c offices and pursued ways to cut down his debt. In January 1803 Monroe assumed a public role as minister to Napoleonic France, working under Thomas Jefferson. From all the effort concerning control over the Louisiana Purchase, Monroe played a little part. He agreed with Robert Livingston to pay $15 million for the Louisiana Territory while negotiating in France. Monroe was pleased to play a part that would be beneficial to the prosperity of western America.
             At the end of 1803, Monroe was sent to Spain to help the U.S. minister, Char
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