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How the United States grew significantly larger through a single land deal.
Imagine if you could walk into a store and buy enough land to double the size of your backyard, your neighborhood, and your whole town for just a few pennies! That is exactly what happened to the United States in 1803.
In 1803, the United States was still a young, small nation. President Thomas Jefferson wanted to make sure American farmers could use the Mississippi River to ship their goods. He sent representatives to France to buy just the city of New Orleans. To his surprise, the French leader, Napoleon Bonaparte, offered to sell the entire Louisiana Territory! France needed money to fight a war against Great Britain. The U.S. paid $15 million for the land, which is one of the biggest bargains in history.
Quick Check
Which two countries were the main participants in the Louisiana Purchase deal?
Answer
The United States and France.
Jefferson had several reasons for wanting this land. First, controlling the Port of New Orleans meant Americans could trade freely with the rest of the world. Second, he believed in a 'Nation of Farmers' and wanted plenty of land for people to live on. By buying this territory, the U.S. also removed a powerful European neighbor (France) from its western border. This made the country feel much safer and more independent.
To understand how cheap the land was, let's look at the math: 1. The U.S. paid . 2. They received about acres of land. 3. This means the cost was roughly cents per acre! ().
Quick Check
What was the most important geographic feature Jefferson wanted to control for trade?
Answer
The Mississippi River (and the Port of New Orleans).
The Louisiana Purchase was massive. It stretched from the Mississippi River in the east all the way to the Rocky Mountains in the west. In the north, it reached the Canadian border, and in the south, it touched the Gulf of Mexico. This single purchase doubled the size of the United States overnight. Eventually, all or part of 15 different states would be created from this one piece of land.
Think of the size of the U.S. before 1803 as . 1. Before the deal: Size = 2. The Purchase: Size = 3. Total Size after 1803: This means the country became of its original size!
Who was the President of the United States during the Louisiana Purchase?
The Louisiana Purchase stretched from the Mississippi River to which mountain range?
The Louisiana Purchase made the United States smaller.
Review Tomorrow
In 24 hours, try to remember the name of the French leader who sold the land and the price the U.S. paid.
Practice Activity
Look at a modern map of the U.S. and try to find 3 states that are located between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains.