US wanted Louisiana because they wanted more people to come in to their new states, and they wanted more land for the people that will move in. They also wanted New Orleans because it was profitable, and they wanted to control the Mississippi River. If u own the MS. river that means u own the mouth of it, and u can control who can get in it and/or travel bye it !
The United States purchased this land in order to expand their country. They bought this land from Napoleon (France).
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They didn't actually set out to buy the whole of Louisiana: they exported 3/8 of their produce from the Mississippi and New Orleans. In 1802, after the French had gained Louisiana from Spain, trading rights were closed off to Americans. President Thomas Jefferson sent envoys to Paris to try to buy New Orleans or at least secure trading rights. In April 1803, Napoleon turned round and offered the whole of Louisiana: he no longer wanted it because he had lost the island of Santo Domingo to a slave revolt so couldn't have a North American colony. Plus he wanted money for a war against England.
The Louisiana Purchase
Louisiana purchase
Louisiana Purchase occurred 1803 and Alaska Purchase occurred in 1867. So obviously, Louisiana.
... roughly doubled in size
1803 in The Louisiana Purchase