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Events on Tuesday 20 December 1803 1
1803Louisiana PurchaseUnited States buys French territory for $15 millionFrance sold its Louisiana Territory to the United States for roughly $15 million, doubling the size of the country. The sale was negotiated by Napoleon Bonaparte, who needed funds for war in Europe and had abandoned hopes of a North American empire. The transfer of sovereignty was completed in New Orleans on 20 December 1803.