In 1803, the United States acquired a vast territory known as the Louisiana Purchase from France. This land deal, which doubled the size of the nation, was negotiated by President Thomas Jefferson and cost approximately $15 million. The purchase included land that would eventually become 15 states, stretching from the Gulf of Mexico to Canada. Additionally, 1803 marked the beginning of the Napoleonic Wars in Europe, which had significant global implications. The conflict involved major powers like Britain, France, and Austria, and it influenced international relations and trade during that period.