Mark Wilson, Getty Images
Mark Wilson, Getty Images
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As we ponder what life is like today, think about what it was like 217 years ago in our country. Saturday marked a date that a monumental event in our nation's history took place 217 years ago...the signing of the Louisiana Purchase.

On April 25, 1803, the United States purchased from France what is known as the Louisiana Territory. More than 800,000 square miles of land that extending from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains. The price was 60 million francs which equates to about $15 million.

President Thomas Jefferson sent James Monroe and Robert R. Livingston to Paris to negotiate the purchase of a tract of land on the lower Mississippi or, at least, a guarantee of free navigation on the Mississippi River. Surprised and delighted by the French offer of the whole territory, they immediately negotiated the treaty. Jefferson was jubilant.

At one stroke of the pen the United States doubled its size, an enormous tract of land would be open for settlement, and the free navigation of the Mississippi River would be assured.

Had this deal not been made, think about the consequences. Quincy and Illinois would now be an English speaking part of the “western border” of the United States. Hannibal and Missouri would be speaking French and considered the “eastern border” of the French Territory.

As it is now there are some differences between Quincy and Hannibal and Illinois and Missouri, but not like it could have been. Think about all the differences we would experience now if Thomas Jefferson hadn't pursued the Louisiana Purchase with France 217 years ago.

Crossing the bridges of Hannibal and Quincy today takes us now into different states, but it could have been different countries if our forefathers hadn't actively made this purchase.

Just a little something to think about!

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