The Louisiana Purchase (1803) was a land deal between the United States and France, in which the U.S. acquired approximately 827,000 square miles of land .... "it is the case of a guardian, investing the money of his ward in purchasing an important adjacent territory; & saying to him when of age, I did this for your good."6. read more
Seizing on what Jefferson later called "a fugitive occurrence," Monroe and Livingston immediately entered into negotiations and on April 30 reached an agreement that exceeded their authority — the purchase of the Louisiana territory, including New Orleans, for $15 million. read more
Ask New Question Ernest W. Adams, no formal training in constitutional law, just an interested amateur. read more
President Thomas Jefferson sought to purchase the town of New Orleans and the surrounding territory, then simply known as the Louisiana Territory, from the French in order to secure trading routes for the United States. read more