Geographic Factors Often Influence United States Government Action

Geographic factors often influence United States government actions, both foreign and domestic. Some of these factors include location, physical environment, movement of people, climate, and resources. Although these geographic factors can lead to increase in our country's land size and some positive outcomes, there are also chances for negative outcomes.

One action taken by the united states government that was influenced by geographic factors was the louisiana purchase. There were many historical circumstance that result in the government's actions. Louisiana was originally owned by the french until france sold into the united states . Thomas jefferson bought louisiana in 1803. The influence of the geographic factor occurred because as the united states has expanded westward navigation of the mississippi river and access to the port of new orleans had become critical to american commerce. The purchase of the louisiana territory including new orleans had become critical to american commerce. The purchase of the louisiana territory including new orleans was for 15 million dollars. The acquisition of approximately 827,00 square mile would double the size of the unites states. This also gave the united states control of the mississippi river. This had a lot of impacts on the united states. It increased western expansion which was included in the manifest destiny. The manifest destiny was a 19th century doctrine that the united states had the right and duty to expand throughout the north american continent. But this expansion did lead to conflicts over slavery because as more states were added it was a controversy over which states should be slave or free states.