Everyone who i remembered talking about the Louisiana purchase made it sound like Napoleon made some blunder selling the land for so cheep. Thanks you sidequest for giving a deeper understanding of the situation.
It was for similar reasons Russia sold Alaska. They'd just lost the Crimean War to Britain and France. The Russians at the time beleived there would be another war with Britain(which saw Russia as it's biggest geopolitical threat) and were not confident they could defend Alaska from Britain. So instead of losing the land in a war they sold it to America. In the long run the Russians hoped they could ally with the Americans and tag team Britain in a future conflict. The unification of Germany completely upset the flow of European geopolitics though. Which is why Britain was allied with Russia in World War I. Germany was the short term threat while Russia was the long term threat.
@@opinanlosjovenesrd3477 During the 19th century Russia started expanding it's influence across Europe and threatened to throw off the balance of power in Europe. Britain also took note of the fact that Russia was territorially massive, resource rich, a huge population with a high birth rate. The only thing keeping Russia from dominating the rest of Europe was that it was politically, economically and technologically backwards, but Britain knew Russia would eventually catch up and become unstoppable and the one thing Britain absolutely fears is any one country dominating continental Europe. So when Russia attacked the Ottoman Empire Britain and France joined the Ottomans to fight Russia in the Crimean war. What changed this calculus was the unification of Germany which was the wealthiest, most industrialized country in Europe with a large population and Germany instantly became a bigger threat especially after it defeated France in the Franco-Prussian War. Germany became even a bigger threat to Britain after they started seeking colonies and building a Navy to challenge Britain's. Then Russia lost the Russo-Japanese war which greatly diminished Russia's stature after losing to a non-white nation. The calculus for Britain became Germany is the immediate threat that needed to be contained now and Russia was the long term threat. Which is why Britain joined an alliance with Russia to fight Germany.
@@ShamanMcLamie Britain was not allied with Russia in WWI. Britain was not allied with France. Britain guaranteed Belgium independence, which is the reason used to justify joining the war. If they were allied to Russia or France, they would not have needed such a reason.
@@BoxStudioExecutive There was no formal alliance prior to World War I, but the British, French and Russians were forming closer ties to counter Germany. The three countries were known as the Triple Entente since they were all developing closer ties, settling diplomatic disputes and positioning themselves as opposed to Germany. You are correct though that Britain used the invasion of Belgium to justify war against Germany, but Britain also could have stayed out, or even found a different justification.
Bonus fact: The original settlers before the Louisiana Purchase were Acadians. They were French Canadians that were deported down from Canada to Louisiana after the Seven Years War when the British took over Canada. They had a significant cultural impact that is now known as Cajuns.
Didn't the Acadians get deported during the Seven Years War? They lived in british Nova Scotia and they were kicked because the British suspected that the Acadians would revolt against them.
Additional fact, the French also benefitted greatly of that deal in another way : A lot of Cheap Wood. While it is not as known as the money they got for the land, they also managed to get a great amount of wood thanks to those deals. And in an Europe at war, after losing so much in a rebellion, the most important thing for the power was to get new Ships, and the most needed resource for that, was wood. I learned that by discussing with someone working from 'Naval Group', the french company in charge of making military ships (since the XVIIth century), we were discussing that deal and I was of the opinion that it didn't sound like a great deal for the French, he then explained to me that little-known fact, and that wood back then was already precious, and with the state of emergency of being at war in Europe, it was even more so.
As you mentioned, those colonial holdings were barely defended. This means that as soon as the coalition against Napoleon got going, the British empire would have quickly taken it off of Napoleon for 0 franks.
It would have been a tense situation, that's for sure! Forget the Chesapeake-Leopard affair, seizure of the disputed territory by either Great Britain or the US would have meant war with the other party... which, if 1812 is any indication, would have been a humiliating experience for all parties involved!
There wasn’t a reason to keep Louisiana. Louisiana fed Haiti, and Haiti would grow cash crops. If there’s no cash crops, there’s no reason to have the breadbasket.
"oh well, I'll just double America's size for now. After all it's not like they'll become the largest millitary power in the world in a couple hundred years."
That really was the dominating school of thought back then. It's also the reason why the ottomans never bothered colonizing. No one would have guessed that the backwater European colonies would actually accomplish as much as they accomplished.
Napoleon said, after my death many will think about Prussia and Britain, but there are two gigants, the US and Russia, (he got it pretty right) also China is a sleeping giant, when united the world will tremble (he also got it right) Now the question is Will India become a super-power like he also said?
@@MedjayofFaiyum Memorial Of Saint Helena, some other pamphlets, and records of him, but probably his opinion's and memories if i remember well it must be there.
The army Napoleon sent to Haiti and had failed... because much of the army was comprised of Poles who themselves were in very bad spot. They really felt the Haitian struggle for independence and maaany of them joined the side they were sent there to fight! Thus Poles were honorably called the Negroes of Europe by Haitians after their victory - many Poles stayed there and there are still Polish descendants down there :) It was obviously a part of larger victory, not one deciding factor in the campaign (Europeans suffered a lot from tropical climate of Haiti etc) but it is relevant to my country's history so there, I shared it :)
@@humpheryflaubert8172 It could be said, Polish descendants whom keep their family traditions and know from where they came. One thing that was also took from the slaves brought to the Americas from Africa, we call them afro descendants, but that is a whole continent, with the slavery, the slaves also lost their heritage.
When you put it like that, Napolean got 7.5x as much money as he was offered by just drawing lines on a map and pretending it was his is a good deal. Also I was actually surprised about that Hamilton's invasion part like... what I need to learn more about that
I wish this series was around when I was learning history back in the 60s/70s. The information in this video makes the whole purchase price thing make a lot more sense. I think back in grade school we just got the 'we got a good deal' version.
I love listening to these because your voice reminds me of Stephen Fry as the Narrator in the 2005 movie adaptation of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. LOL
Fun fact. When napoleon sent soldiers to Haiti to win vs upraisers. He sent there Polish soldiers (as his army) that eventually fought vs rest of napoleon army. Poles were great contributors to independence of Haiti. They are even included in the Haitians documents as the only nation from Europe, that they call “friends”
Fun fact: after the first series of revolts in St Domingue/Haiti led to the abolition of slavery and a somewhat autonomous colony ruled by multiracial regime led by Toussaint L'Ouverture, Napoleon came to power and contemplated carving out a massive French Empire in the Americas that would set up a prosperous 3 way trade system between Louisiana, the West Indian colonies and France. One plan he considered involved using St Domingue/Haiti as a base of operations and as a source of funds and supplies to conquer and settle Louisiana and expand it westwards. He even considered employing Toussaint L'Ouverture (who had been promoted to General - in - Chief in the French Revolutionary Army) and his combat experienced black and mixed troops as part of the army that would carry out the task, together with 20,000 plus Native American warriors he had armed and forged an alliance pact with.
Finally, someone who has the sense to put large historical sums of money into a relevant context, and not just give an arbitrarily determined number for "equivalent in today's money".
Napoleon probably did the right thing. This probably avoided all sort of conflict with the US. France honestly could have done some serious damage to the US (especially during the civil war) and the US wouldn't be as strong as it was in WW2 to help France.
Napoleon wasn't a great diplomat in most cases, but this individual case was actually a masterful move. He ensured that America would at least stay neutral in the wars and won France some goodwill with the sale (Jefferson actually wanted to strengthen ties with the French Empire, though a number of Federalists disagreed). Compare this to what Wilhelm II and ESPECIALLY Hitler did in terms of handling relations with America, and there's a reason France was as successful as it was in many of those European clashes (compared to the reckless Germans).
No he didn't. Also the reason France needed america s help during ww2 is exactly because of this thrade. Had france a powerful colony in the americas it would have been different. Just look at the brithish. Usa doesn't deserve so much land
Remember that this”Purchase” was between two groups that did not actually own the land. It is the same as if your two neighbors negotiated over who gets your house, then the “purchaser” comes over with a bunch of guns kills most your family and locks the rest in one small closet. Then they begin to talk about how great they are. Pretty messed up.
How owned the land then ? If you think about natives, didn't they conquered the land from others tribes as well. Why should they have more rights than Europeans ?
The video goes from 15 million to bonds to “I need it now” with out the forgiveness of debts owed to the us from France. 3.5 million I think. So it’s actually something like 11.5 million in bonds and 3.5 million in debt forgiveness and then the “ I need it now” price is much more reasonable.
The map is wrong at 4:06 the United Kingdom did not control the northwest territory. That was under American control after the treaty of Paris in 1783.
Everyone who i remembered talking about the Louisiana purchase made it sound like Napoleon made some blunder selling the land for so cheep. Thanks you sidequest for giving a deeper understanding of the situation.
It was for similar reasons Russia sold Alaska. They'd just lost the Crimean War to Britain and France. The Russians at the time beleived there would be another war with Britain(which saw Russia as it's biggest geopolitical threat) and were not confident they could defend Alaska from Britain. So instead of losing the land in a war they sold it to America. In the long run the Russians hoped they could ally with the Americans and tag team Britain in a future conflict. The unification of Germany completely upset the flow of European geopolitics though. Which is why Britain was allied with Russia in World War I. Germany was the short term threat while Russia was the long term threat.
@@ShamanMcLamie Why are the UK and Russia historical enemies? What initiated the conflict?
@@opinanlosjovenesrd3477 During the 19th century Russia started expanding it's influence across Europe and threatened to throw off the balance of power in Europe. Britain also took note of the fact that Russia was territorially massive, resource rich, a huge population with a high birth rate. The only thing keeping Russia from dominating the rest of Europe was that it was politically, economically and technologically backwards, but Britain knew Russia would eventually catch up and become unstoppable and the one thing Britain absolutely fears is any one country dominating continental Europe. So when Russia attacked the Ottoman Empire Britain and France joined the Ottomans to fight Russia in the Crimean war.
What changed this calculus was the unification of Germany which was the wealthiest, most industrialized country in Europe with a large population and Germany instantly became a bigger threat especially after it defeated France in the Franco-Prussian War. Germany became even a bigger threat to Britain after they started seeking colonies and building a Navy to challenge Britain's. Then Russia lost the Russo-Japanese war which greatly diminished Russia's stature after losing to a non-white nation. The calculus for Britain became Germany is the immediate threat that needed to be contained now and Russia was the long term threat. Which is why Britain joined an alliance with Russia to fight Germany.
@@ShamanMcLamie Britain was not allied with Russia in WWI. Britain was not allied with France. Britain guaranteed Belgium independence, which is the reason used to justify joining the war. If they were allied to Russia or France, they would not have needed such a reason.
@@BoxStudioExecutive There was no formal alliance prior to World War I, but the British, French and Russians were forming closer ties to counter Germany. The three countries were known as the Triple Entente since they were all developing closer ties, settling diplomatic disputes and positioning themselves as opposed to Germany. You are correct though that Britain used the invasion of Belgium to justify war against Germany, but Britain also could have stayed out, or even found a different justification.
Anytime you can sell something you can't use and might not even own, you made a good deal.
The wife said I'm not allowed to try to do this with the children.
@@SamBrickell It do be like that sometimes
The Prosecutor calls it something else. Can I add you to my witness list? The jury needs to hear your analysis and conclusion.
Ahem futures eh?
@@SamBrickell step 1: do it with the wife
Bonus fact: The original settlers before the Louisiana Purchase were Acadians. They were French Canadians that were deported down from Canada to Louisiana after the Seven Years War when the British took over Canada. They had a significant cultural impact that is now known as Cajuns.
Didn't the Acadians get deported during the Seven Years War? They lived in british Nova Scotia and they were kicked because the British suspected that the Acadians would revolt against them.
@@slycther2.027 Yes. Arcadia is located in Nova Scotia. The deportation of Acadians is known as The Great Expulsion.
@@BHuang92 Never said otherwise, It's just that it mostly happened *during* the Seven Years War, not after.
The irony
@@BHuang92 and people act like Americans were the only ones with a trail of tears.
I really can't believe your channel only has 12600 subs. Keep up the great work and I'm sure the youtube algorithm will favor you at some point!
yeah its kinda surreal but according to social blade they are doing pretty well gaining subs
🍁
15.5 now
@@phredphlintstone6455 37 K now, in less then a year he 100k
@@whyops The coment was written one day ago now it has 47k lol
Additional fact, the French also benefitted greatly of that deal in another way : A lot of Cheap Wood.
While it is not as known as the money they got for the land, they also managed to get a great amount of wood thanks to those deals.
And in an Europe at war, after losing so much in a rebellion, the most important thing for the power was to get new Ships, and the most needed resource for that, was wood.
I learned that by discussing with someone working from 'Naval Group', the french company in charge of making military ships (since the XVIIth century), we were discussing that deal and I was of the opinion that it didn't sound like a great deal for the French, he then explained to me that little-known fact, and that wood back then was already precious, and with the state of emergency of being at war in Europe, it was even more so.
Couldn't find any other sources on that. Does somebody know any?
@@survivor3833”it was revealed to me in a dream…”
Lol it passes the logic test- Europe was running out of wood, and America had loads of it sooo 🤷♂️
As you mentioned, those colonial holdings were barely defended. This means that as soon as the coalition against Napoleon got going, the British empire would have quickly taken it off of Napoleon for 0 franks.
It's even worse than that; Napoleon would have LOST money trying to defend Louisiana.
@Matthew Crossley but England got the money anyway after beating him.
Cope brit 😂😂😂
@treefiddy23 Typical Rusky taking all the credit from the winters
It would have been a tense situation, that's for sure! Forget the Chesapeake-Leopard affair, seizure of the disputed territory by either Great Britain or the US would have meant war with the other party... which, if 1812 is any indication, would have been a humiliating experience for all parties involved!
Your consistent quality is astounding!
This is always so interesting and the animations are wonderful, great stuff.
There wasn’t a reason to keep Louisiana. Louisiana fed Haiti, and Haiti would grow cash crops. If there’s no cash crops, there’s no reason to have the breadbasket.
"oh well, I'll just double America's size for now. After all it's not like they'll become the largest millitary power in the world in a couple hundred years."
That really was the dominating school of thought back then. It's also the reason why the ottomans never bothered colonizing. No one would have guessed that the backwater European colonies would actually accomplish as much as they accomplished.
Napoleon said, after my death many will think about Prussia and Britain, but there are two gigants, the US and Russia, (he got it pretty right) also China is a sleeping giant, when united the world will tremble (he also got it right) Now the question is Will India become a super-power like he also said?
@@omarbradley6807 what sources did he say this
@@MedjayofFaiyum Memorial Of Saint Helena, some other pamphlets, and records of him, but probably his opinion's and memories if i remember well it must be there.
@@darkphoenix2745 Its not really colonizing if you're just conquering stuff next door
What every Frenchman desires: All the Baguettes he could eat.
Wine alone moves the wheels of history
Omelette du Fromage
YOU ARE EVEN HERE!
@@Mugwumpey Wine moves the wheels of cheese.
They can go ahead and stab themselves with those baguettes
Seriously i still dont understand how you haven’t blown..up great quality, great topic. Everyone spread the word For god sake!!
Keep it up!!
I am soo glad that I got to stumble upon your quality content.
Keep up the good vids!
This is awesome. Keep them coming Side Quest. :)
I swear my allegiance to the side quest crown and shall lay down my life for the conquest of RUclips.
FOR THE CROWN
Protect the KING !
Last time I'm this early there was still bread in france.
let them eat cake!
New upload? Alright lets go
The army Napoleon sent to Haiti and had failed... because much of the army was comprised of Poles who themselves were in very bad spot. They really felt the Haitian struggle for independence and maaany of them joined the side they were sent there to fight! Thus Poles were honorably called the Negroes of Europe by Haitians after their victory - many Poles stayed there and there are still Polish descendants down there :)
It was obviously a part of larger victory, not one deciding factor in the campaign (Europeans suffered a lot from tropical climate of Haiti etc) but it is relevant to my country's history so there, I shared it :)
Actual polish descendants?
@@humpheryflaubert8172 black people with 1 or 2 polish ancestors
@@humpheryflaubert8172 yea there’s polish people who live there
@@humpheryflaubert8172 It could be said, Polish descendants whom keep their family traditions and know from where they came.
One thing that was also took from the slaves brought to the Americas from Africa, we call them afro descendants, but that is a whole continent, with the slavery, the slaves also lost their heritage.
Thats why we have the n word pass
Great video
Just found you and immediately subscribed. Honestly I believe you are the next Sam O' Nella!
Endlessly educational and fun to watch! Love this channel!
Excellent video as usual side quest. Could you do a video on Napoleon's occupation in Switzerland?
The sub count keeps growing!! Keep the videos coming please!!!
Once again, outstanding work
Dude, this channel gained 8k subscribers literally overnight. Bout time!
The quality of your work is incredible! Keep going, wish you the best.
When you put it like that, Napolean got 7.5x as much money as he was offered by just drawing lines on a map and pretending it was his is a good deal. Also I was actually surprised about that Hamilton's invasion part like... what I need to learn more about that
Wow. What an enjoyable video to watch. Great work!
-Discovered your Channel a few Hours ago
-Binged most of your Archive
-See that the legendary Monsieur Z comments here
Im subbed now
great video!!!
Criminally underrated channel
could we get a side quest of Quebec, and why it's French people but fell under British Canada?
Because France lost the 7 years war to UK.
Ah this content is so good
I burst out at quick laugh at the JG Wentworth “it’s my money, and I want it now” joke. Gold!
I wish this series was around when I was learning history back in the 60s/70s. The information in this video makes the whole purchase price thing make a lot more sense. I think back in grade school we just got the 'we got a good deal' version.
The animation in this is sweet !
Amazing animation- so good!!!!
I love these videos
Love this channel
I love listening to these because your voice reminds me of Stephen Fry as the Narrator in the 2005 movie adaptation of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. LOL
Wait...if conquering youtube is your sidequest then what is your main quest??
Q: What did they call Napoleon after he trod on a landmine?
A: Napoleon Blown-Apart!
More about Napolean's economics and reform please
I knew I couldn’t have it in the end, so as long as Britain was denied it, it seemed a good deal to me.
Mon Dieu! It's the man himself Vive L'Empereur!
@@boneybrony5009 Oui! Vive moi😉
It would make a great movie . There are so many background stories involved .
These videos are fantastic
Napoleon after defeating every Officer, General and Marshall in Europe: Guys, you all got massive skill issues
The JG Wentworth joke got me good, LOL.
Awesome channel 🤩
WHY DOESNT THIS CHANNEL HAVE MORE VIEWS!!!
Thank you for the JG Wentworth nod.
i love this channel
He's quite right about "the foundation of French society"
"Napoleon. One of ghe greatest military commanders to ever live"
Me: *laughs in Lindybeige*
This must be my Lucky Day!!!
Napoleon also didn't have to defend the territory anymore and improved his relations with the US
Here before this channel pops off
60k to 219k subs within a month is insane
This RUclips channel gives me serious Courage the Cowardly Dog vibes
This art style reminds me a lot of don’t starve.
Wait, shouldnt the ranks on Napoleos partreon page go like: Corporal, Consul and finally Emperor?
The Lin Miranda joke got me
This is seriously underrated
It’s Louisiana we’re talking about, Napoleon could’ve gotten 2 paper clips and a sticker for it and would’ve still have gotten a good deal
why does this guy sound like the narrator from little big planet. i love it
You should do one on the Alaskan sale
UNDERRATED!
3:26 OMG, c'est l'emblème de Listenbourg ?
Interesting video
We need more videos give the ppl what they need lol
You're gonna be big friend
Enough to pay his war debts and reissue currency
One question: Why do you not have at least 2 Mil Followers
2:30 During the "even though it really wasn't" line, I think you should have had an image of Native Americans.
Fun fact. When napoleon sent soldiers to Haiti to win vs upraisers. He sent there Polish soldiers (as his army) that eventually fought vs rest of napoleon army. Poles were great contributors to independence of Haiti. They are even included in the Haitians documents as the only nation from Europe, that they call “friends”
I don't think Poland existed then
@@garrysmith1029 but poles as a national did lol
Funner fact: the Polish Legions sent to France was led by a BLACK Polish General named Wladislaw Jablonoski 😮
Fun fact: after the first series of revolts in St Domingue/Haiti led to the abolition of slavery and a somewhat autonomous colony ruled by multiracial regime led by Toussaint L'Ouverture, Napoleon came to power and contemplated carving out a massive French Empire in the Americas that would set up a prosperous 3 way trade system between Louisiana, the West Indian colonies and France.
One plan he considered involved using St Domingue/Haiti as a base of operations and as a source of funds and supplies to conquer and settle Louisiana and expand it westwards. He even considered employing Toussaint L'Ouverture (who had been promoted to General - in - Chief in the French Revolutionary Army) and his combat experienced black and mixed troops as part of the army that would carry out the task, together with 20,000 plus Native American warriors he had armed and forged an alliance pact with.
Louisiana was named after a french king
İ love this channel
Provident indeed!
Another awesome video! I'm posting links to everyone I know.
Jefferson: "Oh, really?... nice"
Strange labeling of the map at 4:06. Pretty sure the Northwest Territory was clearly American at that point.
yeah and new spain and mexico exist at the same time for some reason
The Hamilton joke i can't-
If I made a video about this I would make a 1 second video saying “$15M dollars”
Bussiness is booming
Finally, someone who has the sense to put large historical sums of money into a relevant context, and not just give an arbitrarily determined number for "equivalent in today's money".
Napoleon probably did the right thing. This probably avoided all sort of conflict with the US. France honestly could have done some serious damage to the US (especially during the civil war) and the US wouldn't be as strong as it was in WW2 to help France.
Napoleon wasn't a great diplomat in most cases, but this individual case was actually a masterful move. He ensured that America would at least stay neutral in the wars and won France some goodwill with the sale (Jefferson actually wanted to strengthen ties with the French Empire, though a number of Federalists disagreed). Compare this to what Wilhelm II and ESPECIALLY Hitler did in terms of handling relations with America, and there's a reason France was as successful as it was in many of those European clashes (compared to the reckless Germans).
No he didn't. Also the reason France needed america s help during ww2 is exactly because of this thrade. Had france a powerful colony in the americas it would have been different. Just look at the brithish. Usa doesn't deserve so much land
15 mil USD about 330 mil adjusted for inflation
That why, my original sealed Birth certificate is French. ❤
As someone who currently lives in Louisiana, I just wanna say: man, we got ripped off. Maybe France will take it back?
I appreciate the Britt didn’t bash Napoleon, just said the facts. How…British.
3:42
0:8 it was not 5 but 7 coalitions
1:27 I believe that some polish soldiers helped with that?
3:56 *15 Million (I hope the following facts are still correct then)
That was francs, not dollars
Remember that this”Purchase” was between two groups that did not actually own the land. It is the same as if your two neighbors negotiated over who gets your house, then the “purchaser” comes over with a bunch of guns kills most your family and locks the rest in one small closet. Then they begin to talk about how great they are. Pretty messed up.
How owned the land then ?
If you think about natives, didn't they conquered the land from others tribes as well.
Why should they have more rights than Europeans ?
The video goes from 15 million to bonds to “I need it now” with out the forgiveness of debts owed to the us from France. 3.5 million I think. So it’s actually something like 11.5 million in bonds and 3.5 million in debt forgiveness and then the “ I need it now” price is much more reasonable.
Trinston was here...
Can you make video about witchcraft
please
The map is wrong at 4:06 the United Kingdom did not control the northwest territory. That was under American control after the treaty of Paris in 1783.
Napoleon shoulda called JG Wentworth