Civil Service Practice Exam 2026 - Free Practice Questions and Study Guide

The United States purchased the Louisiana Territory from France in 1803, which was a significant expansion of U.S. territory. This acquisition doubled the size of the country at the time and laid the groundwork for westward expansion. The Louisiana Purchase encompassed a vast area that included land from fifteen present-day states and even portions of Canada.

This transaction arose from the needs of France, which was struggling economically and politically under Napoleon Bonaparte. The U.S. government, under President Thomas Jefferson, seized the opportunity to secure such a large expanse of land for a relatively low cost, approximately $15 million. The Louisiana Purchase was pivotal not just for its size but also for the opportunities it created for agriculture, trade, and settlement as it opened the door for American pioneers and explorers.

Other options refer to territories acquired at different times and under different circumstances. The Oregon Territory was primarily acquired through treaties and various claims during the mid-19th century. Florida was ceded to the U.S. by Spain in 1819, and Texas became a part of the U.S. after it gained independence from Mexico in 1836 and was annexed in 1845. Each of these acquisitions shaped the development of the nation, but none matched