MUSEUMS TODAY: Jefferson, Napoleon, and the Louisiana Purchase

MUSEUMS TODAY: Jefferson, Napoleon, and the Louisiana Purchase

INTRODUCTION

  • The Louisiana Purchase is one of the most significant events in American history.
  • This purchase doubled the size of the United States, incorporating all or parts of 13-17 states, from Louisiana to North Dakota.
    • The variance in the number of states can be attributed to differing historical interpretations of the original territorial boundaries.
  • Thomas Jefferson, the president during the purchase, played a key role in promoting ideals of liberty, justice, and religious freedom influenced by Enlightenment thinkers like Voltaire.

THOMAS JEFFERSON

  • Jefferson's Influence:
    • He was not a soldier in the American Revolution; his contributions were as a statesman, notably drafting the Declaration of Independence at the request of the Continental Congress.
    • His dedication to liberty and self-governance was also reflected in his relationships with French revolutionaries, especially the Marquis de Lafayette.
    • Lafayette was deeply influenced by Jefferson and fought for American independence at his own expense.
  • Lifelong Francophile:
    • Jefferson was sent to France as a trade commissioner (1784) and subsequently served as American minister (1785-1789) to the court of King Louis XVI.
    • His ideas and experiences helped inspire the French Revolution, even as he returned to the U.S. shortly after the fall of the Bastille.
  • Legacy and Values:
    • Jefferson returned to America to promote democracy alongside John Adams, serving as vice president prior to becoming the third president in 1800.
    • His home at Monticello showcased a mix of French art, such as Sèvres porcelain, and furniture crafted by enslaved individuals at his plantation.

NAPOLEON BONAPARTE

  • Rise to Power:
    • Napoleon's ascent was marked by military success, contrasting Jefferson's political rise.
    • He crowned himself Emperor in 1804, a year after the Louisiana Purchase, embodying the trappings of a monarch despite originating from revolutionary ideals.
    • He became First Consul of France in 1799, following the inefficacy of the French government post-Reign of Terror.
  • Economic and Legal Reforms:
    • Napoleon revitalized France's economy by reorganizing luxury goods industries and unifying France’s legal codes under the Napoleonic Code.

CONTEXT OF THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE

  • Reasons for the Sale of the Louisiana Territory:
    • Napoleon sought to sell this territory partially to finance his war efforts against England.
    • The situation in Saint-Domingue (now Haiti) significantly influenced his decision.
    • The territory was initially vital for sugar production.
    • Toussaint Louverture led a slave uprising in the territory, eventually declaring himself governor in 1800 and abolishing slavery in 1802.
    • Napoleon's inability to maintain control over Saint-Domingue prompted him to sell Louisiana, regarding it as strategically lost.
  • Events Leading Up to the Purchase:
    • The Spanish governor of the Louisiana Territory revoked American rights of free deposit in 1802, prompting Jefferson to explore acquiring New Orleans.
    • Jefferson dispatched Robert Livingston and James Monroe to negotiate, originally seeking just New Orleans but receiving an offer for the entire Louisiana Territory.
    • This territory was ceded back to France by Spain in November 1803 under the Treaty of San Ildefonso.

DETAILS OF THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE

  • Financial Aspects:
    • The price for approximately 827,987 square miles was settled at $15,000,000, which translates to about three to four cents an acre.
  • Ensuring American Control:
    • The official transfer of power was executed in December 1803 in New Orleans at the Cabildo, shortly after the French reacquired the territory from Spain.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE

  • The Louisiana Purchase marked a pivotal moment in U.S. history:
    • It facilitated Jefferson's vision of a nation stretching from coast to coast and was a peaceful transaction between two differing governance styles.
  • Cultural Commemoration:
    • An exhibition titled "Jefferson's America & Napoleon's France: An Exhibition for the Louisiana Purchase Bicentennial" celebrates this historical event at the New Orleans Museum of Art.
    • The exhibition features over 260 objects including historical documents highlighting the contrasts between Jefferson's democratic approach and Napoleon's autocratic style.
  • Artistic Representations:
    • Jefferson’s portrait by Rembrandt Peale portrayed simplicity, while Napoleon’s representations were grand and opulent, underscoring their differing personalities and governing philosophies.

CONCLUSION

  • The Louisiana Purchase was not just a land transaction; it symbolized the complexities of democracy, power, and the ideological legacies of two prominent leaders, Jefferson and Napoleon.
  • The contrasting leadership styles and values of Jefferson and Napoleon are exemplified through the artifacts and artworks displayed in exhibitions that commemorate this historic acquisition.