12 Incredible Facts about the Louisiana Purchase

An illustrated nonfiction guide for middle graders, it distills the Louisiana Purchase into twelve incredible facts, tracing the diplomatic showdown between the United States and France, the pressures on Jefferson, and the surprising role of Napoleon's financial woes. Each fact reveals a key moment such as the secret negotiations, the $15 million price tag, and the immediate impact on the nation's geography and politics. The book also explains how the acquisition opened vast western lands, sparked sectional tensions over slavery, and set the stage for America's expansion across the continent.