Through the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, the United States acquired a vast territory that doubled its size. The deal involved the purchase of approximately 828,000 square miles of land from France for about $15 million, which came out to about four cents an acre. This territory included land that would become 15 states, including Missouri, Arkansas, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, and parts of Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas, and Minnesota. The acquisition was significant for various reasons, including expansion of agricultural opportunities, the rise of westward exploration, and the furtherance of Manifest Destiny, which fueled American nationalism.