Who benefited the most from the Louisiana Purchase?

It about doubled the amount of territory owned by the fledgling U.S., and for a very reasonable cost. It also provided the U.S. with some badly needed security. It's the equivalent of someone wanting to buy a house, but getting a large city for the same price. Spain had control of most of the territory, including New Orleans. read more

The Louisiana purchase also led to the eventual acquisition of the Oregon Territory, which allowed the United States to expand to the Pacific Ocean. Although the acquisition of the Louisiana territory at the price of 3 cents an acre is considered one of the high points of Thomas Jefferson's presidency, at the time it was extremely controversial. read more

The Louisiana Purchase territory encompasses the entire heartland of America from the Gulf of Mexico almost to the Canadian border. From the Western banks of the Mississippi and considerably west, well into what are now the western states of Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas. read more