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The Louisiana Purchase Legislative Timeline

7th Congress, 2nd Session

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December 15, 1802 Port of New-Orleans shut... Herald Office, Natchez, Miss., 1802. Library of Congress Rare Book and Special Collections Division.: Thomas Jefferson presents his Second Annual Message to Congress, which states that "the cession of the Spanish province of Louisiana to France, which took place in the course of the late war, will, if carried into effect, make a change in the aspect of our foreign relations, which will doubtless have just weight in any deliberations of the legislature connected with that subject."
Annals of Congress, 12-15; Senate Journal, 244-46; House Journal, 249-52.
December 17, 1802: The House of Representatives passes a resolution "That the President of the United States be requested to cause to be laid before this House, such information in possession of the Department of State, as relates to the violation, on the part of Spain, of the twenty-second article of the treaty of friendship, limits, and navigation, between the United States and the King of Spain."
Annals of Congress, 280-81.
December 30, 1802: Thomas Jefferson sends a confidential message to the House of Representatives in response to "a violation, on the part of Spain, of the twenty-second article of the treaty of friendship, limits, and navigation, between the United States and the King of Spain."
Annals of Congress, 299-301.
January 4, 1803: The House of Representatives debates Spain's cession of Louisiana to France.
Annals of Congress, 312-13.
January 5, 1803: The House of Representatives continues to debate Spain's cession of Louisiana to France.
Annals of Congress, 314-23.; The House of Representatives debates the navigation of the Mississippi.
Annals of Congress, 324.
January 6, 1803: The House of Representatives continues to debate Spain's cession of Louisiana to France.
Annals of Congress, 325-38.
January 7, 1803: The House of Representatives debates and passes a resolution on the navigation of the Mississippi.
Annals of Congress, 339-43; House Journal, 273-77.
January 11, 1803 U.S. Capitol paintings. Bust of Livingston fresco.... Theodor Horydczak, photographer, ca. 1920-1950. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. Reproduction Number: LC-H8-CT-C01-102 James Monroe, half-length portrait.... Pendleton's Lithography, 1828? Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-117118: The Senate receives a message from Thomas Jefferson nominating "Robert Livingston to be Minister Plenipotentiary, and James Monroe to be Minister Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, to enter into a treaty or convention with the First Consul of France, for the purpose of enlarging, and more effectually securing, our rights and interests in the river Mississippi, and in the territories eastward thereof."
Annals of Congress, 22-23; Senate Executive Journal, 431.; The House of Representatives continues to debate Spain's cession of Louisiana to France.
Annals of Congress, 352-68; House Journal, 281-82.
January 12, 1803: The Senate approves the nominations of Robert Livingston and James Monroe to enter into a treaty or convention with the First Consul of France.
Senate Executive Journal, 436.; The House of Representatives appropriates $2,000,000 for the purchase of Louisiana.
Annals of Congress, 370-74.
January 18, 1803: Thomas Jefferson sends a secret letter to Congress asking for "the appropriation of two thousand five hundred dollars, for the purpose of extending the external commerce of the United States." This money will be used to fund the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
Senate Executive Journal, 437-39.
February 14, 1803 A map of Louisiana, with the course of the Mississippi, and the adjacent rivers, the nations of the natives, the French establishments and the mines.... Pratz du Le Page. London, Printed for T. Becket and P. A. De Hondt, 1763. Library of Congress Geography and Map Division.: The Senate debates the Mississippi question and resolutions respecting the indisputable right of the United States to the free navigation of the Mississippi.
Annals of Congress, 83-88.
February 15, 1803: The Senate continues to debate the Mississippi question and resolutions respecting the indisputable right of the United States to the free navigation of the Mississippi.
Annals of Congress, 89-91.
February 16, 1803: The Senate continues to debate the Mississippi question and resolutions respecting the indisputable right of the United States to the free navigation of the Mississippi.
Annals of Congress, 91-97.
February 23, 1803: The Senate continues to debate the Mississippi question and resolutions respecting the indisputable right of the United States to the free navigation of the Mississippi.
Annals of Congress, 105-51.
February 24, 1803: The Senate continues to debate the Mississippi question and resolutions respecting the indisputable right of the United States to the free navigation of the Mississippi.
Annals of Congress, 152-206.
February 25, 1803: The Senate debates the Mississippi question and votes on resolutions respecting the indisputable right of the United States to the free navigation of the Mississippi; the Senate authorizes the president to "organize, arm, and equip, according to law, and hold in readiness to march, at a moment's warning, 80,000 effective militia."
Annals of Congress, 208-56; Senate Journal, 273-74.
February 28, 1803: Thomas Jefferson signs into law "An act for extending the external commerce of the United States," which appropriates $2,500 for the Lewis & Clark Expedition.
Annals of Congress, 1565; Statutes at Large, volume 2, 206.
April 30, 1803: Robert Livingston and James Monroe sign the Louisiana Purchase Treaty and Conventions in Paris, France.
Treaty Between the United States of America and the French Republic, Statutes at Large, volume 8, 200;
Convention Between the United States of America and the French Republic, Statutes at Large, volume 8, 206;
Convention Between the United States of America and the French Republic, Statutes at Large, volume 8, 208.