Chapter 6 French Rule in Louisianas French Colonial

Chapter 6 French Rule in Louisiana's French Colonial Era: Struggle and Survival

Important People of Chapter 6 n n n n n Louis Joliet Rene’ Robert Cavalier Sieur de La Salle Henri de Tonti Pierre Le Moyne Sieur d’Ibberville Jean Baptiste Le Moyne Sieur de Bienville Antoine Crozat Antoine de Lamonthe n n n n Sieur de Cadillac Lois Juchereau de St. Denis John Law Etienne de Perier Pierre Francois de Rigaud Marquis de Vaudreuail Louis Billouart Chevalier de Kerlerec

Chapter 6 Section 1 Section One - "Exploring the Mississippi" (pp 196 -198) Vocabulary 1. New World - a way of referring to North America 2. Northwest Passage - a water route that early Europeans believed went through the North American continent to Asia 3. expedition - a journey for a specific purpose, such as exploration 4. colony - a group of people who settle in a distant land but who are still under the control of their native land Questions 1. What was the purpose of the French trading posts in North America? - to take advantage of the profitable fur trade that would support the colony 2. For whom was Louisiana named and what does Louisiana mean? - Louisiana is named after King Louis XIV of France and it means "Land of Louis" or “Louis' land". 3. What interest did Catholic priests have in exploration in the Americas? - to bring Christianity to the Native Americans

Exploring the Mississippi French established their first trading posts in Canada n They were fur traders n Created such a rich economic venture for France it became known as New France n Traders wanted to expand their trading area by finding a way to China and India n They talked of a Northwest Passage-a mysterious water route across the American continent n

Joliet and Marquette 1663, French fur trader Louis Joliet and Jesuit priest Marquette along with an expedition team set out to explore this “Northwest Passage” n Taught by the Native Americans in the North the team built birchbark canoes , gathered useful food and set out n

Joliet and Marquette From Canada the team made their way as far as the Mississippi River to the Mouth of the Aransas River n Natives of the Quapaw tribe explained the dangers of going further down the river -The Spanish had supplied southern tribes with guns and ammunition, leading them to go back North n

Rene’ Robert Cavalier Sieur de La Salle Dreamt of finding a route to China n Had a Canadian trading post called La. Chine (China) in which other traders just found funny n It too him many years and struggles, but eventually he made his trip to find China a reality n

Henri de Tonti La Salle chose Henri de Tonti as his lieutenant for the trip. n Tonti was known for his bravery in battle n Legend says in battle, Tonti amputated his own wounded hand then continued fighting n Nick named “Iron Hnd” n

La Salle’s Journey to China? n n The team was made up of La Salle, Tonti, priests, Natives and their families Feb. 1682, they enter the upper Mississippi River April 1682, they reached the Mouth of the river Never getting to China!

La Salle chooses the Land of Louis over China! As the team reached the mouth of the Mississippi River a formal solemn ceremony was held (in Plaquemines Parish) n La Salle, as any other good Frenchman, claimed all the land drained by the Mississippi River for his king, King Louis XIV n He honored the king by naming the land Louisiana, which means “LAND OF LOUIS” n

Better let the king know! La Salle returned to France to report his discovery to the kin n The king rewarded him with a small fleet of ships and 30 colonists and directed him to start a colony n Louisiana is official! n King Louis XIV ain’t he a cutie?

La Salle returns to Louisiana, well maybe not… n n La Salle began his trip to his new home after meeting with the king This trip was not successful-he missed the Mississippi River! He ended up at Matagorda Bay in Texas Frightened and frustrated, the colonist were not happy n n Many died on the trip there and were not supplied enough to last longer than the trip to Louisiana La Salle vowed to bring them back to Canada by land Colonist men mutinied and murdered La Salle His dreams ended in complete failure

Chapter 6 Section 2 Section Two - "Colonizing Louisiana" (pp. 200 -204) Questions 1. Where was the first French fort established along the Gulf of Mexico? - Fort Maurepas near the present-day city of Biloxi (They needed to build a fort to keep possession of their new colony. ) (They didn't build the first fort on the Mississippi River because the soil was too poor. ) 2. Which countries tried to stop French efforts to colonize Louisiana? - England Spain 3. How did Bienville keep the English away from the Mississippi River? - He bluffed his way out at a curve on the river now called English Turn.

Colonizing Louisiana n n France colonizing and claiming the Mississippi made other countries nervous Spain and Britain took this as a threat Determined to protect its colonies, Spain built a fort on the Gulf of Mexico at Pensacola Bay The British hoped for a fort at the mouth of the Mississippi

Keeping up with the Jones’ n n Louis XIV heard the rumblings of other countries and knew France had to build a fort immediately First he had to chose a good leader to take on the task Pierre Le Moyne, Sieur d’Iberville, a Canadian commander was chosen to lead the effort to build a French fort Iberville chose his war hardened 18 year old brother Jean Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur de Bienville to accompany him.

A new fort for France Iberville was charged with establishing a base from which to control the mouth of the Mississippi River n The site must be a good location for a colony n More importantly, the site must provide France with raw materials (Mercantilism) for manufacturers in France n

The Mississippi n As they came to the mouth of the Mississippi, Iberville described the day, “March 3, Mardi Gras Day…I went up this river…two leagues and a half above the mouth it forks into three branches”

Is it really the Mississippi n n n To make sure that this was the Mississippi, Iberville and Bienville questioned the local natives Soon they found a chief who brought a letter from Henri de Tonti written in 1699 (13 years after La Salle’s death) The letter was from Tonti to La Salle was an encouraging message of the colony Iberville and Bienville found the Mississippi river and began building the fort This was a very poor place for a fort so they moved east along the coast to present day Ocean Springs, MS (next to Biloxi) and built the first French fort, Fort Maurapas

Uneasy times at the French Settlement When finished, Iberville returned to France for supplies, soldiers and settlers n While gone the fort suffered food shortage and lack of supplies n The men at the fort were also being attacked by the Chickasaw, friends of the British n Rebuilt Ft. Maurapas after Katrina

Turn for the better? n n n Bienville spent time exploring the river On one exploration, Bienville, in a very small boat went down river and came across a 12 gun British ship Pretending he had more ships, Bienville told the British that just up river were many French vessels and troops and that the river was controlled by the French HE hinted of an attack if the British did not leave Believing Bienville, the British turned around and sailed away The place where this occurred is on maps today, it is called English Turn

Restless natives…or rude French The local natives were very helpful in the beginnings of the colony n They shared food and supplies with the needy French settlers n The soldiers were even invited to live with the natives n To repay the great hospitality of the natives, the French settlers treated them as conquered people and took them as slaves and purposely stared conflicts with in tribes n

Expanding-More Forts for France After the English Turn incident, Iberville felt a fort at the mouth of the Mississippi was needed n Fort Maurapas needed to be moved, which was normal for first time forts n – The first site flooded and the soil was too sandy to grow food – The new fort, Fort Louis, was located where it would keep the English out of Mobile Bay (Alabama)

Forget about the Forts n n In Europe the War for Spanish Succession was happening The war created unrest throughout Europe French supply ships sailed to places considered more important to the war effort Abandoned, the colony was left without proper defense or assistance at a time when it was still very shaky

Chapter 6 Section 3 Section Three - "Louisiana as a Proprietorship" (pp. 205212) Vocabulary 1. proprietorship - a system that gave an individual a charter (or contract) to operate a colony as a business 2. Superior Council - a group existing during the French colonial period that was in charge of judicial matters and was presided over by the commissary commissioner (It was the government for French Louisiana. ) 3. cash crop - a crop that is raised to make a profit Questions 1. Why did the French government try a proprietorship for the Louisiana colony/ - It was broke and couldn't afford to run Louisiana. (Crozat was the first proprietor of Louisiana. He failed because he was only interested in making a profit for himself. ) 2. Why did the structure of the French colonial government cause problems in the Louisiana colony? - The governor of the colony didn't have full control since the money was controlled by someone called the commissary commissioner. 3. What was the purpose of a trip by St. Denis to Texas? - St. Denis went to build up trade with the Spanish in Texas. He ended up establishing the town of Natchitoches. (Natchitoches is the oldest town in Louisiana and the area known as the Louisiana Purchase, founded in 1714. )

Louisiana as a Proprietorship 1701 Bienville became the leader of the colony n The colony was so bad off the Bienville had to beg for food from the Spanish in Pensacola n Iberville never returned to the colony, he left Europe for Louisiana but died of Yellow Fever before he reached the colony n

Problems during the French Period Colonial officials quarreled because of the structure of the government n The governor was usually a naval officer who was in charge of both military and general administration n The colony had a business manager called the n Commissionary Commissioner who was in charge of the budget and certain parts of the judicial system n The power structure was not clear and required two officials to supervise each other which cause trouble between the two

After the War of Spanish Succession n n After the War of Spanish Succession, France put its attention back on its abandoned colony The French joined in the war and were just about bankrupt and Louisiana was too expensive to maintain France needed Louisiana though as a buffer against Britain British colonies were expanding South and West making the French uneasy

How can France Afford Louisiana? France needs a new source of funding n King Louis decided to try a proprietorship to give a contract to operate the colony as a business n The proprietor was given almost total control but had to meet certain requirements n – Send supplies and settlers to the colony regularly – Follow the French laws

Antoine Crozat 1712, the French government gave the first proprietorship to Antoine Crozat n Chosen because he loaned huge amounts of money to the French government for the war effort-Louis felt this man would be a good choice being how he helped during the war n A businessman that had little interest in a colony or settler, rather he was driven by the possibility of finding gold in the colony n

Crozat chooses a governor for his colony Antoine de Lamothe, Sieur de Cadillac was chosen to lead the colony n Had trouble as a leader first by refusing to smoke te calumet with river tribes which was more than an insult, but to Native Americans it was a threat of war n He also had a very unpleasant personality which many settlers and government officials of the colony did not like n

Cadillac’s good ideas 1712 Cadillac established a Superior Council to help govern the colony n This council was in charge of judicial matters n Suggested and implemented cash crops, such as indigo and tobacco n

Fort St. Jean Baptiste Cadillac chose Louis Juchereau de St. Denis to establish a fort at present day Natchitoches (named for the Native American tribe) n St. Denis was familiar with the natives and the land, he was also skilled in diplomacy and exploration n Crozat and Cadillac were interested in a fort in Natchitoches to build a trade relationship with the Spanish that were close by n Built at present day Natchitoches on the banks of the Red River in 1714 n

French and Spanish Friends? n n St. Denis asked to have a trade relationship with the Spanish colonies in Texas, but was told it was not allowed Spanish colonists traded, though they could have been jailed for this The French brought guns, ammunition, gun powder, work animals and liquor to trade The Spanish were interested mostly in medicine and the French were interested in getting to Spanish silver

A Struggling Colony Louis XIV dies in 1712 and government support for the colony died with him n Problems began to overwhelm the colony n – Colonist not interested in agriculture – Only trade was smuggling goods to the Spanish – Colonists were not encouraged to make friends with the natives

Crozat’s Failure No profit was made from the colony more expenses than anything n Never sent supplies to the colonists in the required amounts stated in the proprietorship contract n Never found gold or silver in the colony, so his promised riches did not exist. n 1717 Crozat surrendered his proprietorship charter back to the French government n

Chapter 6: Section 4 Vocabulary n Speculator: one who buys items (such as land) hoping they will increase in value and, when sold, provide a profit n Land Grants: a parcel of land given to the directors of the Company of the West under the condition that they would bring settlers to the colony n Cote Des Allemades: German Coast n Mississippi Bubble: the collapse of the French investment company, the Company of the West n Slave: a person who is bound to a life of service to others and is considered property n Plantations: a large estate or farm n Code Noir: a set of laws governing the conduct of the slaves during the French colonial period Questions n What was the purpose of the Company of the West? To make money for the investors as well as increase income for the French government and improve the French economy by taking over the proprietorship of the Louisiana colony n How did the German settlers help save the colony? They produced enough food to keep the people from starving n Why did the Natchez Indians finally attack the French? Captain Chepart wanted the Natchez to move immediately off their sacred land so that they could use the good land for crops.

John Law Had organized the Bank of France n Considered a brilliant financer n He was a speculator, which meant he would by items hoping they will increase in value n

John Law: Company of the West John Law created the Company of the West, an investment company, to take over the proprietorship of the Louisiana colony n Law’s goal: to make money for the investors as well as to increase income for the French government and improve the French economy. n Later expanded-buying other trading companiesbecame the Company of the Indies n

John Law: Company of the Indies In 1719 the company was given the right to coin money and collect all taxes n Law convinced people that there would be profit in the venture causing the value of the Company to rise. n He made plans to operate the colony by bringing back Bienville as governor. n

John Law: The New Colony Bienville had long wanted to build a town that would serve as a commercial center of the Mississippi. n Bienville and the king’s engineers designed and laid out the city of New Orleans n

John Law: The new Colony NEED FOR COLONIST!! n All of the directors of the company were given large land grants as long as they brought settlers to the colony. n SCARY stories kept French peasants from leaving France for harder times in the New World n

The Search is ON! To change Louisiana’s bad image, Law launched one of the earliest real estate ad campaigns. n Hopeless German farmers upset with their current conditions read these ads and were swayed to move. n – They settled in the land above New Orleans which became known as Cote Des Allemandes, the German coast. – Credited with saving the colony because they were

The Search is ON! n No more volunteers so prisoners were sent to the colony instead of jail. – At first they were the “non dangerous” criminals like debtors and smugglers – Then they started sending in the riff-raff. n A “finder’s fee” for locating potential colonists led to families being kidnapped

The Collapse of the Mississippi Bubble Law’s publicity promised huge profits, but when the hardships caused the investors to question their investment the “bubble burst” n The company collapsed because it did not have enough money to pay the investors n The end had come for the huge risk called the Mississippi Bubble n Another one bites the dust: after the financial disaster, Law had to flee Paris in disgrace. n The Company still controlled the colony, but a few things had to be addressed by the French government: n – – – Needed an adequate army More dependable settlers Good export crop

The Code Noir n n n Shiploads of slaves were first brought to the colony in 1716 and the numbers continued to increase Came from West Africa, where their cultures long harvested rice and indigo Their knowledge of cultivating indigo and tobacco led to LA’s first cash crops A plantation agriculture system grew from this These slaves were an essential part in building New Orleans

Code Noir Bienville established the Code Noir to help manage the large numbers of slaves n The Code Noir was a set of laws that governed the conduct of slaves (also expelled Jewish people from the area) n Purpose was to protect slaves as property n

The Collapse of the Mississippi Bubble Law’s publicity promised huge profits, but when the hardships caused the investors to question their investment the “bubble burst” n The company collapsed because it did not have enough money to pay the investors n The end had come for the huge risk called the Mississippi Bubble n Another one bites the dust: after the financial disaster, Law had to flee Paris in disgrace. n The Company still controlled the colony, but a few things had to be addressed by the French government: n – – – Needed an adequate army More dependable settlers Good export crop

The Code Noir n n n Shiploads of slaves were first brought to the colony in 1716 and the numbers continued to increase Came from West Africa, where their cultures long harvested rice and indigo Their knowledge of cultivating indigo and tobacco led to LA’s first cash crops A plantation agriculture system grew from this These slaves were an essential part in building New Orleans

Code Noir Bienville established the Code Noir to help manage the large numbers of slaves n The Code Noir was a set of laws that governed the conduct of slaves (also expelled Jewish people from the area) n Purpose was to protect slaves as property n

The Slave Trade

The Slave Trade

Code Noir n n n Rules were established for food, clothing, and health care Slaves were instructed to the catholic faith Slaves were not allowed to carry weapons unless they were hunting Could not assemble in crowds Laws set out harsh penalties for runaway slaves

A New Governor Beinville faced critism and complaints because he was governor the settlers blamed him when things went wrong n The Company and king blamed him because the colony was not profitable n He was ordered back to France to explain his decisions for the colony n

A New Governor n The Company chose a dependable, highly respected employee as the next governor. Etienne de Perier – Well respected in the French navy – Sent to bring harmony n Even though he had very little knowledge of the colony, his fairness helped him deal with problems. Perier’s priority was the recruitment of new settlers n He was also expected to find more raw materials for export n Wanted to improve trade with the West Indies and asked French government for help n

The Natchez Uprising 1729, Captain Chepart was commander at Fort Rosalie (fort built by Bienville at present-day Natchez) n A tobacco plantation had grown up around the fort n Chepart wanted the good land on which a sacred village of the Natchez stood. n When Chepart demanded they move at once, the once hospitable Natchez Indians attacked without warning. n

The Natchez Uprising 250 French colonists were killed n Saw it as a deceitful massacre because of the different kind of fighting n Perier retaliated by destroying the tribe and scattering the survivors n

The Natchez Uprising: Aftermath French lost their most successful agricultural venture because they were stubborn n Loss of morale n 1731, the Company handed the colony back over to the king n

Chapter 6: Section 5 Vocabulary n Specie: Gold or silver n Casket girls: young women who came to LA in 1728 to become wives of the settlers; the young women brought their trousseaus in a casket, or barrel-like chest Questions n What mistake did Perier make with the Indians? Creating “metal chiefs” that did not follow the tribal traditions creating tensions n What actions by the Chickasaw led to Bienville’s attack? Refusing to give up the Natchez survivors seeking haven with the Chickasaw n Who was the last royal governor? Louis Billouart, Chavalier de Kerlerec n Why did the casket girls come to Louisiana? to become wives for the colonists and create more stability

Louisiana as a Royal Colony 1732, Louisiana was turned back over to the king and France would have the colony for another 30 troublesome years.

He’s Back Bienville was put in charge once more n His goals were to settle down the colonists and restore alliances with the Indians n Realized that a thriving agricultural society would allow the colony to be successful n

Problems for Bienville n Problems – Livestock created hardships and the colonists didn’t have much needed tools for farming – Inadequate supply of money – Not developed a stable cash crop – Few ships to export their forest products

War with the Chickasaw Both the French and the British would create hostilities or escalate hostilities between tribes for their own benefit. n The Native Americans realized that their lifestyle was under attack n n Chief of the Natchez – “Before the arrival of the French we lived like men who could be satisfied with what they have…now we are like slaves who are not allowed to do as they please. ”

War With the Chickasaw Choctaw perferred the French, although the British trade goods were of better quality and more dependable. n The French alliance had been weakened by Governor Perier who would try to award metals to cheifs for alliancesthese “metal chiefs” were not always the tribal leaders which this disrupted traditional tribal ways. n

War With the Chickasaw occupied the important heart of the Mississippi Valley n They were trading partners and allies to the british and enemies of the French and the Choctaw. n Bienville was accustomed to respectful relations with the Natives. n The Natchez survivors took refuge with the Chickasaw after the uprising n Bienville wanted to show his power by demanding that the Chickasaw give up the Natchez to the French. n The Chicksaw refused and this was taken as an insult and Bienville planned an attack. n

War With the Chickasaw French commander led the Choctaw force against the Chickasaw n The two tribes were encouraged by the Europeans: – The English supplied the Chickasaw with guns and ammunition – The French paid the Choctaw for Chickasaw scalps. n n At the same time as the war the British were promoting peace hoping to eventually gain trade control over the Choctaw

War With the Chickasaw Bienville received orders from France that declred that he must defeat the Chickasaw or sign a peace treaty (fast) for the glory of France. n Bienville with so few soldiers asked for help from Pierre d’Artaguettethey both were captured and defeated by the Chickasaw. n n Not only had they lost lives but they lost standing with other tribes The French sent troops from Canada and the war went on for more than four years. n The Chickasaw asked for a peace treaty. n Bienville saw the war as a total failure and retired as governor in 1742 n

A Different Kind of Governor Pierre Francois de Rigaud, Marquis de Vaudreuil became the next governor n His kindness and dignity calmed the internal conflicts among the many factions n Used troops aggressively to halt Indian raids – After a major assault on the Chickasaw he negotiated a final peace n With Indian Threat diminished, the colony grew fairly prosperous and living conditions improved in New Orleans n He created a social life like that of the court of Versailles and was credited for having the first Mardi Gras Ball

The Last Royal Governor After Vaudreuil was appointed governor of Canada, Louis Billouart, Chevalier de Kerlerec was appointed. n Tensions between the French and the British were rising n He was a blunt military man that created frictions with the colonists n He struggled with the fact that he did not have authority over the commissary commissioner n

The Struggle to Survive The early French colonists lacked the skills and drive needed to survive in the harsh environment of LA n Many were preoccupied with thoughts of gold and silver n They relied on the Germans to save them and the slaves for economic help. n Women were scarce and their absence caused instability. n 1712 Madame Cadillac chaperoned a group of girls to the colony that were to become brides n Casket girls were better known for bringing household goods in a barrel-like chest. n

The Struggle to Survive n The French government was also to blame – Trade restrictions – Lack of adequate funding and supplies – No policy makers had ever been to LA: Louis XIV, the royal advisors, Crozat, or John Law