles of territory to the United States, doubling the size of the new country.

RE: Blips on the Radar: Coastal Commission Denies Poseidon Permit

(MAY 27- JUNE 9)

“Protecting the coast should be the number one priority. I applaud the Coastal for voting unanimously against this ill-fated project.” —Al Barker

RE: Upcoming Plans for Three Beloved OC Piers

(MAY 27- JUNE 9)

“Long Beach has a nice idea of a simple restaurant and some event space on the second story. It seems to be a popular destination and is usually full of people walking and hiking, dining, and fishing all at the end of the pier. A restaurant would work If the plan it right.” —Jason Vega

RE: Ask a Maritime Attorney: What is the Coast Guard Auxiliary’s

role? (MAY 27- JUNE 9)

The reply gives a good explanation of the CG Auxiliary, however, the role of the CGAUX in “boarding” and “inspecting” recreational vessels is somewhat more nuanced. While it is true that the CGAUX may assist the CG in any of its roles and missions, the CGAUX has no independent law enforcement authority. The CG’s law enforcement authority- and thus it’s authority to stop and inspect recreational vessels- is limited to

Please see COMMENTS, PAGE 5

On Board With Johnson by J.R. Johnson