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The page provides a comprehensive overview of the historical event, beginning with the background context of the purchase. It explains how the territory was initially owned by France, transferred to Spain, and then secretly given back to France under Napoleon Bonaparte's rule. The article delves into Thomas Jefferson's interest in acquiring New Orleans, a strategically vital port for American expansion, and his negotiations with France to achieve this goal. Jefferson's envoys were eventually offered not only New Orleans but the entire Louisiana Territory, which stretched from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains. The page describes the immediate impact of the purchase on the United States, doubling its size and greatly expanding westward. It also explains the long-term significance of the Louisiana Purchase, shaping the destiny of the nation and opening up vast untapped natural resources for future exploration and settlement. The article also discusses the controversy surrounding the constitutionality of the purchase, with critics arguing that the president's powers did not explicitly grant him the authority to make such a large acquisition. However, the Supreme Court later upheld the purchase as constitutional in the landmark 1820 case of McCulloch v. Maryland. Furthermore, the Wikipedia page explores the aftermath of the Louisiana Purchase, including the Lewis and Clark expedition, which was commissioned to explore the newly acquired territory, and the subsequent settlement and development of the region. Overall, the Louisiana Purchase article provides a comprehensive overview of this pivotal event in American history, examining its political, economic, and social implications, as well as its lasting legacy.