Why did president jefferson want to acquire the louisiana territory? a. americans were facing a shortage of fertile farmland, so jefferson wanted to secure the fertile farmland around the mississippi. b. jefferson wanted to prevent several european nations from acquiring more land in north america. c. louisiana was full of natural resources, such as gold and silver, that would add to the wealth of the country. d. jefferson thought to own more land in the south, including the port of new orleans, would encourage americans to expand into central america.