U.S. History Question of the Day Answer & Explanation

United States History Question of the Day
Answer and Explanation

Louisiana Purchase treaty
between the U.S. and France
(Source:Wikimedia Commons--public domain)

Question 0100123:

Some Federalists opposed the acquisition of the Louisiana Purchase from France and even suggested secession from the Union. One of their principle objections to the addition of the territory was

    (A)    President Washington's warning about entangling alliances in his Farewell Address
    (B)    the desert nature of the land
    (C)    the high cost per acre of land
    (D)    westward expansion would lead to growth in political power in southern and western states opposed to northeastern states
    (E)    westward expansion would lead to conflict with Mexico and Great Britain on the new western frontier of the United States

Answer:

(D) westward expansion would lead to growth in political power in southern and western states opposed to northeastern states

Explanation: Federalists correctly recognized that the addition of the Louisiana Territory (purchased at about 3 cents per acre) would provide fertile ground for the expansion of Thomas Jefferson's Democratic-Republican Party. Federalist representation in Congress decreased markedly in the first two decades of the 19th century as new states entered the Union.