Final answer:
La Salle claimed the lands along the Mississippi River for France, which was later part of the Louisiana Territory and sold to the United States in the Louisiana Purchase. The correct option is b.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that best describes the lands La Salle claimed for France is that he claimed the lands along the Mississippi River. La Salle was a French explorer who, in the late 17th century, conducted several expeditions that led to the claim of the Mississippi River Valley for France. He followed the Mississippi River to its mouth, believing that controlling this significant waterway would provide strategic advantages and access to trade routes. Indeed, this region became a vital part of the French colony in North America.
These French claims were later consolidated into what was known as the Louisiana Territory, which was ceded to Spain and eventually sold to the United States in the historic 1803 Louisiana Purchase. The purchase, advocated by President Thomas Jefferson, was made primarily to gain control of New Orleans and the Mississippi for their immense commercial value. The acquisition of this land enabled westward expansion of the country, profoundly affecting the United States' size and its strategic and economic landscape.
Thus, the correct option is b.