In 3-4 sentences, describe TWO reasons people at the time felt that the Louisiana Purchase was significant.

The Louisiana Purchase was significant for a number of reasons. Firstly, it doubled the size of the United States, giving the country access to the Mississippi River and the port of New Orleans. This allowed the US to expand its trade and commerce, and to gain access to the resources of the region. Secondly, the Louisiana Purchase was significant because it established the precedent of the US government buying land from other countries, which would be used to expand the country's borders in the future. This was a major step in the development of the United States as a nation.