The Louisiana Purchase and American Expansion, 1803–1898

The 1803 Louisiana Purchase was a pivotal event for the young United States. The acquisition of approximately 829,000 square miles of territory established a significant precedent for presidential power and raised important legal and constitutional questions. As the nation expanded westward and into the Pacific and Caribbean regions, major social, political, and constitutional issues emerged that tested American institutions and altered the nation's founding principles. This collection, edited by Sanford Levinson and Bartholomew Sparrow, brings together scholars in American history, constitutional law, and political science to examine how the Louisiana Purchase influenced nineteenth-century expansionist policies and shaped constitutional interpretation. The book explores the connections between the U.S. Constitution, the American political system, the Louisiana Purchase, and American territorial expansion from 1803 to 1898.