This Day in History: Louisiana Purchase

American Minute from William J. Federer

The size of the U.S. doubled APRIL 30, 1803, with the Louisiana Purchase.

Nearly a million square miles, at less than three cents an acre - it was the greatest land bargain in history!

President Thomas Jefferson commented on it in his Second Inaugural Address, March 4, 1805: "I know that the acquisition of Louisiana has been disapproved by some from a candid apprehension that the enlargement of our territory would endanger the union, but who can limit the extent to which the federative principle may operate effectively?"

For fifteen million dollars, France sold its land west of the Mississippi, called the Louisiana Territory, because Napoleon Bonaparte needed money quickly for his military campaigns.

Napoleon fought in Europe, Egypt and Russia, but was finally exiled to the island of Elba. Napoleon returned to rule France again for 100 days, but after losing at Waterloo in 1815 he was banished to the tiny island of St. Helena in the South Atlantic, where he commented to General Count de Montholon: "Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and myself founded empires; but upon what foundation did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force! But Jesus Christ founded His upon love; and at this hour millions of men would die for Him."

William J. Federer is a nationally recognized author, speaker, and president of Amerisearch, Inc, which is dedicated to researching our American heritage. The American Minute radio feature looks back at events in American history on the dates they occurred, is broadcast daily across the country and read by thousand on the internet.