Legal Document

It couldn't have been easy, writing a three-part legal document in two languages that applied to two countries that were both in all kinds of upheaval.

But that's what the fearless Louisiana Purchase authors did, and they did it with style.

Maybe not the kind of style we associate with Christian Louboutin's unicorn skin boots, but style nonetheless.

In fact, we'd argue that the Louisiana Purchase documents represented the latest and greatest trends in a style we still see today: legalese style.

That's right: from its long-winded, official (or is it "officious"?) opening paragraphs to its longhand dates to its repeated closing lines (complete with wax seals), this trio of texts is nothing if not the epitome of legal document fashion.

All it lacks is a color-changing unicorn skin cover.

How It Breaks Down

Section 1: A Treat of a Treaty (Sentences T.0-T.10.3)

What's going on? France is selling Louisiana to the Americans. How's it going to go down? This document, the first in a series of three, has 10 articles detailing just that—and boy, is it thorough.

Section 2: Eight Sentences, 60 Million Francs (Sentences C1.0-C1.3.4)

In just four short articles, this brief little convention outlines exactly how the United States is going to pay for Louisiana since they couldn't exactly just say, "Put it on my American Express card." As one might expect from a document written in part by a finance guy, the terms are awfully detailed and thorough.

Section 3: Piracy Doesn't Pay (Sentences C2.0-C2.13.3)

Or does it? The final Louisiana Purchase document is 13 articles long and talks all about how France is going to settle its debts with the Americans it essentially robbed during some seafaring escapades in the English Channel and along the Mississippi a few years before. Teaser: it's thorough. (Who's sensing a theme?)