History of Louisiana - Essay Example

History of Louisiana History of Louisiana Louisiana was governed by ten different nations. In 1541, Hernando De Soto claimed the region for Spain. Subsequently, Le sale claimed it for Bourbon France and once it was also subject to the Union Jack of Great Britain1. The story doesn’t end here as Louisiana was also under the authority of the Tricolor of Napoleon, the Lone Star flag of the Republic of West Florida and the stripes of the United States of America. However, at the outburst of the Civil war, Louisiana became an independent nation, but just for six weeks. After this, Louisiana became a part of the confederate States of America. Louisiana became part of the United States because its significance in trade and due to security issues2 of mid-west America. A considerable quantity of the mid-west product passed the mouth of Mississippi River, which was under the influence of New Orleans and other surrounding territories of Louisiana. Hence, considering the immense importance of Louisiana, Thomas Jefferson negotiated a deal with Napoleon. The deal between Jefferson and Napoleon, signed in 1803, was known as the Louisiana Purchase. As per Louisiana Purchase, the United States of America acquired certain part of the Louisiana territory. It is estimated that with the acquisition of Louisiana, there was a twofold increase in the size of America. Jefferson made the United States the world power after Louisiana became its territory. Afterwards, thirteen parts of the Louisiana were removed from the Louisiana Purchase territory. The negotiations for purchase of Louisiana were closed at agreement of paying 15 million dollars to France to get hold of the whole state. It was Napoleon’s treasury minister, Marquis de Barbé-Marbois, who negotiated the terms with Americans over the sale of Louisiana. The territory that was purchased at that time was almost one third of the United States; it included several states which are present till day like Iowa, Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, Nebraska and Missouri. It also included some areas of Louisiana, Minnesota, North Dakota, Wyoming, South Dakota, Montana, New Mexico, Colorado and Texas. Spain had protested against the Louisiana’s sale by Napoleon. The French Commander Pierre Clément de Laussat of New Orleans referred to this sale as a lie. The congress of the United States quickly authorized this purchase by passing legislation. William Charles Cole Claiborne was made the first governor of this newly purchased state by President Jefferson. He and General James were sent to take control from Laussat. In November of 1803, the Spanish Governor officially transferred Louisiana to the French representative, Laussat, who, instead, was supposed to transfer it to the United States. In December 1803, 400 US troops and 100 militiamen arrived to take the US territory back. The early history of Louisiana is marked by trade as it was one of the leading trade and financial center in the United Stated of America. The fertility of the region was another factor that claimed Louisiana as one of the richest territories of America. Crops such as indigo, cotton and sugar, harvested in Louisiana, flourished in the world market. Many planters in Louisiana were among affluent in America. However, the plantation economy didn’t last as an aftermath of the civil war though the region still flourished in agriculture. In 1869 and 1901, sulphur and oil were discovered respectively in Louisiana. Apart from these factors, the expansion of forestry led to a wide economic growth of this region. Louisiana evolved as America’s leading oil and natural gas producer along with manufacturing petrochemicals and refining petroleum3. The initial white settles in Louisiana were of the French origin, they were mainly the sons of the elite in France who had moved out to look for new opportunities around the world and experience different adventures. They brought a whole culture, for instance, traditional cooking style from back home. Being the rich class, they had brought along their chefs too. These French people were then known as Creoles and were part of upper crust in New Orleans. Their descendents are still found in French Quarter till nowadays. From the earliest New Orleans history, a Creole was defined as a child who was born in either French or Spanish colony. It was modified after the United States got control of Louisiana in 1803. Creole population during that time comprised of French and Spanish elite who were rulers through the 1700’s till the period of early 1800’s. The French customs, as well as language, held extreme significance even when under rule of Spanish. Both the White, as well as French Creoles some of whom also had Spanish descent had Roman Catholic beliefs. The French Creoles were the community of white people of Spanish and French mixture4. The term of Creole exclusively stayed as an expression used through the French, as well as Spanish, regimes in the area by close-minded colonial governments. This was a period where the Europeans who had ancestry that was either Spanish or French and were born in new world instead of Europe were known as the community of Creole. At the same time, citizens in the colony faked a local identity that was new; although everyone apparently called themselves the French Creole. The language at the early time in New Orleans was Parisian French, although later it was modified with addition of the local slangs, as well as different phrases. The language of white creoles of French origin was later called Colonial French; this was because it eventually became different from the French language that was spoken in France. The enslaved community of blacks who were originally the natives of the region also came to be known as Creole, this was to differentiate them from the arrival of those from Africa. Eventually, the Africans and native black Creoles added new modifications and created the language with fusion of French and the West African, this came to be known as Louisiana Creole French or just Creole French. In was spoken by the slaves, free people of the colour, as well as the planters. It is still used in the central Louisiana. Although it is not used in the area of New Orleans as it originally was, only few adaptations of some phrases and the words exist. Louisiana was the first state in the United States of America to have an overwhelming population of Catholic French and Spanish. This reflects its origin as colony of France till 1763 and of Spain till 1803. On April 30th 1812, Louisiana was admitted to the Union. It became the 18th state in the United States of America. However, its road to statehood was not straightforward. Louisiana went through many obstacles to declare statehood. Potent personalities of the time, such as Julian Poydras and Edward Livingston, put forth appreciable efforts for Orleans territory to be recognized as an American state. The legislature of the new state of Louisiana elected Claiborne as their very first Governor, although right after being elected he was faced with war against Britain. The hard work of the people paid off when in 1811, President Madison signed the bill allowing the people of Louisiana to form the state constitution. In 1812, the president again signed a bill, granting Louisiana the statehood. The French Catholic Creole culture gradually melted in the culture of the American English protestant. A new blend of Creole-American culture came into existence. However, differences emerged on the interpretation of Civil Code. The Creole of Louisiana had lived under a political monarchy and the legal Civil Code. The Civil law emphasizes on codification of law. The American political laws, on the other hand, offered religious freedom and enforced republican democracy and English common law. Presently, Louisiana stands as a solo state in the United States of America to follow the most common legal system in the world, the Civil Code system. Before getting the statehood, some of the American leaders like the Governor of Louisiana William Claiborne were concerned that the Creole population of Louisiana might not be able to accept the American Democracy. Yet in territorial Period, some men came out as public supporters regarding the democratic rights which statehood offered and were effective politicians; these included Julien Poydras, Jean Noel Destréhan and Jacques Villeré. On top of that, a lot of Creole citizens in the territory supported this democratic system from 1789 since their monarchy had been replaced by republican democracy through French Revolution. By era of 1850’s, majority of the state politics had no American and Creole division of any kind. Still the publishing of legislative acts was in the English, as well as the French, languages to cater the bilingual populace till 1867. It was in the 1850s when the division between American and Creole in politics greatly dwindled. Currently, Louisiana has seven state political parties: Conservative party of Louisiana, Constitutional party of Louisiana, Louisiana Democratic Party, Green Party of Louisiana, and Libertarian party of Louisiana, Reform Party of Louisiana and Republican Party of Louisiana. Even after 200 years of acquiring statehood, Louisiana stands as a unique state in the Union. Its rich heritage of Creole population and it being the only state that follows Civil Code Law make it stand out. Its population is marked by the French Catholic Creole. The application of Civil Code Law, the organization of parishes as local political units, and the celebration of Catholic traditions such as Mardi Gras clearly manifest the rich Creole heritage of Louisiana. There was hardly any time for this newly established state to develop due to the war in June of 1812. Yet there was no way of turning back when Jackson and the British left the area. This state should remarkable capabilities throughout the course of its history to be able to triumph over the ethic separations, as well as economic hardships. Bibliography Gayarre, Charles and Bunner, E. History of Louisiana, US: Applewood Books, 2010. Marsh, Carole. Louisiana History!: Surprising Secrets About Our States Founding Mothers, Fathers & Kids!. New York: Carole Marsh Books, 1996. Reeves, William Dale. Historic Louisiana: An Illustrated History. NY: HPN Books, 2003. Read More