the louisiana purchase

The Louisiana Purchase was the largest and most extraordinary land purchase in the history of the United States. It was also the cheapest (per square mile). At the turn of the 19th Century, Americans were moving further westward. Settlers had crossed the Appalachian Mountains and headed for parts known and unknown. Pioneers like Daniel Boone had made trails and roads, allowing families to travel to new places. Soon, the Northwest Territory and other places were bustling with Americans. Everyone wanted more places to live, more animals for their farms. The one thing that the Government wanted more of was land. And the Louisiana Territory had a lot of land. Louisiana was owned by France, and New Orleans was a French settlement. Many Americans lived in and around New Orleans, and many American ships sailed back and forth on the river. The U.S. Government wanted to protect American shipping and settlements. So President Thomas Jefferson sent Robert Livingston to France to buy New Orleans and the surrounding area. Napoleon, who was by this time Emperor of France, refused. He was involved in wars in Europe and had dreams of western empire as well. Jefferson sent James Monroe as well to France, in hopes of convincing Napoleon to reconsider. The French leader did more than that: He offered to sell all of the Louisiana Territory, more than 828,000 square miles. Livingston and Monroe quickly accepted and offered to pay $15 million. Both sides agreed, and the Louisiana Territory became American.