He was originally negotiating with for access to the mouth of the Mississippi River in New Orleans. France was low on money at the time, and in need of a lot of money to fund more of Napoleon's battles - so France offered their ENTIRE Louisiana Territory instead of just New Orleans for only three cents an acre
Agriculture plays a crucial role in the rise and development of civilizations, since it allows for there to be a "food surplus"--meaning that people other than farmers can spend time and effort developing new skills and practicing new trades.
