The Day We Bought Half a Continent - December 20, 1803

On December 20, 1803, the United States officially took possession of the Louisiana Territory, completing the Louisiana Purchase that doubled the nation's size for $15 million. Richard Backus examines why this moment requires holding multiple truths: it was a brilliant strategy that secured American independence and enabled westward expansion, AND it was constitutional overreach by Jefferson, who violated his own principles, AND it was massive land theft from Indigenous peoples who were never consulted about the sale of their territory. From his perspective, he explores why we celebrate victories while ignoring their costs, how executive power expanded beyond constitutional limits, and what we owe to Indigenous nations whose land was sold without their consent. This isn't a simple celebration or condemnation; it's about embracing historical complexity.