jefferson was authorized to take possession of the louisiana territory on april 30, 1803.
jefferson was authorized to take possession of the louisiana territory on april 30, 1803.
when was jefferson authorized to take possession of the louisiana territory?
april 30, 1803
on the following day, october 21, 1803, the senate authorized jefferson to take possession of the territory and establish a temporary military government. in legislation enacted on october 31, congress made temporary provisions for local civil government to continue as it had under french and spanish rule and authorized the president to use military forces to maintain order. plans were also set forth for several missions to explore and chart the territory, the most famous being the lewis and clark expedition.
louisiana purchase
by statute enacted on october 31, 1803, president thomas jefferson was authorized to take possession of the territories ceded by france and provide for initial governance. a transfer ceremony was held in new orleans on november 29, 1803. since the louisiana territory had never officially been turned over to the french, the spanish took down their flag, and the french raised theirs. the following day, general james wilkinson accepted possession of new orleans for the united states. a similar ceremony was held in st. louis on march 9, 1804, when a french tricolor was raised near the river, replacing the spanish national flag. the following day, captain amos stoddard of the first u.s. artillery marched his troops into town and had the american flag run up the fort's flagpole. the louisiana territory was officially transferred to the united states government, represented by meriwether lewis.
louisiana