Louisiana: Louisiana: The History of an American StateThe History of an American State

Chapter 7Chapter 7Louisiana’s Spanish Louisiana’s Spanish

Colonial Era: Colonial Era: Stability and SuccessStability and Success

Study PresentationStudy Presentation©2005 Clairmont Press

Chapter 7:Chapter 7:Louisiana’s Spanish Colonial Era: Louisiana’s Spanish Colonial Era:

Stability and SuccessStability and Success

Section 1: Section 1: Louisiana Becomes a Spanish ColonySection 2: Section 2: Spanish ControlSection 3: Section 3: Louisiana in the American RevolutionSection 4: Section 4: Spanish Louisiana after the American

Revolution

ESSENTIAL QUESTION:–What events led to the transfer of

Louisiana from France to Spain?

Section 1: Louisiana Section 1: Louisiana Becomes a Spanish ColonyBecomes a Spanish Colony

Section 1: Louisiana Section 1: Louisiana Becomes a Spanish ColonyBecomes a Spanish Colony

What word do I need to know?

1. treason

Louisiana Becomes a Spanish Louisiana Becomes a Spanish ColonyColony

• 1762: Louisiana transferred to Spain by France (during French & Indian War)– Accomplished with secret Treaty of

Fountainebleu– Money and military aid needed from Spain

• New colony – expensive for Spain to operate– Huge military expense

• New colony – a strategic location for Spain

The AcadiansThe Acadians

• The Acadians – exiles from French Acadia– Peasants coming from France to Canada

(1632)– Hard-working trappers & farmers– Valued land, family, Catholic faith

• 1755: Acadians evicted from their land– Accused by British officer of refusal to take

oath of allegiance to Protestant British King– Sent to British colonies on Atlantic Coast

The AcadiansThe Acadians

• 1764: Arrival of first Acadian group in Louisiana– Given supplies from government warehouses– Sent to live in Attakapa region– Raised livestock on prairies– Increased in numbers in colony

• Present-day Louisiana – home to descendants of Acadians

The Secret TransferThe Secret Transfer• Government official sent by French to

transfer colony to Spain (1763)– Transfer kept as secret from colonists– French officials waiting for arrival of Spanish

• September 30, 1764: official announcement regarding transfer of colony from France to Spain– Colonists bitter about betrayal of France– Leader (Jean Milhet) selected to urge France

to keep Louisiana

Arrival of the Arrival of the Spanish GovernorSpanish Governor

• Antonio de Ulloa – sent by Spain to Louisiana as 1st Spanish governor (1766)– Little ability as forceful leader– Rule as governor confusing to colonists

• Unpopular changes made by Ulloa– Worked with French officials to conduct

business of colony– Tried to impose Spanish trade rules on colony

The RebellionThe Rebellion

• 1768: Rebellion of mob against Ulloa

• Appeal by the people to French King to return Louisiana to French family– Pleas ignored by King Louis XV (no desire

to offend ally, King Carlos III of Spain)– Colony an expensive burden to maintain

• Help requested from British governor at Pensacola

Arrival of the MilitaryArrival of the Military• Colonists’ actions considered by Spanish

to be treason

• Alejandro (Alexander) O’Reilly selected to regain and control colony

• Power of Spain asserted by O’Reilly– Required colonists to take oath of allegiance

to Spain– Leaders of rebellion sentenced to death or

prison

• O’Reilly called “Bloody O’Reilly” by FrenchClick here to return to Main Menu.

Section 2: Section 2: Spanish ControlSpanish Control

ESSENTIAL QUESTION:–What was the Spanish plan for the

Louisiana colony?

Section 2: Section 2: Spanish ControlSpanish Control

What words do I need to know?

1. Cabildo

2. surveyor

Order and OrganizationOrder and Organization

• O’Reilly charged with removing French power and law from Spanish colony– Used Spanish colonial law as model– Replaced French Superior Council with

Spanish Cabildo– Abolished Indian slavery

• Population census commissioned by O’Reilly

• End of rebellion – colony under control

Louisiana Under UnzagaLouisiana Under Unzaga

• Luis de Unzaga y Amezaga sent with O’Reilly to become next governor – Overlooked Spanish laws, allowed British

merchants to set up shops in New Orleans– Appointed many French to government

positions– Repaired & strengthened Louisiana forts

• More soldiers brought into colony• Sell of firearms to Indian tribes (increased

the loyalty of the Indians)

The IsleThe Isleñosños

• Arrival of new colonists from Spanish Canary Islands (off NW coast of Africa)– Called themselves Isleños (Spanish word for

“islanders”)– Faced disease, hurricanes, lost ships, delays– Death of many (settlements of few in colony)

• Isleños brought to Louisiana for military purposes– Directed to become farmers– Given basics by Spanish government

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Section 3: Louisiana in the Section 3: Louisiana in the American RevolutionAmerican Revolution

ESSENTIAL QUESTION:–What was Spanish Louisiana’s role

in the American Revolution?

Section 3: Louisiana in the Section 3: Louisiana in the American RevolutionAmerican Revolution

What words do I need to know?

1. neutral

2. militia

3. siege

Louisiana in the American Louisiana in the American RevolutionRevolution

• April, 1775 – beginning of American Revolution (“the shot heard round the world”) in Lexington, Massachusetts

• Resistance from colonists (British troops sent to seize their weapons)

• July 4, 1776 – Independence from King George III & Great Britain declared by American colonies

Spain Supports the American Spain Supports the American RevolutionRevolution

• Spain glad to see Great Britain in trouble

• Americans secretly supported by Spanish with supplies from New Orleans

• 1777 – Bernardo de Gálvez (new governor)

• Secret Spanish assistance to Continental Congress directed from New Orleans by American agent Oliver Pollock

Spain Enters the WarSpain Enters the War

• 1779: Spain entered war– Allies with France against British– Did not become ally of Americans

• September 21, 1779: British fort (New Richmond – present-day Baton Rouge) seized by Gálvez

• Mobile and fort at Pensacola captured by Gálvez– Gálvez honored with royal title– Gálvez still honored today as Spanish hero

The War EndsThe War Ends

• 1783: war ends with Treaty of Paris• Florida – a possession of Spain again• Camino Real (“Road of the King”)

improved to protect Spain’s possessions• Route from Texas to Louisiana used by

vaqueros (cowboys) – Part of this old Spanish trail (present-

day Highway 90 in Louisiana)

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Section 4: Spanish Louisiana after Section 4: Spanish Louisiana after the American Revolutionthe American Revolution

ESSENTIAL QUESTION:–What were the issues with

American settlers and the results of Pinckney’s Treaty?

Section 4: Spanish Louisiana after Section 4: Spanish Louisiana after the American Revolutionthe American Revolution

What words do I need to know?

1. French Revolution

2. right of deposit

Spanish Louisiana after the Spanish Louisiana after the American RevolutionAmerican Revolution

• Gálvez promoted to another assignment in colonial Spain

• Esteban Rodriquez Miro sent to Louisiana as new governor (1785)

ChallengesChallenges

• Major problems with Native Americans • After war’s end – push of American settlers toward

Spanish territory• Desire of Spanish government for more loyal

colonists in Spanish Louisiana• 1788: Great New Orleans Fire (856 homes lost)• 1794: Another devastating fire• Improvement of life in colony

– Looser trade laws by Spain– Increase in population

• 1790: Establishment of Fort Miro– Origin of city of Monroe– Name given to honor Governor Miro

GrowthGrowth

• 1791: Francisco Luis Hector, Baron de Carondelet chosen as next Spanish governor–Allowed free trade with United

States

–Permitted foreign trade ships to enter port of New Orleans

The French RevolutionThe French Revolution

• Unrest in colony due to French Revolution– Connection of French heritage of many

colonists– Attraction of ideas of freedom

• Situation in France more violent (beginning of “the Reign of Terror”)– Loyal French in constant danger of being

beheaded– Escape of some of noble class to Louisiana

Boundary DisputesBoundary Disputes

• Push of western American farmers for more access to port of New Orleans

• 1795: Pinckney’s Treaty formulated to solve situation– free navigation of Mississippi to Americans– agreement of right of deposit– boundary set between United States and the

Spanish territory

The Final Spanish YearsThe Final Spanish Years

• 1794: Beginning of 1st newspaper in the colony (Le Moniteur de la Louisiane)

• New Orleans lifestyle offensive to Spanish priests

• Jesuits credited with bringing sugar cane to Louisiana

• Importation of slaves – temporarily stopped by Carondelet

• Colony still unable to support itself (too expensive for Spain to keep)

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