What significant land acquisition was completed for $15 million in 1803?

The Louisiana Purchase, completed in 1803 for $15 million, was a monumental land acquisition in U.S. history. This purchase dramatically expanded the territory of the United States, effectively doubling its size at the time. The land acquired through this deal spanned approximately 828,000 square miles and included all or parts of 15 current U.S. states, stretching from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains and from the Gulf of Mexico to Canada.

Negotiated by President Thomas Jefferson, the Louisiana Purchase was a strategic move that secured vital land for future growth and development, including rich agricultural lands and access to important waterways. This acquisition played a crucial role in the concept of Manifest Destiny, fueling American expansion westward in the years to come. It also set a precedent for future territorial acquisitions through purchase, as well as reinforced the idea of the United States as a transcontinental nation.

Other options, such as the Gadsden Purchase, the Alaska Purchase, and the Oregon Treaty, represent distinct events in U.S. history, each with different contexts, motivations, and outcomes. However, none match the scale or the significance of the Louisiana Purchase in shaping the early growth of the United States.