Louisiana Purchase
Discover how the United States doubled in size with one of the most important land deals in history!
What Was the Louisiana Purchase?
The Louisiana Purchase was one of the most important events in American history. In 1803, the United States bought a huge piece of land from France. This land deal doubled the size of our country!
Before the purchase, the United States was much smaller, consisting mainly of states along the Atlantic Ocean. The Louisiana Territory stretched from the Mississippi River all the way to the Rocky Mountains, and from the Gulf of Mexico to Canada. This was 828,000 square miles of land - that's about 4 cents per acre!
Did You Know?
The Louisiana Purchase doubled the size of the United States overnight and cost only about $15 million! That's less than 4 cents per acre for all that land.
The Louisiana Purchase Treaty
The Louisiana Purchase was finalized with a treaty signed on April 30, 1803, in Paris, France. American representatives Robert Livingston and James Monroe negotiated with French leader Napoleon Bonaparte.
President Thomas Jefferson had only wanted to buy the city of New Orleans to ensure American access to the Mississippi River. But when Napoleon offered to sell the entire Louisiana Territory, the American diplomats quickly agreed, even though they weren't specifically authorized to make such a large purchase.
Initial Goal
Jefferson wanted to buy New Orleans for $10 million to secure Mississippi River access
Unexpected Offer
Napoleon offered the entire Louisiana Territory for $15 million
Quick Decision
American diplomats immediately accepted the amazing deal
Thomas Jefferson's Role
Thomas Jefferson was the third President of the United States and the main force behind the Louisiana Purchase. Even though he believed in strictly following the Constitution, he decided the purchase was too important to pass up.
Jefferson was worried that France controlling New Orleans could block American farmers from using the Mississippi River to ship their goods. This would have hurt the American economy. His decision to buy the territory showed great leadership and vision for America's future.
Constitutional Dilemma
Jefferson initially struggled with the purchase because the Constitution didn't specifically give presidents the power to buy foreign territory. He believed in strict interpretation of the Constitution but ultimately decided the benefits were too great to ignore.
Lewis and Clark Expedition
After the Louisiana Purchase, President Jefferson sent an expedition to explore the new territory. The Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804-1806) was led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark.
Their journey, called the Corps of Discovery, traveled all the way to the Pacific Ocean and back. They mapped the territory, studied plants and animals, and made contact with Native American tribes. A Shoshone woman named Sacagawea served as their guide and translator, helping them successfully complete their mission.
Mapping
Created detailed maps of rivers, mountains, and trails across the new territory
Documenting
Recorded information about 300 new species of plants and animals
Diplomacy
Established relationships with dozens of Native American tribes
Impact of the Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase had enormous impacts on the United States:
Doubled U.S. Size
The United States instantly doubled in size, gaining 828,000 square miles
Lewis & Clark Expedition
First American expedition to cross the western portion of the United States
Louisiana Statehood
First state created from the Louisiana Purchase territory
Westward Expansion
Opened the way for American expansion to the Pacific Ocean
The purchase secured American access to the Mississippi River and New Orleans, which was vital for trade. It also removed France as a colonial power from North America and opened vast new lands for settlement. Eventually, all or parts of 15 states would be created from the Louisiana Purchase territory.
Louisiana Purchase Quiz
Test your knowledge about the Louisiana Purchase! Answer all 5 questions to see how much you've learned.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to common questions about the Louisiana Purchase:
Louisiana Purchase Trivia
Discover amazing facts about the Louisiana Purchase!
Best Real Estate Deal
The Louisiana Purchase is considered one of the best real estate deals in history. At about 4 cents per acre, the United States acquired land that would become some of the world's most productive agricultural regions.
Massive Size
The Louisiana Purchase added 828,000 square miles to the United States. That's larger than the entire country of Mexico and almost as large as all of Western Europe!
Unexpected Discovery
Lewis and Clark expected to find volcanoes and mountains made of salt in the West. Instead, they discovered the majestic Rocky Mountains and documented hundreds of new plant and animal species.
International Borders
The purchase extended the United States' border with Spanish territory (which would later become Mexico) and established a long border with British-controlled Canada.
