Why was Jefferson hesitant to make the Louisiana Purchase?

Thomas Jefferson was hesitant to make the Louisiana Purchase even though it was a great deal for the United States. The United States originally offered France $10 million for New Orleans and West Florida. Napoleon, who had plans for a big war in Europe and no longer had a need for land in North America, countered with an even better offer. He would sell us the entire Louisiana Purchase for $15 million. If we agreed...

Thomas Jefferson was hesitant to make the Louisiana Purchase even though it was a great deal for the United States. The United States originally offered France $10 million for New Orleans and West Florida. Napoleon, who had plans for a big war in Europe and no longer had a need for land in North America, countered with an even better offer. He would sell us the entire Louisiana Purchase for $15 million. If we agreed to this purchase, the size of the United States would double.

There are two ways to interpret the Constitution. Those who believe in a loose view of the Constitution believe it is acceptable to interpret the meaning of it. Those who believe in a strict view of the Constitution believe a person can only do what the Constitution specifically says you can do. Thomas Jefferson was a believer in the strict view of the Constitution. Since there was no wording in the Constitution that says that a President can buy land, Jefferson hesitated to make the Louisiana Purchase. Fortunately, Jefferson was persuaded to make the deal, doubling the size of the country in 1803.