Textbook Excerpt:
On October 20, 1803, the Senate ratified the Louisiana Purchase Treaty by a vote of twenty-four to seven. The agreement, which provided for the purchase of the western half of the Mississippi River basin from France at a price of $15 million, or approximately four cents per acre, doubled the size of the country and paved the way for westward expansion beyond the Mississippi.
Use the excerpt to answer the question.
Based on the excerpt, which of the following statements can be inferred about the effect the Louisiana Purchase would have on the United States?
Because of its ratification of the treaty, Congress confirmed that presidents had the power to purchase land.
Because of the purchase of the territory, Americans could now legally start settling regions in the West.
Because of the treaty, the French could no longer pose a threat against the United States.
Because of the high cost of the purchase, the United States would struggle even more with the public debt.
which one is right?
Based on the excerpt provided, the statement that can be inferred about the effect the Louisiana Purchase would have on the United States is:
"Because of the purchase of the territory, Americans could now legally start settling regions in the West."
This statement is the most directly supported by the information given in the excerpt, which mentions the purchase paved the way for westward expansion beyond the Mississippi. The other statements are not directly supported by the excerpt:
1. The ratification of the treaty by the Senate does not, in itself, confirm that presidents had the power to purchase land. This is more of a constitutional interpretation issue and not explicitly stated in the excerpt.
2. The excerpt does not discuss the French as a threat or the implications of the treaty on French-American relations in those terms, so the statement about the French no longer posing a threat is not directly supported by the excerpt.
3. The excerpt mentions the cost of $15 million but does not provide any perspective on the impact of this cost on the United States' public debt, so it cannot be inferred that it would cause the country to struggle with public debt from the information given.