How would you place into perspective Jefferson's Louisiana Purchase and his vision of Republican Simplicity. Do they make sense or are they at odds?



Answer :

Jefferson's purchase of the Louisiana territory from France was clearly at odds with the limits of presidential power that he, himself, argued for.  Jefferson would have had to wait for a constitutional amendment in order to reconcile the purchase with his philosophy on states' rights.
They make sense because Jefferson was a Strict constructionist and didnt know if the Lousiana purchase would be Constitutional... But he wanted to expand the growing nation.