Why was the louisiana purchase important to the growth of the united states?

Question

I want to know why The Louisiana Purchase was important to the growth of the United States?

Answer 1

The first thing a lot of students think of when considering this question is the size of the purchase, which you can see on a googled map: http://images.encyclopedia.com/utility/image.aspx?id=2797158&imagetype=Hero
It nearly doubled the size of the U.S. Also, take note that it was a substantial amount of growth for very little money per acre, and it gave the U.S. access to the Western Frontier. The sheer amount of open land allowed many Americans to migrate, build, and settle in the new, open frontier, providing opportunity and an economic boom that bolstered the economy of the United States. Also, when Americans settled into the new land provided by the purchase, it made the likelihood of European nations taking more control of the North American continent less likely, and the direct, political European influence and control over the area substantially lessened.

 

Another thing to keep in mind: The Mississippi River was the main route of trade in the U.S., and New Orleans, Louisiana, was at the mouth of that river. When Spain had control of New Orleans, they allowed the U.S. to use the port, but when France took over the port, this privileged was revoked. Once the purchase was made, the port belonged the the United States.

It allowed the United States to grow physically, economically, and gave them more freedom of access in trade. The United States was not necessarily a strong nation to start off, nor was it by any means wealthy, so the purchase gave the new country growth that allowed it to become a bigger, later more powerful nation, and helped to keep European nations out of their hair.