What were the pros and cons of the Louisiana purchase?

The Louisiana Purchase was a unique opportunity for the United States. We had the opportunity to purchase the entire Louisiana Territory from France for $15 million. There were many advantages to purchasing this land. The United States had trouble using the Mississippi River and the port of New Orleans. read more

The major benefits of the Louisiana purchase were the vast expansion of the territory of the United States and the acquisition of an abundance of natural resources for a modest price. It removed France as a colonizing presence in the area and gave the United States the important port of New Orleans and the trading channel of the Mississippi River. read more