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Rh exploration of the far West with a view to finding a means of crossing the continent to the Pacific Ocean, and while his ambassadors were at Paris, bargaining for free rights on the Mississippi, Jefferson was pushing his plan to send an exploring party across the American continent. He had his party organized and his plans well matured when, to his surprise, and the surprise of all America, the news came from Paris that the American ministers had bought not only the desired free rights on the Mississippi, but all of the great Louisiana territory as well. Thus it came about that, as a part of Louisiana, South Dakota came into the possession of the United States, having been first claimed by Spain, then by France, again by Spain, again passing to France, and finally falling to the American commonwealth.