dec 16, 1803 - Louisiana Purchase
Description:
France sells Louisiana Territory, including land that will become Iowa, to United States. President Thomas Jefferson wished to purchase trading rights at New Orleans so that American products would have free navigation of the Mississippi River to ocean-going ships. When the opportunity arose to purchase the whole tract of land, he took advantage of it, but not without opposition from Congress and other people who felt that it was unconstitutional to add territory to the United States. Jefferson established a precedent with the Louisiana Purchase which led to later acquisition of other land which was added to the United States.
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