In 1800-1850, there was a debate about territorial expansion.

The debate was sparked offered when Napoleon offered to sell a big chunk of

what is now America.Most commonly, eastern states were against the purchase,

while western states were for the purchase. Whenever a governmental

institution is in the prospect of losing or gaining power, that institution will do what

it can to make sure that it has the most power possible, no matter what the

benefits is to the majority, or the risks.

Samuel says that we would need a strong army to move forward in the

area, as we would be more spread out and therefore more vulnerable, and

William says that if we were to expand it would take away all the importance of

the eastern states (doc A). when a vote was taken most eastern states voted

against the expansion (specifically those that had seaports), while the western

states voted for territorial expansion. I believe it is evident that both are thinking

in the best interests, of their own power, while the western states are ignoring the

risk of being vulnerable, and the eastern states are ignoring an investment that

could make the united states much more powerful in the future. While it was up

for debate what was the better option, the deciding factor for how the votes when

was what was in their own favor for power.

In both document G and document H, a idea is conveyed that we should

expand the united states and add more people to our free government, culture,

and religion. Document Git states that we should spread wealth and happiness in

the louisiana purchase area, and wherever they go.

 Document I states that the government is the way that people have

chosen to express their free will and that it can be perverted and extorted like

anything else. In short it’s saying that power can corrupt it. Document J talks

about how if your neighbor's house is burning down, and the only way to save

your house is by tearing his down then you should. I believe that this is to

referring to us taking indian land, as they have destructive tendencies and are

going to destroy us. This is how power is corrupted as stated by document I.

As we see power indeeds corrupts everything, as shown by the

documents listed above. The louisiana purchase was a great example of this, as

many states were in the prospect of gaining and some losing power. As we now

have hindsight, expanding was the best thing to do because in the long run we

became the most powerful country in the world. But still the states in the threat of

losing power did not want this to happen even if it was best for everyone. This is

how power corrupted the states during the louisiana purchase.