History pt. 2

Earlier, in 1803, Louisiana had become a part of the United States because of the region's 

importance to the trade and security of the American mid-west. New Orleans and the 

surrounding territory controlled the mouth of the Mississippi River down which much of 

the produce of the mid-west traveled to reach market. To get the vital region in American 

hands, President Thomas Jefferson negotiated the Louisiana Purchase with Napoleon. With 

the acquisition of Louisiana, Jefferson nearly doubled the size of the fledgling U.S. and 

made it a world power. Later, 13 states or parts of states were carved out of the Louisiana 

Purchase territory.