The Louisiana Purchase

Short History Of...

Noiser

History

4.8 • 4.1K Ratings

🗓️ 5 January 2026

⏱️ 49 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

A Short History of Ancient Rome⁠ - the debut book from the Noiser Network is out now! Discover the epic rise and fall of Rome like never before. Pick up your copy now at your local bookstore or visit ⁠⁠noiser.com/books⁠⁠ to learn more. In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson negotiated the purchase of 820,000 square miles of land from Napoleon, including the modern states of Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri and Colorado, among many others. At the stroke of a pen, the nation almost doubled in size. But the purchase of Louisiana was only the beginning. Immediately, the American government was forced to reckon with a series of difficult questions – not least about how to incorporate this enormous, multi-ethnic territory into the United States, and what to do about the Indigenous population who had inhabited the Territory for millennia. But why did Napoleon agree to sell Louisiana in the first place? How did this territory, and its inhabitants, become part of the fledgling United States? And what impact did these monumental events have on the course of American history? This is a Short History Of the Louisiana Purchase. A Noiser podcast production. Hosted by John Hopkins. With thanks to Peter Kastor, Professor of History at Washington University in St. Louis, and lead researcher on the Creating a Federal Government project, a digital project reconstructing the careers of America's early federal employees. Written by Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow | Produced by Kate Simants | Production Assistant: Chris McDonald | Exec produced by Katrina Hughes | Sound supervisor: Tom Pink | Sound design by Oliver Sanders | Assembly edit by Anisha Deva | Compositions by Oliver Baines, Dorry Macaulay, Tom Pink | Mix & mastering: Cody Reynolds-Shaw | Fact Check: Sean Coleman Get every episode of Short History Of… a week early with Noiser+. You’ll also get ad-free listening, bonus material and early access to shows across the Noiser podcast network. Click the subscription banner at the top of the feed to get started. Or go to noiser.com/subscriptions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:34.4	It is the 22nd of January, 1804.
0:37.4	A dark evening in the middle of winter.
0:38.3	But in the city of New Orleans, on the southern coast of the United States, the weather is still mild.
0:45.3	A small carriage drawn by a pair of shabby horses pulls up outside the city's public ballroom.
0:52.3	A young man in a dark evening coat and white cravat jumps out and drops a few
0:57.0	coins into the driver's outstretched hand. George Morgan is one of a growing number of Anglo-Americans
1:07.0	who have moved into the territory of Louisiana, which has only just been handed over by the French.
1:11.6	But the inhabitants of New Orleans are still largely of French descent,
1:16.6	and their culture and customs define the city.
1:20.6	George hurries up the short flight of steps to the red brick building
1:25.6	and pushes open the heavy door.
1:30.3	The large, high-ceilinged ballroom is already packed.
1:35.3	In the middle, 12 couples are twirling their way through a traditional English dance,
1:40.3	ably accompanied by the musicians.
1:43.3	George watches, mesmer accompanied by the musicians.
1:44.5	George watches, mesmerized at the way the ladies' gowns reflect the lamplight as they
	...

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