Why did Napoleon want Louisiana, and why did he change his mind?

Napoleon acquired the Louisiana Territory from the Spanish Empire because he hoped to revive New France--the French colonies in the Western hemisphere. Some historians speculate that Napoleon also acquired Louisiana to prevent the United States from growing any larger. However, there were several reasons he changed his mind and decided to sell Louisiana to the United States.

First, he needed money for an impending war with Great Britain. Second, a recent slave revolt in a...

Napoleon acquired the Louisiana Territory from the Spanish Empire because he hoped to revive New France--the French colonies in the Western hemisphere. Some historians speculate that Napoleon also acquired Louisiana to prevent the United States from growing any larger. However, there were several reasons he changed his mind and decided to sell Louisiana to the United States.

First, he needed money for an impending war with Great Britain. Second, a recent slave revolt in a French colony in Haiti demonstrated the difficulty of managing New World colonies from Europe. Third, the Americans were prepared to go to war with France to retain the ability to ship cargo through New Orleans (New Orleans was an important connection between the Gulf of Mexico and the Mississippi River). For these reasons, Napoleon decided he was better off selling Louisiana to the United States and using the profits to finance his empire in Europe.