The Federalists were opposed to the Louisiana Purchase because they
believed the United States should strengthen ties with Great Britain
rather than with Napoleon and some argued that it may even be
unconstitutional. Thomas Jefferson, the president that authorized the
purchase allowed the newly acquired territory to institute slavery and
this paved the way toward the Civil War 57 years later. It was during
the Jefferson Administration and the issue of the purchase that
galvanized partisanship and fostered the creation of political parties
in the US. Also, while the French claim land was purchased, the US had
to take much of it by force from the various native inhabitants of the
land.
