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The Louisiana Purchase (History Channel)
The Louisiana Purchase
History Channel
Genres: Television, Educational, Documentary
NR     2006     0hr 50min

Studio: A&e Home Video Release Date: 03/28/2006

     
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Movie Details

Genres: Television, Educational, Documentary
Sub-Genres: Television, Educational, History
Studio: A&E Home Video
Format: DVD - Color
DVD Release Date: 03/28/2006
Original Release Date: 01/01/2003
Theatrical Release Date: 01/01/2003
Release Year: 2006
Run Time: 0hr 50min
Screens: Color
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaDVD Credits: 1
Total Copies: 0
Members Wishing: 2
MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Languages: English

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Movie Reviews

Comprehensively explained
I. Chiang | Silicon Valley, CA, USA | 02/03/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)

"My interest in Louisiana Purchase dates back to my touring in New Orleans in 2003, which is the bicentennial. Then I know the St. Louis Arch and the Lewis and Clark Expedition are also related to this. It also leads me to eagerly know more about Thomas Jefferson. I am very glad that at least one, and the only one so far, DVD is available for the topic of the Louisiana Purchase.

The strength of this DVD is the comprehensive explanation of the background. The America's west expansion and Spain's closing the port of New Orleans motivate the necessity to gain control of New Orleans. Haiti's overthrowing France and Napoleon's attempt to wage war against the Britain, thus needing money, play key factors to the success of acquiring New Orleans and even the whole Louisiana Territory. During the going, good luck also stands by Jefferson's side. Last, Britain's loan to the US government seals the whole deal, which is quite ironic.

Overall, the international situation, including the aspects of US, France, Spain and Britain, at that time is well explained. I enjoy this very much and learn a lot deeper than before. The dispute and the impact of the Louisiana Purchase, however, are not addressed much in this film. I think this arrangement, or sacrifice, is good for most people. At least, it opens a door for more deeper understanding.

The Louisiana Purchase is one of the most significant events of the US history and it is delightful to learn it from this DVD."
A Very Black-Inclusive Historical Work
Jeffery Mingo | Homewood, IL USA | 12/31/2006
(3 out of 5 stars)

"This work stresses that acquiring the Louisiana Purchase was a fluke. It's questionable whether Napoleon had the right to sell it and whether Thomas Jefferson had the right to buy it. We learn that it was almost designated a territory for Natives or that frontiersmen may have tried to secede with it. The work never mentions the term "constructionism," but that's the sophisticated idea at which they are getting.

Not looking at racial matters, these countries influenced each other. The American Revolution spurred the French Revolution which spurred Haiti's liberation. Still, as an African American, I was surprised and pleased to learn of the role of Blacks in this matter. The work said Napoleon's only interest in New Orleans was to have a place to watch a restless Haiti. It said Napoleon was incensed that Toussaint L'Ouverture dressed and posed as he did. Too often, Black scholars are only interviewed in documentaries if Black subjects are the matter at hand. This documentary included a Black professor. Near the end of the work, a Caucasian scholar says, "LA was filled with free Blacks, Natives, French, and many others. This contrasted greatly with the US which was largely composed of free whites and enslaved Blacks. The purchase hinted at the Civil War to come and the diversity matter with which this country still struggles." Whoa!: what a powerful interpretation! I must admit though, it was sad to learn that Haiti was France's largest exporter then and now it's the poorest nation in this hemisphere.

For some reason, most scholars interviewed here work at Johns Hopkins, an East Coast university mostly known for its medical strengths. One person named Dr. Bell is hot and viewers will benefit from seeing this cutie. Still, I am surprised that scholars from Washington University or Tulane, institutions located in the LA Purchase, were not interviewed.

This work mentioned that national figures often wrote messages in code. I am familiar with that practice as related to the Navajo Code Talkers or Alan Turing's time, but I didn't know the practice was important in the 18th Century. They say not all Americans agreed with the purchase, but do not mention that buying Alaska was even more of a scandal later. The reenactments were not annoying like they often are in historical works."