1. Unit 5
Spanish Louisiana

2. Spanish Government Begins
Creoles were outraged when they learned that the Spanish had control of the colony.
Spain owned the colony, but France continued to run it.
Charles-Phillipe Aubry was the garrison leader and acted on behalf of the colony until Spain sent and official governor.

3. Antonio de Ulloa (oo-yo-ah)
First Governor from Spain was Antonio de Ulloa
a famous scientist and engineer
weak, distant, poor manager, and an introvert.

4. French Colonial Government Remains
Ulloa chose to forego a formal public ceremony celebrating the transfer of Louisiana from France to Spain.
He planned to rule behind the scenes.

5. Unrest in the Colony Governor Ulloa: Set new economic regulations
destroyed traditional trade ties.
Told colony must trade with Spanish
Inflation was out of control so Ulloa fixed prices.
Merchants did not like being told how much they could charge for goods.
The Superior Council hated him and began plotting to rebel.

6. Unrest in the Colony Louisianans felt Ulloa was weak
Because there had been no ceremony, many questioned if Spain really owned LA
Ulloa married a woman from Peru so many colonists thought he broke Code Noir
No one was invited to the wedding; New Orleans was offended
French colonists expected governor to throw parties and provide entertainment; Ulloa did none of this

7. The Creole Revolution
October 28, 1768—a mob of locals disabled the cannons protecting New Orleans.
400 Creoles and German Coast residents stormed the city, and the Superior Council ordered Ulloa to leave.
Ulloa left, and the French flag flew once again.
The colonists wrote a letter to the French king asking to be taken back by France.
The king did not respond.

8. The Spanish Return to Louisiana
One year later, a Spanish fleet of 24 ships with 2,000 soldiers arrived in New Orleans to take back control.
The fleet was commanded by General Don Alejandro O’Reilly.
O’Reilly heard the complaints against Ulloa from the rebellion leaders
The leaders tried to convince O’Reilly that they rebelled against Ulloa not Spain

9. The Spanish Return to Louisiana
The leaders interpreted O’Reilly’s courteous reception as acceptance of their excuse for rebelling.
O’Reilly headed to New Orleans and paraded the military in the Place de Armes and fired ceremonial cannons.
Cooperation by Aubry labeled him as a traitor to the French citizens in Louisiana

10. Bloody O’Reilly
O’Reilly invite 13 leaders of the Creole Rebellion to his home.
The 13 men were some of the wealthiest Louisiana citizens
They were immediately arrested
French citizens were offended by the violation of hospitality

11. Bloody O’Reilly The rebels were tried by O’Reilly
12 were found guilty
5 were executed by firing squad
6 were sent to prision
All their money and property were confiscated
O’Reilly became known as Bloody O’Reilly and served as Louisiana Governor for a year
No one challenged his authority

12. Don Alejandro O’Reilly

13. New Laws
The Spanish government was more effective than the French government had been.
Specifically trained for jobs
Checks and balances
Reduced political corruption

14. New Laws Governor and two lieutenant governors
The colony was divided into 12 districts
Each district had a commandment to enforce the law and judge minor cases.
Each also had a Catholic church and a priest

15. The Cabildo
The new governing body was called the Cabildo and replaced the Superior Council
Passed laws for the city of New Orleans.
Each member had specific responsibilities.
Function of Cabildo:
Passed laws
Advised governor
Listened to appealed convictions

16. The Cabildo

17. The Legal System Improves
The new Spanish legal system was named the O’Reilly Code
Similar to Code Noir but included more slave rights
Slaves could now testify in court.
Slaves were guaranteed a 30-minute lunch break and two-hour dinner breaks.
Owners could now free slaves without government permission.
Slaves had the right to buy their own freedom by splitting any wages they earned with their owners.

18. Luis de Unzaga Unzaga replaced O’Reilly as governor of Louisiana.
His marriage to a local woman made him very popular.
He allowed English trading vessels, called floating warehouses, to come down the Mississippi River and trade goods—even though it was illegal. This quickly built the economy.

19. A. The American Revolution
July 4, 1776, colonial Americans declared their independence
Spain did not officially support either side, but hoped the colonies would win.
Unzaga then offered to help
He provided Oliver Pollock, an American merchant with wheat to aid the colonies.

20. Bernardo de Gálvez Galvez became governor after Unzaga.
Worked secretly provide aid to the colonies
Shipped medicine, clothing, and weapons up the Mississippi to the rebels
Galvez raised an army and marched for Baton Rouge.
Army included Spanish soldiers, Creoles, black militiamen, and Indians
Galvez captured Fort Bute, Fort Richmond, an English regiment at Mobile, and Pensacola.