Question

On October 20, 1803, the Senate ratified the Louisiana Purchase Treaty by a vote of twenty-four to seven. The agreement, which provided for the purchase of the western half of the Mississippi River basin from France at a price of $15 million, or approximately four cents per acre, doubled the size of the country and paved the way for westward expansion beyond the Mississippi.

Based on the excerpt, which of the following statements can be inferred about the effect the Louisiana Purchase would have on the United States?

Answer 1

The Louisiana Purchase had a profound impact on the United States by doubling the country's size, and facilitating westward expansion and trade, while also introducing challenges such as slavery debates and the displacement of Native Americans.

Step-by-step explanation:

Based on the excerpt about the October 20, 1803 ratification of the Louisiana Purchase Treaty, it can be inferred that the purchase would have significant effects on the United States. First, by doubling the size of the country, it set the stage for significant westward expansion beyond the Mississippi River. The affordable land acquisition, at approximately four cents per acre, marked one of the greatest real estate deals in American history, supporting Thomas Jefferson's vision of an agrarian republic. It also opened up opportunities for trade, particularly through the crucial ports of New Orleans and the Mississippi River, facilitating American agricultural commerce. However, the acquisition also brought challenges such as the debate over slavery in new territories, the displacement of Native American tribes, and constitutional questions regarding presidential powers to make such purchases.

Answer 2

The United States now has more resources, like farm land