Ownership of New Orleans

photo from commons.wikimedia.org

The Birth Of New Orleans 

The area that is known today as New Orleans was originally owned by a french financial institution, The John Laws Company of the west.  They had gained ownership of the land in 1716. The company envisioned the new town as "port of deposits", or "transshipment center for future trade up the Mississippi". In 1717, the John Laws Company of the West appointed Jean Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville to begin the city planning.  New Orleans was originally named Nouvelle-Orleans after french regent, Philippe II, duc d'Orleans.

In 1721 the population of New Orleans started growing, reaching 470 people. It became home to many different cultural backgrounds.  With the growing population, and relatively high ground , Jean Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville decided to move the capital from Biloxi to what is now New Orleans.

Spanish Control 

Photos from Commons.wikimedia 

To help end the French and Indian War, the French government signed over New Orleans to Spain in 1763.  This was part of the 1763 Treaty of Paris.  At this time New Orleans was a melting pot of culture, that made Spanish more accommodating to the ethically diverse population.  The majority of the population were Acadian refugees from French Canada.
When  Governor Alejandro O’Reilly took control of the area, he put a ban on Native American slave trade.  This still didn't stop slavery from happening.  It was not till 1787 when Governor Alejandro O' Reilly reinforced the law stating that enslaved Indians could sue. Even though it was against the law to sell Indians as slaves, they still had the African slave trade.  This led to Maroon Communities.  These were communities formed by run-a-way slaves who ran to the wilderness for safety.  They would build shelters from materials that were found in the swampy terrain.

Third Treaty of San Ildefonso

In 1800 the Spanish Government returned ownership back to the French with a secret treaty known as the Treaty of San Ildefonso.   This happened because of the amount of pressure spain was under caused by Napoleon.  Then in 1803, the french sold Louisiana to the United States of America for 15 million dollars as part of the Louisiana Purchase. 

Citation 

Jackson, Joy Juanita. “New Orleans.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 26 Dec. 2017, www.britannica.com/place/New-Orleans-Louisiana/History.

Mariano, Romy. “Slavery in Spanish Colonial Louisiana.” Know Louisiana, www.knowlouisiana.org/entry/slavery-in-spanish-colonial-louisiana.