Platte Purchase

The Platte Purchase was an addition of land to the United States in 1836. This territory, located in present-day Iowa and Nebraska, was acquired from Native American tribes. It was not part of the larger Louisiana Purchase, which occurred in 1803 and significantly expanded the U.S. westward. The Platte Purchase added approximately 1 million acres to the United States, primarily to the state of Iowa. This land acquisition was part of the westward expansion of the United States in the 19th century. The Platte River itself, from which the purchase gets its name, is a significant river in Nebraska, known for its wide, shallow channel and its importance as a route for westward migration.12