The Impact of the Louisiana Purchase on American Expansion

The Louisiana Purchase in 1803 doubled the size of the United States overnight. It was an unprecedented acquisition of over 828,000 square miles of territory from France.

Napoleon sold Louisiana to fund his wars and because he feared losing the territory to the British, who were already dominating the seas.

Thomas Jefferson initially doubted the constitutionality of the purchase but eventually accepted it as a treaty power of the presidency.

The purchase spurred the Lewis and Clark expedition, which mapped the uncharted American West and laid the groundwork for westward expansion.

The acquisition brought a diverse population under American governance, including French, Spanish, African, and numerous Native American groups.

The deal secured American control of the Mississippi River, vital for trade and transportation, and provided rich agricultural land.

The Purchase reopened contentious debates over slavery's expansion, contributing to tensions that eventually led to the American Civil War.

At less than 3 cents per acre, the Louisiana Purchase is one of the world's greatest real estate bargains.