The United States acquired Louisiana from France over 190 years ago. On April 30, 1803, one of the greatest real estate deals in history took place - one that would double the size of the country and put the United States in a position to become a world power.
             Over 900,000 square miles - nearly 600 million acres - were purchased for 15 million dollars (an average of only four cents an acre!). The vast Louisiana Territory was purchased for 60 Million Francs or about $15,000,000.00 of which $11,250,000.00 The balance to be covered by the U.S. in the assumption of French debts to U. S. citizens was to be paid directly. This territory included 800,000 square miles of land.
             This wonderful region was acquired by peaceful means and without the shedding of a single drop of blood in striking contrast to the methods of the large empires of the past, which conquered their territories, by fighting wars or raging in great battles.
             The sale of Louisiana to the United States by Napoleon Bonaparte was the result of a complicated chain of events involving the rivalries of France, Spain and Great Britain. France surrendered the territory known as Louisiana to Spain 1762 and it was under Spanish rule for nearly forty years.
             As Spain began to lessen in world power, France became interested in Louisiana and eventually forced Spain to return the territory to France. When news of the trade reached Thomas Jefferson in the States, he instructed the Minister France, Robert Livingston, to negotiate for the purchase of New Orleans and the territory east of it the western part of
             Two years later after realizing that it could no longer defend the Louisiana Territory, Napoleon Bonaparte convinced officials to sell the entire territory. After some debate, Louisiana was sold for 15 million dollars.
             Thirteen states or parts of states have been carved from The Louisiana Purchase Territory. They include the following states : Louisiana, Arkansas,
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