The Lousiana Purchase

The history of the United States of America is basically a list of things to do if you want to become big, and the first leaders of the American Union were the makers of that list. From the beginning they were looking for a way to be in the rank of the first powers but felt that the presence of colonial empires in America such as Spain and France were a potential threat to their still young nation. 

Originally, the American government (Thomas Jefferson was president at the time) wanted to gain control of New Orleans city that still nowadays has a strong French influence because they were once the most prized possession the French had in the American continent.  Napoleón Bonaparte, who had recently come to power, eventually understood that having  two territories to defend was impractical, plus he also needed money so when the opportunity arose and the Americans sent a delegation to make an offer for New Orleans, they were actually offered the entire Lousiana territory (called like that to pay homage to one of the many French kings called Louis). Thus the Americans were given the chance to double their land, and they took that chance making Lousiana, and New Orleans, part of their territory back in 1805.