apr 30, 1803 - Louisiana Purchase
Description:
Bought from France for the price of $15 Million, this is considered one of the greatest land acquisition deals in history. It was a bargain. Neither side fully understood the size of the territory being exchanged but France wanted to raise capital for expected conflicts and had lost interest in America. The United States mostly wanted New Orleans or at least access to the Gulf of Mexico. This purchase also set a precedent as the constitution did not provide for the purchase of new lands by the government but it was accepted by the senate and made way for future expansion west.Added to timeline:
Date:
apr 30, 1803
Now
~ 222 years ago