An overview
The purchase of Louisiana by the united states from the french government is considered the most incredible real estate deal in the entire history of humankind. After much bargaining, the US finally approved to pay 15 million dollars to France for the Louisiana territory.
The purchase happened in 1803, under the presidency of Thomas Jefferson. Louisiana was spread across 828000 square miles stretching from the rocky mountains to the Mississippi river and from the border of Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. The Louisiana territory consisted of thirteen states.
By purchasing the region, the united states became almost double its current size and hence, one of the most powerful nations worldwide.
Impacts of the Louisiana Purchase
Modern-day 342 million dollars were equivalent to only 15 million dollars back then. The Louisiana purchase is considered to be the best bargain to date. The investment not only gave America rights over the land of Louisiana but rights over the territory's inhabitants. The united states had exclusive authority over the indigenous people of the region and could control them either by treaties or by violence.
Impacts on the local people of the country
Ultimately it was the native inhabitants of America America who had to pay the price of the western expansion of their country. They were subjected to inhuman treaties and unfair discriminatory and genocidal policies. More than ten thousand indigenous inhabitants of America were forced to move away from their lands along the trail of tears. Around 5000 people lost their lives during the incident.
Louisiana and New Orleans continued to remain the hubs of the slave trade. Though the Louisiana purchase had become successful in temporarily satisfying America's desire for westward expansion, it raised questions about the rights of the native Americans who were subjected to immense torture.
