Louisiana (News-France)

The geographical and natural framework

To the XVIIIe century, French Louisiana extends on most of the center of the current United States. It is difficult to delimit this zone of diffuse influence with precision. It does not have Frontière S (with the modern direction) well defined; the most populated surface and most strengthened is actually reduced to the valley of the Mississippi. In north, Louisiana is bordered by the Big lakes, in particular the Lake Michigan and the Lac Érié. In the east, the chain of the the Appalachian Mountains separates it from the thirteen colonies British. Lastly, the area of the Grandes Plains in the west marks the end of the French presence and the beginning of the “wild west”, dominated by the Amerindian tribes. In the south, French Louisiana opens on the Gulf of Mexico, the maritime access road principal of the colony.

The relief is rather flat and does not constitute a major hurdle with European colonization. Altitudes are everywhere lower than 1.000 meters, even if the north of the area is higher than the southernmost part, except the Monts Ozark.

In fact thus more the ic data Climat make it possible to separate French Louisiana in two geographical units: Low-Louisiana (in the south) and High-Louisiana (in north). The two areas are traversed by the same river axis, the Mississippi.

Low-Louisiana

Low-Louisiana is subjected to a tropical Climat marked by the Cyclone S at the end of the summer and at the beginning of the autumn. Winter freezing generally saves this area: these conditions allow the culture of rice, the tobacco, the Indigo, as with the the Antilles. The landscape is characterized by wetlands and marshy, often unhealthy, in the Delta of the Mississippi and the Bayou: it is of arm and Méandre S given up by the river and which forms long stagnant water ways and constitutes a navigable network of thousands of kilometers.

High-Louisiana

High-Louisiana (Country of Illinois) is the field of the Grandes fertile Plains. Its climate remains marked by the continentality and the influence of the masses of polar air in winter or tropical in summer. At the 17th century, the area was covered with forests sheltering of the animals with Fourrure.

History

Summary chronology

1673 : the Canadian Louis Jolliet and the French Jacques Marquette begin the exploration of the river the Mississippi
1682: Cavelier of the Room descends the the Mississippi to its mouth. April 9th taking possession of Louisiana in the name of Louis XIV
1683: The Room founds Saint-Louis of Illinois
1685: Foundation of Saint-Louis of Texas
1699: Pierre LeMoyne d' Iberville recognizes the coast of Louisiana
1701: Cadillac founds Detroit
1710: Mobile becomes the capital of Louisiana
1712: Beginning of the monopoly of Crozat
1717: official beginning of the Treats Blacks in Louisiana. Beginning of the monopoly of the company of Occident.
1718 : foundation of La Nouvelle-Orléans
1721: Collapse of the company of Occident which becomes a royal control.
1723 : New-Orleans becomes officially the capital of French Louisiana
1730: Retrocession of Louisiana to the Crown.
1756: Beginning of the War seven year old
1763: treaty of Paris, France loses Louisiana
1764: foundation of Saint Louis (Missouri)
1779: foundation of Chicago by Jean Baptiste Points Sand
1800: secret treaty of San Ildefonso, France recovers the west of Louisiana
1803: Napoleon Bonaparte sells Louisiana in the United States

Exploration and conquest of French Louisiana

17th century: the time of exploration

As from the years 1660, France engages in an expansion policy in North America, since the Canada. The objectives are to find a passage towards the China (Passage of the North-West), to exploit the natural wealths of the conquered territories (furs, ores) and of évangéliser new autochtones. The runners of wood launch out in the exploration of the west, the “Country of in Top” according to the expression of the time. In 1659, Radisson Pierre-Spirit and Medard Chouart of Groseillers reach the Western end of the Higher Lake. The priests found missions, like that of Sault-Holy-Marie in 1668.

May 17th 1673, the French Louis Jolliet and Jacques Marquette begin the exploration of the Mississippi river, which they know under the name Sioux Tongo (the large river) or Michissipi . They reach the mouth of Arkansas then go up the river after having learned that it ran towards the Gulf of Mexico and not towards the Sea of California (Pacific Ocean). In 1675, Marquette founds a mission in the village of Kaskaskias, on the river of Illinois, which becomes permanent in 1690.

In 1682, Cavelier of the Room and the Italian Henri de Tonti descend in their turn the Mississippi to his delta. They leave the Fort Crèvecœur on the river of Illinois, accompanied by 23 French and 18 Amerindians. They build Fort Industrial tribunal which becomes later the town of Memphis. They assert French sovereignty on the whole of the valley and call it Louisiana in the honor of the king Louis XIV. They seal alliances with the Indians Quapaw S. In April 1682, they arrive at the mouth of the Mississippi; they draw up a cross and a column there carrying the weapons of king de France. Forwarding sets out again by the same way towards Canada and the Room turns over to Versailles. There, he convinces the minister of the marine to grant the command of Louisiana to him. He makes believe that this one is close to the News-Spain by drawing a chart on which the Mississippi appeared much more in the west that its real course. He sets up a maritime forwarding with four ships and 320 emigrants, but this one turns to the disaster: he does not manage to find the delta of the Mississippi and is made assassinate in 1687.

18th century: the true beginning of colonization

In 1701, the French Antoine Laumet of Mothe, sior of Cadillac founds a fort with the site of the current city of Detroit, in the Michigan. At the beginning, the colony is called strong Pontchartrain of the strait in the honor of the count de Pontchartrain, minister for the Navy, and in connection with the configuration of the lakes Holy-Claire and Érié of which it occupies Western banks. Cadillac wishes thus to prevent that the traffic of the furs of beaver does not fall to the hands from the Iroquois and of the British merchants. Its intention is also to join together at the station of Strait the Amerindian allies and to compare them to the French nation. It leaves Montreal on June 5th, 1701 with a hundred people, half inhabitants, half soldiers, and two missionaries. June 24th, the group is installed on the site where soon the construction of a fort starts.

In 1698, Pierre LeMoyne d' Iberville leaves La Rochelle and explores the area of the mouth of the Mississippi. It stops between Cat Island and Ship Island the February 13rd 1699, then continues its explorations to the continent, with Biloxi, with its brother Jean-Baptiste Moyne de Bienville. It built there a precarious fort, called “Maurepas” or “Old Biloxi”, before turning over to France. It returns by twice in the Gulf of Mexico and establishes a fort with Mobile in 1702.

From 1699 to 1702, Pierre Moyne d' Iberville is the Gouverneur of Louisiana. His/her brother succeeds to him this station of 1702 to 1713. He is again governor of 1716 with 1724 and still of 1733 with 1743. In 1718, Jean-Baptiste Moyne de Bienville orders a French forwarding in Louisiana. It founds the city of New-Orleans, in homage to the regent, the duke of Orleans. It is the architect Adrien de Pauger who draws the orthogonal plan of it (Vieux Carré). The Traités of Utrecht (1713) put an end to the War of succession of Spain in Europe. They devote the retreat of the French power. Even if Louis XIV succeeded in placing his grandson (Philippe V) on the Spanish throne, this one gives up its rights on the crown of France. Moreover, the Acadie and part of the West-Indian colonies are lost. Louisiana remains French but worries about the increasing influence of the British colonies. The king seeks from now on to contain this influence in the east of the Appalachian Mountains. He tries a bringing together with News-Spain, located at the west of Louisiana. This policy is justified by its family ties but also by the hope to reach the mines and the trade of the Spanish colonies.

The continuous exploration of the west: in 1714, Louis Juchereau of Saint-Denis goes up the river Rouge and reached the Río Grande. The same year, Etienne Véniard de Bourgmont sails on the Missouri. In 1721, Jean-Baptiste Bénard of the Toothing-stone goes up the Arkansas in country Caddo. The zone of French influence extends considerably and the voyages provide the foundations of the recognition of the Far West.

Political organization and administrative

For the absolute monarchy it is not easy to manage Louisiana, a large territory like several times France. Louis XIV and his successors tried well to impose their absolutist ambitions on the colonies, without laying out however means necessary.

Absolutism in Louisiana?

If the sovereigns of the Ancien Mode take possession and sometimes encourage the colonization of News-France, it is for various reasons which fall under a prospect absolutist.

The reign of Henri IV gives an important impulse to the colonization of News-France. The first king bourbon is interested personally in the businesses of overseas. To the 17th century century, the ministers Richelieu then Colbert lead the colonial policy. Louis XIV and his ministers are concerned size of the kingdom. This one extends in Europe, it must also develop in America. The European competitions, the play of political alliances mark obviously the history of Louisiana, in a more or less direct way. The will to limit the British influence in the New World is a constant of the royal policy.

The sun king takes care to limit the appearance of intermediate bodies and countervailing powers in North America. He does not want a provincial states, of Assemblée of notable the or of Parlement S. In 1685, he prohibits the Imprimerie in all News-France. In the years 1660, the colony is attached directly to the royal field. Between 1712 and 1731, the French possession passes under the control of Antoine Crozat, a financial rich person, then under that of the Compagnie of Louisiana created by John Law. This one must recruit emigrants to populate the colony. In 1731, Louisiana is replaced under the direct authority of king de France. Contrary to what occurs in metropolis, the laws are the same ones everywhere: it is the habit of Paris which applies and this one is rather levelling for the time. The riots and the revolts against the authorities are rare. However, the Centralisation louis-quatorzienne stumbles at the distances which separate France from Louisiana. At the end of the 17th century and at the beginning of the 18th century century, the colonists of the Gulf of Mexico are almost delivered to themselves and must more count on the assistance of the Amerindians that on that of the metropolis. But the distance has also its advantages: the Louisianian colonists deliver themselves without problem to the traffics of smuggling.

Jean-Baptiste Colbert, Minister for the Navy and the Trade of Louis XIV, is attentive to increase the richnesses of the crown. He founds companies of trade, takes care to increase the production of the country and the colonies. It is necessary to sell as much as possible and reduce the imports: the Mercantilisme inspires the policy overseas. It imposes the monopoly of France as regards trade.

However, the ambitions absolutists carry in them a notable contradiction: Colbert wants to reduce the expenditure of monarchy. It is however necessary to invest much money and to mobilize important human resources to emphasize the colonies of America. Great work of economic infrastructures (Manufacture S, ports) is undertaken in metropolis; but the investments and installations are insufficient in Louisiana. Nothing is really carried out to facilitate the movement of the goods or the men. In the same way, whereas the French budget is overdrawn because of the wars, the colonists of Louisiana do not pay the royal size and are free of the Gabelle.

The executives policy and legal

Under the Old Mode, French Louisiana belongs to a unit much vaster, the French empire of America or “News-France”, which includes part of current Canada. News-France was initially directed by a viceroy: this station is occupied by the duke of Ventadour (1625). Then it is equipped with a general government like the other possessions of the Bourbon S. Its seat is in the town of Quebec until in 1759. A general governor, assisted by a Intendant, tries to direct this vast unit. In theory, Louisiana thus depends on Canada. It is besides more by the Canadians whom by the French that it is explored and populated. Moreover, the distances are impressive (New-Orleans is to several thousands of kilometers in the south of Quebec) and the communications are limited between the urban centres and the forts. The French establishments are very dispersed and have consequently a relative autonomy in fact.

A regional cutting in smaller entities is made necessary by the vastness and the diversity of the colony: News-France in fact is divided into five particular governments, of which that of Louisiana. The Country of Illinois, located at the south of the Big lakes, is attached to Louisiana in 1717. The first “capital” of French Louisiana is Mobile. It is transferred to Biloxi in 1720 then in New-Orleans in 1723, where the governor resides (particular). This one is the most eminent character but not most powerful. It orders the troops and deals with the diplomatic relations. The second authority is the police chief-director. Its functions are similar to those of the Intendant S in metropolis: administrators and representatives of the king, their prerogatives extend to justice, the police force and finances. They manage the budget, fix the prices, chair the superior council (a court of justice) and organize the Recensement. Named by the king, the ordnance officer of Louisiana has broad capacities which enter sometimes in conflict with those of the governor. The military stations of the interior are directed by commanders. Other officers make them live, the such guard-stores

The religious framing

The French possessions of North America are under the authority of only one Diocèse whose seat is in Quebec. The bishop, named and remunerated by the king, is in load of the hearts of all News-France. The spiritual framing of the population thus is very slackened and the Louisianians practice much less than the subways. The Dîme, tax poured with the Clergy by the faithful ones, is weaker than in metropolis.

The Church plays a leading role for the exploration of French Louisiana: it sends missions, primarily carried out by the Jésuites, for évangéliser the autochtones. It creates schools and hospital: as of the years 1720, the sisters Ursuline S deal with one hospital in New-Orleans. They establish contacts with the Amerindian tribes. Certain priests, such as the father Inlays at the 17th century, take part in the missions of exploration.

The missionaries stick to évangéliser the autochtones: the Jesuits write for this purpose collections of prayers in the Amerindian languages. Living sometimes in the tribes, they cannot prevent some Syncrétisme practices and beliefs. If they regard the Manitou S as demons, they can also integrate the dogmas of the Christian faith in the Indian rites. Sincere and durable conversions are limited; Jesus is compared to other “spirits”, or frankly rejected by the natives.

The colonial company

It is difficult to evaluate the total population of the colonies of North America. If the historians have relatively precise sources with regard to the colonists and the slaves, it is on the other hand much more difficult to count the Amerindians. It should be noted that with the course the 18th century, the Louisianian company créolise.

Amerindians

According to the historian Russel Thorntorn, North America counts approximately seven million inhabitants about 1500. The population is decimated as of the 16th century, primarily because of the diseases introduced by Europeans, against whom the Amerindians are not immunized. At the end of the 17th century, there remain nothing any more but 100 with 200 000 autochtones in Low-Louisiana.

A certain number of Amerindians are employed like Esclave S at the beginning of the 18th century, in spite of official prohibition. These slaves are captured by the tribes during raids and of battles. The French then send them to Saint-Domingue, in the Antilles or even in Canada. In Louisiana, the growers prefer the Africans to them, even if some have Amerindian servants.

Slaves of African origin

It is into 1717 that the Minister for Finance John Law decides to import black slaves in Louisiana. Its objective is then to develop the saving in Plantation in Low-Louisiana. The company of the Indies holds the monopoly of the draft in the area. It makes come approximately 6.000 slaves from Africa between 1719 and 1743. A part is sent in the country of Illinois to cultivate the fields or to work the mines. The economy of Low-Louisiana becomes consequently slave.

As in the remainder of the French colonies, the condition of the slaves is regulated by the black Code. Actually, this last is applied little and the slaves have a certain autonomy in fact. Initially, during bank holidays, the slaves cultivate a small piece which enables them to sell their productions then. Then, some drive out, cut wood or keep the herds, far from the plantation. Lastly, if the interraciaux marriages and the regroupings of slaves are prohibited, the cohabitation and the meetings are often practiced.

The life and the work of the slaves are difficult: the moment of harvests is undoubtedly most painful. The maintenance of the channels concerns the Corvée. The residences are modest and the slaves sleep on simple straw mattresses. They have some trunks and kitchen utensils. The condition of the slaves depends on the cruelty of their Master. When it is unbearable, the slaves flee and hide in the marshes or in New-Orleans. But this Marronnage is often only temporary and Louisiana does not know really maroon villages as in the Antilles. In the same way, the revolts are not very frequent in this area. The possibilities of stamping are altogether rather reduced: the slaves cannot buy themselves their freedom. Some freed (women, people having been useful in the army) form a small community which suffers from the segregation: justice is more severe in their opposition and they do not have the right to carry of weapons.

The slaves contribute to the creolisation of the Louisianian company. They bring from Africa the Gumbo, a plant which uses the preparation of ragouts. If the black Code requires that the slaves receive a Christian education, much practices African animists keep (Amulette S, Vaudou,…)

Colonists

Who were the migrants?

It is estimated that 7.000 French emigrants come to settle in Louisiana at the 18th century. They is 100 times less than the number of British colonists on the Atlantic coast. Louisiana attracts much less the French of the time that the Antilles. The crossing of the Atlantic Ocean lasts several months. Most of these travellers die during the maritime crossing or on their arrival.

The cyclones and the tropical storms destroy the campings. The insalubrity of the delta of the Mississippi represents also a strong constraint. The villages and the forts are not safe from enemy offensives.

From 1727, Indians unite with African slaves having " marroné". They carry out raids in the French enclave. The Compagnie of the Indies worries about these Indian slaves mixed to the Negros, who could be disastrous for the colony .

The attacks of the Amerindians represent a real threat on the groups of isolated colonists: in 1729, the attacks of the Natchez make 250 dead in Low-Louisiana. They seize strong Rosalie by surprised and break the expectant mothers. The French response arrives in 1730 and 1731 and causes the escape of Natchez or them Déportation like slaves towards the island of Santo Domingo.

The migrants are often young men, volunteers recruited in the French ports or in Paris and which are put at the service of colonists on the spot. They must remain in Louisiana the time fixed by the contract of service, then they return to France. These volunteers are “ true temporary semi-slaves ”. One proposes to the soldiers to marry with “Girls with the cassette”: these young Frenchwomen are sent in America to marry soldiers. The king finances to them Dot, the goal being to fix and increase the population. Women of easy virtue, vagrants or outlaws, wire of family stopped on Lettre de cachet are sent of force in Louisiana, especially during Regency (1715-1723). These destinies inspire the novel Histoire of the Knight Of Grieux and Manon Lescaut (1731) written by the Abbé Prévost.

French Louisiana is also populated by the Swiss ones and Germans. However, the metropolitan authorities never speak about “Louisianian” but always of “French” to designate the population. After the War Seven Year old, the settlement is more mixed and the area grows rich by various human contributions: taken refuge from Santo Domingo, expatriates French refusing the Revolution… In 1785, the Déportation of Acadian the brings 1.633 people to New-Orleans.

Peasants, craftsmen and merchants

The social mobility is easier in America than in metropolis. The system seigneurial is absent on banks of the Mississippi. There does not exist Corporation S treated on a hierarchical basis and strictly regulated. Certain tradesmen manage to build fortunes rather quickly. The large growers of Louisiana are attached to the French lifestyle: they make import wigs and clothing of Paris. In the Country of Illinois, richest set up stone-built houses and have several slaves. The largest traders end up settling with New-Orleans.

French soldiers

The king sends the army in the event of conflict with the other colonial powers: in 1717, the colony of the Mississippi counts 300 soldiers out of 550 people. But it is victim, as in metropolis besides, of desertions. Certain soldiers flee and become runners of wood. There is few Mutinerie S because repression is severe. The army holds a fundamental place in the control of the territory. The men build forts and negotiate with the Amerindians.

Runners of wood

The Coureurs of wood play a big role, on which one has few documents, in the extension of the French influence in North America. As of the end of the 17th century, these adventurers go up the affluents of the Mississippi. They are pushed by the hope to find gold or to make trade of fur or slaves with the Indians. The draft of the skins, often practiced without authorization, is a difficult activity, carried on most of the time by unmarried young men. Much of them finally wishes sédentariser to be reconverted into the agricultural activities.

Good number are integrated in the communities autochtones. They learn their language and take Amerindian wives: one knows well the case of All Saints' day Charbonneau, polygamous which marries two girls of the tribe Shoshone, of which courageous the Sacagawea which gives him a fore-mentioned son Jean-Baptiste and a girl, Lisette. Together, they take part in the Expédition Lewis and Clark, at the beginning of the 19th century.

Free-Amerindian relations

If France of Old Mode wishes to make Amerindians of the subjects of the king and good Christians, the distance of the metropolis and the weakness of the French settlement prevent the result of this objective. In the official Rhetoric, the Amerindians are regarded as subjects of king de France. But actually, the autochtones keep an important autonomy related to their numerical superiority. The local authorities (governors, officers) do not have the means of imposing the decisions and often exploit the base of the compromise. The tribes offer an essential support for the French maintenance in Louisiana: they ensure the survival of the colonists, provide skins within the framework of the draft of the furs, are used as guide in forwardings… Their alliance is essential in the fight against the British.

The two people influence themselves mutually in many fields: from the French the languages learn from the autochtones; Amerindians adopt the European goods (fabrics, cloths, alcohol, firearms…) and their religion. The runners of wood and the soldiers borrow the boats of bark and the moccasins. Much of them eats with the Indian mode (wild rice, various meats, sometimes of the Ours and the dog). The colonists are often dependant on the Amerindians for their provisioning of food. The traditional kitchen of Louisiana is the heiress of these contacts: thus, the sagamity is a pulp of corn, grease of bear and bacon. The Jambalaya, word of origin Séminole, indicates today a multitude of meat receipts containing rice, all very spiced. Sometimes the chamanes succeed in curing the colonists thanks to traditional remedies (application of gum of fir tree on the wounds, osmund consumption on a bite of rattlesnake). Finally a certain number of French Mots of Amerindian origin passes in the language of the every day.

Many colonists admire and fear the military value of the autochtones. But of others scorn their culture and regard them as lower than the White. At the 18th century, the interraciaux marriages without the approval of the authorities are prohibited in Louisiana (ordinance of 1735). The priests Jesuits are often scandalized manners libertines of the Amerindians. In spite of some disagreements (the Indians kill the pigs which devastate the corn fields) and sometimes of the confrontations violent one (war of the Foxes, risings Natchez and forwardings against the Chicachas), the relations free-Indians are relatively good in Louisiana, because the French are not numerous. The French imperialism is expressed by some wars and the setting in slavery of a certain number of Amerindians. But most of the time, the relations free-Indians are based on the dialog and the negotiation.

Economy of French Louisiana

In this immense unit which is French Louisiana, it is advisable to distinguish two great areas with the well differentiated productive systems.

Country of Illinois

This area of French Louisiana, located at north and drained by the Mississippi and its affluents, produces primarily cereals. The French farmers, very few let us recall it, live in some grouped villages (Fort of Chartres, Kaskaskia, Prairie of the Rock, Holy-Genevieve). They cultivate using a paid and servile labor, corn and wheat. The meadows are development thanks to the traditional Charrue. They raise horses, bovines and pigs. In complement, they make push a little tobacco, hemp, flax and vine (even if the essence of the wine is imported of France). Agriculture is subjected to the climatic risks and the overflows of the Mississippi.

The strengthened stations of draft of the Country of Illinois concentrate on the trade of the furs. Placed at strategic places, they are strengthened in a modest way. Some only are out of stone (Extremely of Chartres, Fort the Niagara). Like their American counterpart (the mountain men ), the runners of wood exchange the skins of beaver or Chevreuil against weapons, parts of fabric or shoddy goods, because the local economy is based on the Troc. They sell then the skins and the furs in the forts or the cities of News-France. The Country of Illinois also produces salt, Plomb and dispatches towards New-Orleans of game.

Low-Louisiana

A saving in plantation

The south of Louisiana is exploited according to the system of the slave plantation. The owners generally reside with New-Orleans and entrust the direction of the field to a treasurer. The cultures are varied and adapted to the natural conditions: part of the productions is intended to nourish the inhabitants of Louisiana (corn, vegetables, rice, breeding). Another part is exported towards the metropolis (Tabac and Indigo).

Economic functions of New-Orleans

La Nouvelle-Orléans is the economic capital of French Louisiana, even if it is only one simple village during several decades. The colonists arranged infrastructures allowing the trade: a channel is bored as from 1723. The stores are used as warehouses on banks of the Mississippi. The city exports the skins coming from the interior as well as the products of plantation. It is also used as local market. Its shops and its markets allow the product sales of the plantations.

The rare convoys coming from France bring food (bacon, corn,…), of alcohols and various objects (weapons, tools, fabrics, clothing). Interior come from the skins and various products of hunting. The port dispatches tobacco and indigo towards the metropolis. But these exports remain relatively weak on the whole. La Nouvelle-Orléans still sells wood, rice and corn in the French West Indies.

End of French Louisiana

The War of Seven Years and its consequences

The hostilities between French and British start again two years before the release of the Seven year old war in Europe. They stop earlier in America, before the Traité of Paris (1763). After having been some successes thanks to their Amerindian supports (1754 - 1757), the French undergo several defeats in Canada (1758 - 1760). The capitulation of Montreal announces the insulation of French Louisiana.

The treaty of Paris, signed the February 10th 1763, devotes the ousting of the French in North America: Canada as well as Eastern bank of the Mississippi are yielded to Great Britain. La Nouvelle-Orléans and the Western bank of the river are given to Spain. This decision causes the departure of several colonists; however, the effective taking possession by the Spaniards is late (1766) and Spanish-speaking immigration remains weak. In the east, the United States envisages already the conquest of territories towards the west: in 1795, commercial navigation on the Mississippi is opened to the Americans.

The transitory revival of French Louisiana

During the French revolution, Louisiana under Spanish control is agitated: certain French-speaking colonists send petitions in metropolis and the slaves try to revolt in 1791 and 1795.

The Treated of San Ildefonso, signed in secrecy on October 1st 1800, envisages the transfer of Western Louisiana as well as New-Orleans in France in exchange of the duchy of Parma. January 18th, 1803, the king of Spain reassigns Louisiana in France. However, Napoleon Bonaparte decides not to keep this immense territory. Dictated by the failure of the Forwarding of Santo Domingo and also of the rupture of the Peace of Amiens with the United Kingdom (Great Britain and Ireland linked themselves to become the United Kingdom in 1801), the decision is made to sell Louisiana to the United States young people the April 30th 1803 against the sum of 80 franc million (15 million dollars). American sovereignty between in force the December 20th 1803 (act of the Louisiana Purchase ). However, the French, in particular the runners of wood, continue to attend the area and penetrate Far West: thus, Pierre Vial discovers the Piste of Santa Fe.

The French heritage

French colonization in Louisiana left a cultural heritage which has been given in value for a few decades. The heritage of the French language and the French cajun is that which tends to be most currently erased: this is why CODOFIL (the Council for the development of the French in Louisiana), created the Years 1960, continuous to teach a French version enters the old dialect cadien and Parisian French or subway. Today, the areas cajun or cadiennes of Louisiana often form associations with the Acadie NS of Canada which send French professors to relearn the language in the schools. In 2003,7 % of the Louisianians are French-speaking, even if they also speak English. One estimates at 25 % the share of those which have a French ascent. They carry patronyms of French origin (To stop, Cordier, Dion, Menard, Pineaux, Roubideaux, etc). Many cities or villages have evocative names: Saint Louis, Strait, Red Stick, La Nouvelle-Orléans,… The flag and the seal of the state of the Minnesota carry a French legend.

The historical festivals and commemorations point out the French presence of the modern time: in 1999, La Nouvelle-Orléans celebrated the birthday of its foundation; in 2001, it was the turn of Strait. In 2003, many exposures as well as a conference recalled the history of the sale of Louisiana at the time of the bicentenary.

Certain places and of many museums testify to a cultural heritage left by the French. One initially thinks of the French district of New-Orleans. Many French forts were reconstituted and opened with the public. Part of the Louisianian culture plunges its roots during the French time: the creole song influenced the blues and the jazz. The music cadjine remains very alive still today. The Carnaval of New-Orleans testifies to an always long-lived catholic tradition.

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