All politics are fluid

Thomas Jefferson was a member of the Democratic-Republican party which believed in states rights with little power for the Federal government and the Presidency. They were opposed by the Federalists who believed that Federal Power was necessary for the Union to remain one nation. It was therefore a curious situation when Jefferson decided that he could make the Louisiana Purchase. In fact he was not sure that he had the Constitutional right to make that purchase based on his belief concerning the role of the President but he decided to do it anyway. It is also curious that the Federalists who supported a strong President and central government said that did not have the power to make the purchase. Adding to the complication was the fact that although France (under Napoleon) had recently agreed to acquire the territory they had not actually taken possession and they had agreed to the stipulation that they would NOT sell the territory.

(Book – John Marshall – Jean Edward Smith)

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