The United States Senate ratified a treaty that included more than 530,000,000 acres of Louisiana Territories purchased from France for $15 million. The transfer was completed with formal ceremonies in New Orleans on Dec. 20. It was this purchase that led to the Lewis and Clark Expedition which was organized to chart this territory.
External Link: Louisiana Purchase
Generational Link: Era of Good Feeling

Also,

Biography:
b. 10/20/1931 - Mickey Mantle, baseball player (d. August 13, 1995)

Last year (10/20/2005):
Two weeks after the Kashmir earthquake death toll reaches 79,000, the UN estimates that 500,000 people are cut off from relief aid. The UN appeals to the international community for more aid, warning that tens of thousands of people could die if aid does not reach them before the harsh winter.

Yesterday's News / Tomorrow's History (10/19/2006):
The Dow Jones Industrial Average index closes at a record high just above 12,000 points in today's trading, as investors welcome the latest batch of corporate earnings.

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