"This treaty must of course be laid before both Houses, because both Houses have important functions to exercise respecting it. They, I presume, will see their duty to their country in ratifying & paying for it, so as to secure a good which would otherwise probably be never again in their power. But I suppose they must then appeal to the nation for an additional article to the Constitution, approving & confirming an act which the nation had not previously authorized. The Executive in seizing the fugitive occurrence which so much advances the good of their country, have done an act beyond the Constitution. The Legislature in casting behind them metaphysical subtleties, and risking themselves like faithful apprentices, must ratify and pay for it, and throw themselves on their country for doing for them unauthorized, what we know they would have done for themselves had they been in a situation to do it."
— Thomas Jefferson, letter to John Breckinridge, August 12, 1803
Which of the following statements best describes how the acquisition of the Louisiana Territory challenged Thomas Jefferson's political principles?
- It forced Jefferson to adopt a loose interpretation of the Constitution's treaty-making power, contradicting his party's traditional strict constructionist philosophy.Answer
- BIt prompted Jefferson to support the Federalist plan for a national bank to finance the purchase, reversing his party's opposition to federal chartering powers.
- CIt led to a direct intervention by the Marshall Court, which ruled that the purchase was invalid because it unconstitutionally expanded federal power over state sovereignty.
- DIt required the United States to sign a mutual defense treaty with European empires to enforce the active colonization of neighboring Latin American territories.