Louisiana+Purchase

=__ Louisiana Purchase__= toc The Louisiana Purchase was when a treaty was signed between the United States and France in order for United States to own the Louisiana Territory. This was more than 800,000 miles of land between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains. The cost was 15,000,000, and 11,250,000 was to be paid immediately. This was a pretty cheap deal considering all of the land involved. It is also one of the greatest real estate bargains of all time.

How It Started
Spain not only owned the Louisiana Territory, but also owned the Floridas. America stored goods in New Orleans, but in 1798, Spain made it harder to store goods. In 1800, France took control over the Louisiana Territory. In 1803, Thomas Jefferson, the president during this time, wanted to buy the territory. France offered the United States the Louisiana Territory because they were in need of money for war against the British. The treaty was signed in May 1803.

America Purchased the Louisiana Territory
The Louisiana Territory was taken by France from Spain in 1800. In 1803, Jefferson wanted to buy the Louisiana Territory and New Orleans for trading and more land. France needed the money, so they sold it to America for 15,000,000. This price is about four cents an acre. This purchase nearly doubled the size of the United States. However, it is considered the best real estate bargain of all time. This purchase is still remembered as one of the greatest accomplishments of President Jefferson.

Where It Was and What It Consisted Of
The Louisiana Territory was the land between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains. The area consisted of what is now parts of Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wyoming, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Iowa, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana. A lot of Indian tribes lived in the area. Some of them were the Mandan, the Shoshone, the Teton Sioux, the Atakapa, the Choctaw, the Natchez, the Chitimacha, and the Mugulasha Indians.

Lewis and Clark
A man named Meriwether Lewis was assigned by Jefferson to explore the Louisiana Territory. Lewis chose his friend William Clark to join him. Their exploration group was called the Corps of Discovery. They traveled from St. Louis, Missouri to the Pacific Ocean. They made notes and journaled about animals, plants, weather, temperature, Native Americans, and many other things. They traveled from 1803 to 1806.

The Greatest Land Deal
The Louisiana Purchase was a great addition to our country. Without it, our country would not be the country it is today. This is one of the many reasons Jefferson was considered a great president. The purchase opened up a lot of opportunities, especially with trading and transportation. At the signing of the purchase, a man named Robert Livingston stated, "This is the noblest work of our whole lives. From this day the United States take their place among the powers of first rank."