2. Understanding Indian Politics
Meanwhile the French and British were almost always at war with one another.
In America each side “bought” allies with trade goods, especially guns and gunpowder.
The Choctaw sided with the French
The Natchez, Chickasaw and Creek sided with the British
The Chickasaw raided Choctaw lands, captured them and took them to Charlestown, SC to be sold as slaves.
The Choctaw, in turn, attacked the Chickasaw near Tupelo with French help, but were defeated.

3. Mid 18th Century War again broke out between France and Great Britain
However, this time, the war started in America
Known as the French and Indian War here ( ) was fought to see who would control the Ohio and Mississippi River Valleys
Most of the fighting took place north of Mississippi
Although the Choctaw fought a civil war between supporters of the French and those of the British
The French supporters of the Choctaw won
France lost the greater war
France gave up all territory east of the Ms River at the Treaty of Paris, 1763.

4. A Formal agreement between two or more nations.
Definition
Treaty:
A Formal agreement between two or more nations.

5. British Mississippi The British influenced Mississippi before 1763
British traders from Charleston had travelled among the Choctaw and Chickasaw for decades, although the Choctaw preferred the French
After 1763, Mississippi was an official part of the province of West Florida
It was an unimportant and remote portion of the British Empire
The Capital was Pensacola
The colony of Georgia claimed the region
Britain encouraged settlement in West Florida and the Natchez area
Veterans of the war received land grants.

6. British Mississippi
By 1774, 3000 settlers had taken up residence in the Natchez district
Relations soured between Great Britain and her colonies
July 4, 1776 the colonists declared independence from Britain
Not until 1778 did it affect the Natchez district
James Willing travelled down the Mississippi River and seized territory in the Natchez district and then continued on to New Orleans.
Spain declared war on Great Britain and captured Natchez in September 1779
In 1783, The Treaty of Paris ended the Revolutionary War placing the border at 31 degrees north latitude although Spain held on to Natchez

7. Spanish Mississippi The district prospered under Spanish rule
The population tripled between (2000 people-6,900 people)
The Spanish Governor encouraged American immigration to the district and even gave generous land grants and was tolerant of Protestant religions
Originally, the land was wooded but once cleared it was quite fertile
Tobacco and indigo were important but COTTON became the best cash crop
In 1800 the district exported 3 million pounds (1/6th the total exports of all the Americas that year)

8. Spanish Mississippi
Farmers in the district grew corn, feeding people and animals.
Hogs and cattle were also raised
The cattle drives of Texas had their origins in Mississippi
Spain controlled the district but the U.S. claimed it as its own
This issue was known as the Right of Deposit
Getting goods to market was a huge problem:
Traveling by road, if any existed in an area, was slow
So it became important to send goods down the rivers to New Orleans for export

9. Pinckney’s Treaty Also known as the Treaty of San Lorenzo
Granted the right of Americans to deposit their goods in New Orleans
Spain surrendered its hold over the Natchez district
The U.S. took control over the region in 1798.

10. The Mississippi Territory

11. Mississippi Territory
When the U.S. began governing the territory Native Americans made up the largest segment of the population
They had title to most of the land
It was mainly wooded and home to deer, turkey and bear
Many snakes, some deadly, could be found throughout the territory
Roads were little more than trails
There were no bridges
The Natchez Trace was the “Highway” to Nashville
“Stands” along the Trace served as stores and Motels for weary travelers
Natchez was a center of trade and commerce and a major port for sailors and goods

12. Territorial Government
The NorthWest Ordinance of 1787 established the framework for the government of the territories.
The Ordinance provided for the admission of new states
The exception was that it did NOT allow for slavery but the territories south of the Ohio River did allow slavery.

13. The Admission Process Had 3 Stages:
1. The President, with Congressional approval, appointed a territorial governor, 3 judges and a secretary to the governor.
The Governor and Judges acted as a territorial legislature.
Once the population of adult, free, men reached 5,000 phase 2 began
2. The voters could now elect an assembly to pass laws and a territorial representative to Congress. The governor and judges remained.
3. Began when the territory had 60,000 people (excluding Indians) Representatives were elected to write a state constitution. After Congress approved it, a new state was admitted.

14. Mississippi’s First Government
Territorial Governor:
Winthrop Sargent
Secretary to the Governor:
John Steele
Territorial Judges:
Peter Bryan Bruin
Daniel Tilton
William McGuire

15. Early Problems Sargent almost immediately became controversial
Disputes centered on the laws he imposed and the strict nature of his administration.
The National political climate drove much of the controversy.
Federalists vs Republicans
Federalists led by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison
Republicans led by John Adams and Alexander Hamilton
Sargent was a federalist
His opponents in the state were Jeffersonians
There was also a huge rift between merchants in Natchez and their rural customers.

16. Change in Government
After Jefferson won the Presidency he appointed a new Governor (W.C.C. Claiborne) and moved the Capital from Natchez to the town of Washington to appease the farmers. It was highly symbolic.

17. Land Ownership of the land in the territory was a major issue.
Most of the land was owned by the Choctaw and Chickasaw tribes
Pressure grew on the U.S. to acquire the land.

18. Land
Settlers held title to the land from all three previous ruling countries: France, Spain and Britain
Others had purchased land grants from Georgia
Often these claims overlapped causing confusion
Many settlers were Squatters and had cleared and farmed the land, built homes but did not own it.
The U.S. government had developed an orderly process to gain land ownership with the Land Ordinance of 1785.
Land was divided into townships
Each township was 6 miles square with 36 sections. Each section was 640 acres
Section 16 was given to the people to rent

19. Sectionalism Definition: An allegiance to local interests.
The Natchez district dominated the politics of the territory.
Settlers East of the Pearle River resented the Natchez district and its power
Whites in the East believed that the Natchez whites used their wealth and slaves to run the territorial government for their own benefit.
Conflicts arose between whites and then between predominantly white districts and those with African Americans and would continue throughout the history of the state

20. Taking Shape
In 1804, the territory was extended to the Tennessee border after Georgia gave up its claims.
The southern border was extended after the U.S. won the war of 1812 and Spain was forced to give up its claims
Mississippi’s territorial period only lasted about twenty years but was an exciting era
Personal quarrels often led to duels and death.
During the War of 1812 the U.S. fought the Creek Indians in the Eastern part of the territory.
The Creek attack on Fort Mims resulted in the deaths of over 500 men, women and children. Settlers fled to Mobile and Natchez.
Andrew Jackson defeated the Creeks and reopened the land

21. Dividing the state and joining the Union
Statehood
Dividing the state and joining the Union

22. Statehood Congress divided the state in two in 1817 creating Alabama.
Once Congress established the borders a constitution was written.
Definition:
Constitution...Sets up the framework of a government and determines its powers and limitations.
The legislative branch was given more power than the executive because of the territory’s history with overzealous governors.
Judges were appointed for life.
Property owners could vote.
Blacks and non-taxpaying-whites were not counted.

23. Did You Know?
The delegates to the constitutional convention did not submit the new constitution to the voters but sent it to the federal government for approval.
Upon approval, Mississippi became the 20th state on December 10, 1817.
David Holmes became the first Governor.

24. End Chapter 3