0. Louisiana: The History of an American State
Chapter 7
Louisiana’s Spanish Colonial Era:
Stability and Success
Study Presentation
©2005 Clairmont Press

1. Chapter 7: Louisiana’s Spanish Colonial Era: Stability and Success
Section 1: Louisiana Becomes a Spanish Colony
Section 2: Spanish Control
Section 3: Louisiana in the American Revolution
Section 4: Spanish Louisiana after the American Revolution

2. Section 1: Louisiana Becomes a Spanish Colony
ESSENTIAL QUESTION:
What events led to the transfer of Louisiana from France to Spain?

3. Section 1: Louisiana Becomes a Spanish Colony
What word do I need to know?
treason

4. Louisiana Becomes a Spanish Colony
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

5. The 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

6. The 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

7. The 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

8. Arrival of the Spanish 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
Described as a reserved scientist, quiet, and noted scholar
Tried to impose Spanish trade rules on colony

9. The 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

10. Arrival 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 French
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11. Section 2: Spanish Control
ESSENTIAL QUESTION:
What was the Spanish plan for the Louisiana colony?

12. Section 2: Spanish Control
What words do I need to know?
Cabildo
surveyor

13. Order 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

14. Louisiana 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)

15. The Isleños
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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16. Section 3: Louisiana in the American Revolution
ESSENTIAL QUESTION:
What was Spanish Louisiana’s role in the American Revolution?

17. Section 3: Louisiana in the American Revolution
What words do I need to know?
neutral
militia
siege

18. Louisiana in the American Revolution
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

19. Spain Supports the American Revolution
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- would not agree to stay east of the Allegheny Mountains.

20. Spain Enters the War 1779: Spain entered war
Allies with France against British
Did not become ally of Americans
January, 1780: tried to seize Mobile but was hindered by a hurricane
Mobile and fort at Pensacola captured by Gálvez
Gálvez honored with royal title
Gálvez still honored today as Spanish hero

21. The 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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22. Section 4: Spanish Louisiana after the American Revolution
ESSENTIAL QUESTION:
What were the issues with American settlers and the results of Pinckney’s Treaty?

23. Section 4: Spanish Louisiana after the American Revolution
What words do I need to know?
French Revolution
right of deposit

24. Spanish Louisiana after the American Revolution
Gálvez promoted to another assignment in colonial Spain
Esteban Rodriquez Miro sent to Louisiana as new governor (1785)

25. Challenges 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

26. Growth
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

27. The French Revolution Unrest in colony due to French Revolution
Connection of French heritage of many colonists
Carondelet sought support of the Native Am. to maintain control of the colony
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

28. Boundary 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

29. The 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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