Louisiana Purchase

Not much. There is little reason to believe that we wouldn't have acquired it in some other way.

Maybe possibly, Jackson would not have become President. But even that is doubtful as his reputation and political power had much deeper roots than simply winning the Battle of New Orleans - a battle that was only strategically important because it prevented the Brits from a de facto takeover of New Orleans.

And yes, no Louisiana Purchase also means the strategic situation of the War of 1812 might have slightly been altered, but not such that it would have affected the outcome of the war in any way. Its a strong possibility that there would have been a British takeover of New Orleans (who were enemies of the French at that time) but just as likely that would in itself have lead to an American counterattack and subsequent spread into the LP region. There is simply no way the US would have tolerated British control of New Orleans in the long run.

In short, the French had such little control of the LP anyways, and even less ability to hold it after the Napoleonic era, and the US had such strong impetus to gain control of it, that any likely scenario has the US owning the LP region by 1830 anyways. Hence, some shuffling of the strategic situation in the War of 1812, but no significant long term changes to history.

 

"What ifs" are a form of fiction.

 

What if's make some of the best fiction.

Which reminds me, Eric Flint has a couple of alternate history books from the early 1800s which are pretty good.

 

...is that I like alternate history fiction.

Ummmmm....see post 2.