132 Thomas Jefferson and the Louisiana Purchase - One Minute History

Following the French and Indian War, France lost the Louisiana Territory to Spain, which later returned it to France in 1801. Concerns arose about Napoleon's intentions with the territory. President Thomas Jefferson instructed Robert Livingston to negotiate the purchase of New Orleans. Instead, France offered the entire Louisiana Territory, leading to the Louisiana Purchase on May 2, 1803, for $15 million. This acquisition doubled the size of the United States, adding 828 million square miles at less than $0.03 per acre, marking a significant achievement for Jefferson's presidency.

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