Ch. 5 French Louisiana

Early Louisiana European Exploration Hernando DeSoto 1541 The first European to discovers the Mississippi River. Spanish Conquistador (in search of gold.) Cruel to Natives he encountered Died in 1542 and buried in the Mississippi River

La Salle Wanted to establish a colony at the mouth of the Mississippi River for France No one could enter the river without French permission. Could rich in the fur trade.

Exploration of the Mississippi River King Louis XIV gave La Salle permission to leave Canada and explore the river. 2 months to reach the Gulf of Mexico. La Salle placed a large cross and declared that FRANCE OWNED ALL THE LAND DRAINED BY THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER Cross in modern day Plaquemines Parish 1682 Named in Louis’s Land or Louisiane for King Louis.

King Louis XIV

LaSalle Claims Louisiana

Fort Louis La Salle returns to France and gathers supplies, settlers and ships. Disastrous trip. They sailed to far west and landed in Texas. They established Ft. Louis and most people died. They attempted to walk towards the Mississippi River and LaSalle was killed by his own men.

Recreation of Ft. Louis in Texas

French and English French and English are bitter enemies. France hears a rumor that the English want to establish a colony at the mouth of the Mississippi River. Race to see who would do make it their first.

Iberville & Bienville Pontchartrain (in charge of French colonies sent Iberville & Bienville to establish a colony in Louisiana. They are brothers. They anchor at Ship Island and befriend the Biloxi Indians.

Ship Island

Iberville & Bienville discover the river…. Biloxi Indians guided them to the river They discover Baton Rouge “Red Stick” The Indians then guided them through 3 lakes Named Ponchartrain, Maurepas and Borgne. They empty in the Gulf of Mexico.

Ft. Maurepas (modern Biloxi / Ocean Springs) Iberville and the settlers built the 1st fort. (1699) Bad location: flooded, insects and disease. Iberville had returned to France for more supplies and settlers.

English Turn Bienville was out exploring Lake Borgne. They discover a large English ship anchored in the Mississippi River. English explain they are here to start a colony. Bienville says that the French already have and if they do not leave they will be attacked. Fools the English! English turn around!

Bienville Takes Over Iberville is killed in Cuba and 22 year old Bienville takes over the colony.

Coureurs de Bois “Runners of the woods” Pelican Girls Hunters and traders who depended on Indians to keep them alive. They married Indians, dressed like Indians and it was hard to tell the difference. Bienville feared losing population to the Indians. Pelican Girls 23 women of Paris sent to marry eligible bachelors (Coureurs de Bois)

Coureurs de Bois

Bienville’s Downfall Bienville practiced nepotism Appointing family members to important positions He flaunted money and power 1st governor convicted of corruption

Proprietor, Crozat King Louis XIV is tired of sinking money into a failing colony. Did not want to give it up because the English would take it. Hired a proprietor to handle the economics, but it was still under French control. Crozat was the 1st proprietor.

John Law & The Company of the West Law got a new charter from France and got to keep all profits Within 10 years Law had to send 6000 white settlers and 3000 slaves to LA or lose the charter. He made Bienville governor again.

Populating the Colony Law advertised the colony as paradise. Offered concessions Free land or a free voyage to the colony. Redemptioners 1st successful method Poor Europeans wanted to start new lives but couldn’t afford to move. Offered free room & board but had to work off their debt, freed at the end of the contract, 3 years. Mississippi Bandits Law had people roam the streets of Paris and force homeless, drunks and prostitutes to come to LA. They started sending people they didn’t want in France: Misbehaving children Criminals prostitutes

New Capital for the Colony Mobile was too far away Bienville established New Orleans after the Duke of Orleans. City Called New Orleans (1718) Situated between the Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain A grid is laid out to design the city Vieux Carre, “Old Square” is the modern French Quarter. City built on the Mississippi River and would be called the Crescent City.

The Crescent City

Bienville in Trouble Again Bienville is convicted of corruption again and is sent to France. He is told to never return to Louisiana. Perier becomes governor.

Mississippi Bubble Law was doing well in Louisiana and people wanted to buy stock in the company. He sold more shares than existed. The bubble burst and people lost all of their money. People were trying to kill him. He had to flee New Orleans and went into hiding in Italy. The colony kept growing without Law. They divided the city into 9 districts that still exist today.

Cadillac Appointed governor after Bienville Creates the Superior Council to help govern the colony.

Natchitoches Cadillac ordered St. Denis to build a western outpost to protect French Louisiana Cadillac also wanted to trade with Mexico and the Spanish (ILLEGAL) St. Denis built Natchitoches in 1714 making it the oldest settlement in the La Purchase.

The First Natchez War The Natchez Indians murdered 4 French traders. Cadillac sent Bienville and soldiers to punish them. They forced the Natchez to kill the guilty. Then forced the Natchez(as slave labor) to build Ft. Rosalie. so the French could watch the Natchez Indians. Present Natchez, MS

Ft. Rosalie Massacre Perier is governor The Natchez are mad about Ft. Rosalie being built The Indians came to fort with hidden weapons and then attacked the French. Over 200 people were killed. This event DIRECTLY CAUSES the 2nd Natchez War

The 2nd Natchez War The entire colony is involved. Other Indian tribes join the fighting, some side with the French and others with the Natchez. Slaves also fought, some with French and some with the Indians. Lasted 2 years. Perier sent captured survivors to Saint Domingue(modern Haiti) as slaves. Natchez who escaped built a fort & planned a new attack. Natchez attack Natchitoches. St. Denis refused to fight at 1st. Eventually does and wins. Enslaves the Indians. “Sang Pour Sang” means blood for blood

Results of 2nd Natchez War Hundreds killed Natchez Indians are done for Indians tribes wiped out 10% of the French population is killed. Colony goes bankrupt because wars are very expensive. Colony is returned to King Louis XIV

Bienville returns…. King Louis sends Bienville back to end the chaos following war in Louisiana.

Grand Marquis Bienville gives it up and Marquis takes over as governor. Marquis introduces levees and Mardi Gras. “Era of Good Feelings”

End of French Louisiana French and Indian War caused problems, Kings and proprietors were not making money War with the Indians were the main problems.

Louis XIV

SECRET Treaty of Fontainebleau France and Spain sign a secret treaty that gives Louisiana to Spain. France is ready to give it up but do not want the British to get Louisiana France also wants to thank Spain for their help in the French and Indian War.

Treaty of Paris Ends the French & Indian War between England & France. France forced to: Give England, Canada & all of Louisiana east of the Mississippi River EXCEPT New Orleans Spain gave up Florida but kept New Orleans and everything west of the Mississippi River.

Treaty of Paris

Florida Parishes Everything from Pensacola to the Mississippi River was called West Florida. Why our area is called the Florida Parishes

JUST REMEMBER!!! East of Mississippi = England Except New Orleans – belongs to Spain West of Mississippi = Spain