Final answer:
Spain claimed Louisiana until 1800 when it was transferred to France, who then sold it to the United States in 1803 as part of the Louisiana Purchase, where France held brief claim.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Louisiana Territory was claimed by Spain initially but was ceded to France in 1800 during the Napoleonic Wars. Spain held the territory until it was secretly transferred to France, leading to the latter's short claim to the land before it was sold to the United States in 1803 in a transaction known as the Louisiana Purchase. Thus, Spain claimed Louisiana for an extended period, whereas France's claim was reestablished briefly from 1800 until the sale to the United States in 1803.
President Thomas Jefferson, valuing the importance of land for expansion and cultivation, took the initiative to acquire the territory despite concerns regarding constitutional authority. The purchase was not only a result of Jefferson's vision of an agricultural republic but also due to France's changing priorities following the Haitian Revolution and looming conflicts in Europe, which made the sale financially and strategically beneficial for Napoleon.