They feared that this would diminish the power they had experienced thus far. This loss of political power would mean many things in this period of search for a true national identity. The expansion of the United States would ultimately prove beneficial to the current states and the lands that would be settled. This is not to say that everything went smoothly and without difficulties, but the result would prove to be beneficial. There were others who opposed the Louisiana Purchase because of the effect it could possibly have on relations with Great Britain.