<P> The Kingdom of France controlled the Louisiana territory from 1699 until it was ceded to Spain in 1762 . In 1800 , Napoleon , then the First Consul of the French Republic , hoping to re-establish an empire in North America , regained ownership of Louisiana . However , France 's failure to put down the revolt in Saint - Domingue , coupled with the prospect of renewed warfare with the United Kingdom , prompted Napoleon to sell Louisiana to the United States to fund his military . The Americans originally sought to purchase only the port city of New Orleans and its adjacent coastal lands , but quickly accepted the bargain . The Louisiana Purchase occurred during the term of the third President of the United States , Thomas Jefferson . Before the purchase was finalized , the decision faced Federalist Party opposition ; they argued that it was unconstitutional to acquire any territory . Jefferson agreed that the U.S. Constitution did not contain explicit provisions for acquiring territory , but he asserted that his constitutional power to negotiate treaties was sufficient . </P>
<P> The Kingdom of France controlled the Louisiana territory from 1699 until it was ceded to Spain in 1762 . In 1800 , Napoleon , then the First Consul of the French Republic , hoping to re-establish an empire in North America , regained ownership of Louisiana . However , France 's failure to put down the revolt in Saint - Domingue , coupled with the prospect of renewed warfare with the United Kingdom , prompted Napoleon to sell Louisiana to the United States to fund his military . The Americans originally sought to purchase only the port city of New Orleans and its adjacent coastal lands , but quickly accepted the bargain . The Louisiana Purchase occurred during the term of the third President of the United States , Thomas Jefferson . Before the purchase was finalized , the decision faced Federalist Party opposition ; they argued that it was unconstitutional to acquire any territory . Jefferson agreed that the U.S. Constitution did not contain explicit provisions for acquiring territory , but he asserted that his constitutional power to negotiate treaties was sufficient . </P>
who was the leader of france who sold the louisiana territory
who was the leader of france who sold the louisiana territory
Napoleon
Napoleon