A Wilderness So Immense: The Louisiana Purchase and the Destiny of America

by Jon Kukla

The remarkable story of the land purchase that doubled the size of our young nation, set the stage for its expansion across the continent, and confronted Americans with new challenges of ethnic and religious diversity. In a saga that stretches from Paris and Madrid to Haiti, Virginia, New York, and New Orleans, Jon Kukla shows how rivalries over the Mississippi River and its vast watershed brought France, Spain, Great Britain, and the United States to the brink of war and shaped the destiny of the new American republic. We encounter American leaders--Jefferson and Jay, Monroe and Pickering among them--clashing over the opening of the West and its implications for sectional balance of power. We see these disagreements nearly derailing the Constitutional Convention of 1787 and spawning a series of separatist conspiracies long before the dispute over slavery in the territory set the stage for the Missouri Compromise and the Civil War.

Kukla makes it clear that as the French Revolution and Napoleon’s empire-building rocked the Atlantic community, Spain’s New World empire grew increasingly vulnerable to American and European rivals. Jefferson hoped to take Spain’s territories--piece by piece,--while Napoleon schemed to reestablish a French colonial empire in the Caribbean and North America.

Interweaving the stories of ordinary settlers and imperial decision-makers, Kukla depicts a world of revolutionary intrigue that transformed a small and precarious union into a world power--all without bloodshed and for about four cents an acre.

Genres: History, American History, Nonfiction, Ebooks, Presidents

448 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Breck Baumann · Rating 4 out of 5]

A highly informative, well-researched study of one of the early U.S. Republic's most pivotal moments in its history as both a global force to be reckoned with, and as a beacon for almost-unlimited expansion and settlement. That's not to say the very opening pages are without fault, for if you replaced the timeless adage 'don't judge a book by its cover' with 'its beginning,' it would surely apply here. Kukla starts off awkwardly to say the least in his opening prologue entitled Tributaries, with a rather irksome style of writing that includes filler-content and conjecture. This includes his overdetail of Jefferson's time abroad in France, his input on the Sally Hemings affair, as well as adding both personal and modern takes to eighteenth-century culture:

About three o'clock, Jefferson took his thermometer outside and noted that the skies had cleared and the temperature risen to 51 degrees—but there was no FedEx truck idling at the curb, Ezra Bates was not leaving until tomorrow, and in January 1786 humanity had not yet substituted data for thought and surrendered to the technology of instantaneous miscommunication.

Like a flame swiftly extinguished, fortunately the better part of the book leaves this format behind, and Kukla switches to informative narrative with facts, maps, and brilliant summarizations of sources from the American, French, and Spanish government's perceptions of this vast territory found west of the Mississippi. He provides keen insight and revelations to undercover (at times treasonous) separatist operations and dealings involving Citizen Genêt's infamous "mission," George Rogers Clark's brief Louisiana revolution, Napoleon's failed re-enslavement and quashing of the rebellious Saint-Domingue, and—the worst of all wolf in sheep's clothing—the duplicitous James Wilkinson's machinations with Spain. For what could be a rather dry subject, this is a surprisingly entertaining history of the beginnings of American expansion and diverse culture.

[Jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Naturally I like this book. When I couldn't find an up-to-date and readable history of the Louisiana Purchase, I ended up writing the book I wanted to read.

[Colette · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great book to read as we traveled down the Mississippi, seeing the land first hand. I would recommend this to any novice historian who wants an overall idea of the events of the Louisiana Purchase.

[Tony May · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I had no idea that the sectionalism in the country at that time was so deep. In hindsight, the people in the northeast were correct, the opening of the Mississippi and the acquisition of the Louisiana Territory did start to shift the economic power to the west. I also did not understand the influence of the Spanish in New Orleans. I highly recommend this very entertaining and educational book.

[John E · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very detailed on the diplomacy affecting the acquisition of Louisiana and of the American, Spanish, and French politicians involved in the territory. Fun to read for the personality portraits and for the knowledge of the positions and manipulations of those personalities.

[Jdb · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

I found this the most complete description about the Louisiana Purchase I’ve ever read. Author Kutka provides details about the 4 decades of people, events, issues, and countries which culminated in the acquisition of 259 million acres west of the Mississippi river.

The weakness in the narrative is Kuta’s tendency to go down rabbit holes in pursuit of thoroughness which struck me as padding to get the book to 300 pages. For example, he spends multiple pages on the adulteress queen of Spain and her lover, neither of which had an impact on this.

He cites the beginning as 1763, when the British defeated the French in Canada, ending what we call the French & Indian war. France’s North American colonial empire effectively ended, only to reappear late in the 18th century, creating all the excitement.

Who deserves the most credit for this land acquisition?

Jefferson set the vision and provided specific guidelines to Robert Livingston and then James Monroe. But when Napoleon decided to give the Americans all French land west of the river, this exceeded Jefferson’s instructions. What to do?

Livingston did the heavy lifting in the negotiations and Monroe ‘sealed the deal’ according to Kutka, with both agreeing they should jump on Napoleon’s offer and not suffer the delays of the slow transatlantic communications in 1803. Of course this created a Constitutional crisis over both the nature of land acquisition by treaty (not specifically a power granted by the Constitution) and the price, which far exceeded what Jefferson had directed.

Opportunity over principle prevailed, much to benefit of the United States.

It was interesting to compare Kutka’s take on the relationship between Monroe and Livingston to that of Monroe biographer Tim McGrath. Kutka never mentioned the intense efforts by Livingston to grab the credit for the treaty. As historian Joseph Ellis said, “History is argument without end” and so is the Louisiana Purchase.

[Scotty · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you have ever wondered and dreamed of seeing America when it was still in its infancy, this book does a great deal in relaying that message. Massive, unspoiled wilderness for hundreds of miles in almost any direction, the new union was having a huge uptick in population and land was needed. This book displays, quite clearly, the fragility of the states. At any time, many of the states could have seceded from the union and was on the brink of doing so . . . way before the Civil War. Many times, while reading this book, I found myself shaking my head at just how many "close calls" there were and if one thing had not have taken place how it different it would be today.
If you have an interest in American history, Jon Kukla is an incredible source of information. There can be periods of dryness, like most coverages of history, but one does not need to be a historian to appreciate the book and stand in awe of the how the United States of America grew into what it is today.

[Lois Matelan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating and detailed history of the political machinations on all sides behind the Louisiana Purchase. Dr. Kukla makes the times come alive, and quotes revealing, gossipy vignettes from historical figures (Elbridge Gerry was a sexist pig). To conclude, he gives a brief analysis of the significance of the acquisition for the United States.

[R.E. E. Derouin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Wilderness so Immense by John Kukla 3/11/2022 Paper

This is a detailed history of the Louisiana Purchase. If you are so interested, you’ll enjoy the lengthy background and intrigue taking place at a time in history where most schools glide over. We are between the American Revolution and the War of 1812. American is rapidly expanding prompting negotiations with Spain about utilizing the transportation benefits of the Mississippi River. This is not a plot-driven read but I found it most enjoyable. Yes, I did breeze past some details of names that held little interest, but I stuck with the book and learned much from my endeavor. I would recommend to any American history buff.

[Phillip Ball · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in about 2006, even though it's about Louis and Clark and The Corps of Discovery, this is the book that got me intrigued by Thomas Jefferson. I still love reading about our third president.
The book is about Louis and Clark and how they made their way to the Pacific mapping their trail and trapping animals to show Jefferson. Especially within the Louisiana Purchase.
Although I passed it along to others who would enjoy it, I plan to hopefully find a copy in a used book store at some point and revisit it. This was a great book.

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book that covers the history of the Louisiana territory and the Mississippi river from the 1780s up until the final boundary marking in 1819. Kukla does a good job covering how the purchase came to pass from the perspectives of the French/Spanish/Americans

[Jeremy Canipe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably a 3.75. a detailed and well-written account of how the Louisiana Territory went from Spanish to French to American sovereignty. l learned a good deal about the major players and was introduced to a number of historical actors about whom I had not known. Well done.

[Ted Manahan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of new information for me. Very detailed.

[Michael Golightly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A history text book, full of details and events. Lacks much information about the end result of the purchase but maybe that is something we still don't know.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starting with Spain and Carlos III's ownership of the Louisiana country, Jon Kukla takes the reader to the beginning of the story, long before France's First Consul, Napoleon, and the intrigue and negotiations with the American diplomats for the purchase. The build-up is slow and can feel, at times, like wading through water as Kukla paints a vivid picture of the Spanish inner workings and involvement that set the stage for France to repossess the territory. Once the French and Americans, including President Jefferson, capture the spotlight, along with the secessionist rumblings, does the story pick up steam. In fact, the drama and suspense heightens and only then do we see how and why Napoleon gave up this prized territory, and almost reconsidered the entire deal. Kukla takes it a step further and shows what life is like in America post-1804 and geographic boundaries established by subsequent treaties.

Again, the book is a little slow to develop and spark immediate fascination, but it gets there all in due time. A slightly better book, in some ways, was Charles Cerami's page-turner, Jefferson's Great Gamble, which dives right into the thick of things with France and the intrigue involved, at the expense of not being thorough in the entire timeline that Kukla patiently provides.

Overall, this is a decent book that should appeal to history fans and especially those who value precise scholarship in the momentous occasion of the Louisiana Purchase and the Destiny of America.

[Jerry Schollian · Rating 5 out of 5]

A detailed insight into the nationbuilding and opertunistic mind of Thomas Jefferson, and the events that lead up to the Louisanna Purchase. The United States benifited greatly by the waring between Britain, Europe and Spain. The Louisianna Purchase was a key element to how the United Stated became a nation from sea to shinning sea.

This book offers a good analysis as to why so many chose to follow the path a succession years earlier, and what motivated those who thought they'd be better outside the Union. An illuminating description of the history of New Orleans why that city was so key to the rise of the United States.

If your into American History, this is a must read.

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another one of those historical events that seems to be known in outline by most but not in much detail. This was a good read and it didn't take too long to get through it. The interplay between the traditional powers of Spain, France and the UK with the emergent US made for a fascinating read and it was interesting to see how quickly the tiny, yet vitally important, settlement of New Orleans was passed amongst the great European powers in a bid to stifle each other's imperial ambitions.

Future readers beware, the references to Lewis & Clark are passing and you'll need to go elsewhere if you want to learn about their actual expedition.

[Sam Newton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a very readable narrative of the Louisiana Purchase. His "back-story" is way too long and it wasn't until the Spanish gave Louisiana to the French and the French sold it to the Americans that the story got more engaging. He does a nice diplomatic history. Short of historical argument, except he argues that the LP was a turning point toward "a more inclusive national history" which promoted diversity. Anyone familiar with the 19th and 20th centuries would certainly not argue that they were racially inclusive centuries. I thought this argument was fundamentally flawed.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It definitely took me a long time to read this. It is packed with information and I am not used to reading history.

I was introduced to some less well known names in history and have a better understanding of the importance of the Louisiana purchase. I also better understand St. Louis' inferiority complex. They have very little impact on the history of Louisiana.

Suck it St. Louis.

[David R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fine account of the buildup to the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. Kukla devotes considerable attention to details as early as the mid 1780s and to intrigues in several capitols. This is not the book for those interested in the exploration, natural history and mapping of the Purchase territory. But it will satisfy the serious students of diplomatic history.

[Thom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazingly detailed, this book covers not only the purchase of the Louisiana Territory, but also gives the reader a detailed history of New Orleans and the politics of Spain, France and the United States up to the point of the purchase that made it possible. Highly recommended.

[Kcatty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, okay. I finally got through it.

There's not much to say about this book. It needed a better editor, but it's okay nonetheless. Most of my grievances stem from the writing annoyances and narration that an editor should clear up.

[Dan Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely reads as a history book. If you're interested in the subject its a must read. Narrative is based primarily on the timeliness.

[Ken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great overview of the lead-up to the purchase. The time shifting was a bit distracting, could have been a little more chronological, but worthy.

[Sasha]

Recommended by Judkins.

[Andrew Wegmann · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the more readable histories of the La. Purchase I have yet read. Beautifully told.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Political intrigue, globalization, and secessionist plots in early America.

[Lukas Evan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good purchase.