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Westward Expansion: The Louisiana Purchase

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This this action more than doubled the size of the size of the existing United States. France explored the Mississippi River Valley then started settlements on land that would turn into fifteen states. At four cents an acre Napoleon sold Louisiana to the United States for a total of $15 million. After the Louisiana Purchase, Thomas Jefferson sent Lewis and Clark on a expedition to discover the new land. On the trip Jefferson had them make a detailed map of what they saw and went different terrains they encountered. In the beginning of the Seventeenth Century after France they explored the territory they established scattered settlements in this region. During the Eighteenth Century, the United States was controlled more by France than any other European power. France then ceded French Louisiana west of the Mississippi to Spain. Since it was ceded, the United States did not know about it. This took place during the French and Indian War [1754-1763]. The French transferred nearly …show more content…
He acquired Louisiana in hopes to build an empire and take over the control of all the United States (Lively 35). When it came to selling the Louisiana Territory, he did not have support from many people. Even his own brother tried talking him out of selling it. A Haitian slave revolt and impending war with England led him to cancel his expedition to Louisiana on March 3, 1803, (20c. Westward Expansion: The Louisiana Purchase). The Louisiana Territory and New Orleans were ceded by France to Spain. France then took the land back by Napoleon forcing the King to sign the treaty papers. This land was rich with gold, silver, and other natural resources greatly contributing to the wealth of the United States. Forests on the land helped contribute to the lumber industry and the economy. On April 11 foreign minister Talleyrand told Livingston and Monroe that France was willing to sell all of Louisiana (Louisiana

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