What was the significance of the Louisiana Purchase?

The Louisiana Purchase is significant primarily because it doubled the size of the United States and facilitated westward expansion. Acquired from France in 1803 for approximately $15 million, this vast territory spanned more than 800,000 square miles, encompassing land that would eventually become 15 states. This expansion played a crucial role in shaping the future of the United States, providing ample land for agriculture, settlement, and exploration. It also paved the way for further territorial acquisitions and the concept of Manifest Destiny, the belief that Americans were destined to expand across the continent.

The other options do not accurately reflect the historical importance of the Louisiana Purchase. For instance, while the War of 1812 was significant, it was a separate conflict that occurred after the Louisiana Purchase and had no direct connection to it. Similarly, the territorial acquisition did not establish a border with Canada or formalize the end of slavery, making those options irrelevant to the true significance of this landmark event in American history.