<P> Although the foreign minister Talleyrand opposed the plan, on April 10, 1803, Napoleon told the Treasury Minister François de Barbé - Marbois that he was considering selling the entire Louisiana Territory to the United States . On April 11, 1803, just days before Monroe's arrival, Barbé - Marbois offered Livingston all of Louisiana for $15 million, equivalent to about $233 million in 2011 dollars which averages to less than three cents per acre . </P> <P> The American representatives were prepared to pay up to $10 million for New Orleans and its environs, but were dumbfounded when the vastly larger territory was offered for $15 million . Jefferson had authorized Livingston only to purchase New Orleans . However, Livingston was certain that the United States would accept the offer . </P> <P> The Americans thought that Napoleon might withdraw the offer at any time, preventing the United States from acquiring New Orleans, so they agreed and signed the Louisiana Purchase Treaty on April 30, 1803 . On July 4, 1803, the treaty reached Washington, D.C. . The Louisiana Territory was vast, stretching from the Gulf of Mexico in the south to Rupert's Land in the north, and from the Mississippi River in the east to the Rocky Mountains in the west . Acquiring the territory would double the size of the United States, at a sum of less than 3 cents per acre . </P> <P> Henry Adams and other historians have argued that Jefferson acted hypocritically with the Louisiana Purchase, due to his position as a strict constructionist regarding the Constitution since he stretched the intent of that document to justify his purchase . This argument goes as follows: </P>

Who was the leader of france when the us purchased the louisiana territory