Answer:
The Louisiana Purchase was controversial because the constitutional capacity of the President to buy new territories was doubted. However, it was the foundation for the westward expansion of the United States. The purchase doubled the size of the country and ensured the control of the United States of most of the North American territory, thus pressing Great Britain and Spain to cede their territories in North America and discouraging other countries from settling on the continent.
Explanation:
The Louisiana Purchase describes the acquisition by the United States, in 1803, of the territory of Louisiana" of France, for 15 million dollars; a territory of 529 911 680 acres; the price came out at less than three cents a dollar per acre. The cost, if adjusted for current values due to inflation, would be $336 million.
The French territory of Louisiana included much more area than the present state of Louisiana. These lands also included, partially or totally, the regions of present-day Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Montana, Wyoming and Colorado. This huge territory currently accounts for 23% of the United States of America. In 1803, the addition of territory doubled the size of the total US territory.
