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Answer:
The Louisiana Purchase was a significant land acquisition by the United States from France in 1803. The key points include:
1. **Purchase Agreement:** The United States, under President Thomas Jefferson, bought the Louisiana Territory from France for $15 million. The agreement was signed on April 30, 1803, and the transaction was completed on December 20, 1803.
2. **Territory Size:** The Louisiana Territory was vast, doubling the size of the United States. It covered approximately 827,000 square miles, extending from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains and from the Gulf of Mexico to the Canadian border.
3. **Reasons for Purchase:** Thomas Jefferson sought to secure New Orleans and access to the Mississippi River for American trade. The unexpected opportunity to buy the entire territory arose when France, led by Napoleon Bonaparte, faced financial difficulties and was willing to sell the land.
4. **Lewis and Clark Expedition:** Following the purchase, President Jefferson commissioned the Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804–1806), led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, to explore the newly acquired territory, map its geography, and study its natural resources.
5. **Impact on the U.S.:** The Louisiana Purchase had profound implications for the growth and development of the United States. It opened up vast new territories for settlement, facilitated westward expansion, and contributed to the idea of "Manifest Destiny," the belief that the U.S. was destined to expand across the continent.
Overall, the Louisiana Purchase was a pivotal moment in American history, shaping the nation's geography and setting the stage for westward expansion.
