Louisiana Purchase

The Louisiana Purchase was a land deal made by U.S. President Thomas Jefferson in 1803. He purchased the Louisiana Territory from France, led by Napoleon Bonaparte, for 15 million USD. Initially, the delegates sent to France were authorized to spend up to 10 million USD to acquire New Orleans and possibly the west bank of the Mississippi River. However, the French government offered to sell the entire Louisiana Territory for just 5 million more. Jefferson approved the deal and used his constitutional authority to sign treaties to finalize the purchase.

Napoleon Bonaparte sold the land to fund the Great French War. With the British back in the conflict and France losing the Haitian Revolution, defending Louisiana became impossible. Thomas Jefferson seized the French offer as a chance to expand America, even though it went against his Republican principles of small government—some argue he overstepped his constitutional authority by making the deal on his own.

A map of the Louisiana Purchase compared to state boundaries in 2025. The Louisiana Purchase is shown in green overtop of what states would be formed from it.

The Lewis and Clark expedition explored the Louisiana Purchase and the Oregon Territory. They started from St. Louis. Their route traced the Missouri River.

Adapted from:  Louisiana Purchase Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.