Final answer:
The Louisiana Purchase added approximately 828,000 square miles to the United States, doubling its size in 1803. This acquisition was critical for President Jefferson's vision of an agrarian republic and for expanding western trade.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Louisiana Purchase in 1803 was a monumental event in American history, significantly expanding the territorial boundaries of the United States. The acquisition added approximately 828,000 square miles to the continental United States, effectively doubling its size at the time.
This expansion allowed for westward growth and played a vital role in shaping the nation's destiny.
President Thomas Jefferson, recognizing the strategic importance of New Orleans and access to the Mississippi River, originally sought to purchase this key port.
What ensued, however, was the unexpected opportunity to acquire an immense swath of land that stretched from the Gulf of Mexico to Canada, and from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains. For the price of $15 million, or roughly four cents per acre, this deal was considered one of the greatest real estate transactions in history.
This vast territory acquisition spurred debates on the extension of slavery, raised constitutional questions regarding presidential powers, and transformed America's agrarian landscape. Yet, for Thomas Jefferson, this purchase was essential for securing the vision of an agrarian republic and the expansion of trade in the West.