that the United States would eventually reach from sea to sea no matter what speed bumps it ran into. The Louisiana Purchase in 1803 enabled President Jefferson to partake in this view. The purchase consisted of a vast 885,000 square miles of land for $15 million acquired from France. The purchase was done behind closed doors without the knowledge of the federal government; Jefferson wanted the transaction to be speedy and quiet. James Monroe arrived in France with power from President Jefferson to buy New Orleans and the Floridas for not more than 10 million dollars; he was offered the whole of the French territory for approximately 15 million dollars. Although the American agents had no authority to spend such a large sum, they signed the treaty of purchase on April 30, 1803. It was specifically purchased from Napolean Bonaparte who used the money to build France's grand army with which he planned to conquer many nations. This was a great threat to democracy because the president went behind the people's backs and negotiated with France. This agreement, which was very beneficial to France, had other nations such as Great Britain in an uproar. Although it was a quick decision for Jefferson, it was a good one for the U.S.; the size of the nation doubled with the stroke of a pen.Another great threat to democracy was the Burr Conspiracy of 1804. Burr became involved in a bizarre plot to separate the West from the rest of the nation after a series of events. He lost the presidency in the election of 1800 to Jefferson and became vice-president. As vice-president, Burr created difficulties for the president. Burr's strange behavior during the election of 1800 raised suspicions that he had conspired to deprive Jefferson of the presidency. Whatever the truth may have been the vice-president entered the administration under a dark cloud. Burr was an ambitious man and it was frustrating for him to deal with the minor roles that the vi...
