The Spanish Period of
Louisiana
Melinda Boteler
___ Period
April 22 , 2010
Timeline of Spanish Louisiana
1766------------ Governor Ulloa arrives in Louisiana
1768------------The Creole Revolution
1769------------Acadians arrive in the colony Alejandro O'Reilly arrives
as governor
1770-----------Luis de Unzaga becomes governor
1777-----------Bernardo de Galvez becomes governor of Louisiana
1779-----------Bernardo Galvez clear the British out of the Mississippi
River
1780----------Galvez takes Mobile from British
1781---------Galvez takes Pensacola from British
1783---------Treaty of Paris; Spain regains Florida
1784---------Spain closes the Mississippi River to Americans
1785--------Esteban Rodriguez Miro becomes governor
1787--------The Spanish Conspiracy
1788--------The Good Friday Fire in New Orleans 1789
--------French Revolution begins
1791--------St. Domingue Slave Rebellion
1794--------Fire devastates New Orleans a second time
1795--------The Treaty of San Lorenzo
--------The Pointe Coupee Rebellion
--------Etienne de Bore perfect sugar granulating process
1800--------Treaty of San Ildefonso giving Louisiana back to France
1802--------Spain revokes right of deposit to Americans
1803--------Louisiana Purchase
Three Events during the
Spainish Louisiana Period
1. Creole Revolution
Antonio de Ulloa arrived in March 5, 1766 with 75 soldiers and one ship. He was
a world famous scientist, engineer, introvert, competent naval officer with colonial
experience, but not a forceful leader. His quiet manner and low-key style did not fit
in with LA’s vibrant social life. Ulloa was ordered to move slowly and not make
drastic changes; therefore, he did not hold a public ceremony or raise a Spanish flag
right away. Charles Philippe Aubry was allowed to continue as commander of the
French troops. Ulloa wanted to rule behind the scenes and issue his orders through
Aubry. Louisianians felt Ulloa was weak. On October 28, 1768, a mob of locals
disabled the cannons protecting New Orleans. Four hundred 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; he sailed to Havana Cuba where he
contacted the king of Spain. One year later in August of 1769, the Spanish fleet with
2,000 soldiers arrived in New Orleans commanded by General Don Alejandro
O’Reilly. On hearing of his arrival, the ring leaders of the rebellion raced to Balize
(mouth of river) to give their side of events. O’Reilly heard their complaints against
Ulloa. O’Reilly headed for New Orleans where Spanish troops paraded in the Place
de Armes, cannons fired, red and gold Spanish flags flew from every post
announcing the Spanish presence, and the Spanish officials hosted a formal
ceremony in the church. With the help of Aubry, O'Reilly invited 13 of the leading
rebels to his home where they were arrested and imprisioned. The men were tried
for treason. Six of the defendants were sentenced to death; one died before the
executions. The leaders were executed by firing squad since no one would hang
them. The others were sentenced to prison and forfeited property. The governor
became known as “Bloody” O’Reilly.
2. Acadians Arrive
One of the largest group of settlers who came to Louisiana were the Frenchspeaking Catholic colonists who lived in the French Canadian province of Acadia,
which is modern-day Nova Scotia. After Great Britain took control of Acadia during
one of the colonial wars, the Acadians did not like the English Protestants. They
refused to take an oath of allegiance which would force them to speak English, give
up their Catholic religion, and fight for Britain against the French. Therefore, they
were deported. This was called the Le Grand Derangement. In 1755, the English
government called a meeting and forced about 6,000 Acadians aboard a ship. The
Acadians were sent all over the world dying along the way. This was tramatic and
life-shattering. No one wanted the Acadians. People thought they were a burden
and were competitors for jobs. After many year in exile, Spain realized they would
help populate the colony. Spanish offered to pay their way to Louisiana. Between
1769-1785, perhaps as many as 10,000 Acadians came to the colony where they
settled in the prairies of southwest Louisiana and along Bayou Teche. Eventually
the Acadians became known as Louisiana Cajuns.
3. New Orleans Fires
On Good Friday in 1788, a priest knocked over a candle in his church
setting the curtains on fire. The church bells normally would have rung to notify
the fire department, but it was illegal to ring bells on Good Friday. The priest ran
to alert authorities while the fire spread. There was chaos when the firemen
arrived because they spoke French while the officials spoke Spanish. The fire
burned itself out. Over 850 buildings including the Cabildo and the St. Louis
Cathedral burned. In six years, another fire occured. In 1794, some children set
fire to a pile of hay. The two fires changed New Orleans. Spanish architecture
dominated the city. Roofs were required by law to be tile, an effort to prevent
another fire. Some houses had flat roofs which was used as a patio. Houses
faced inward to a courtyard for privacy. Exterior stairways led to the second floor
rooms, and rooms opened into each other since Creole style houses did not have
hallways. The main decoration was iron balconies. The exterior was covered in
stucco.
People Associated with Time Period
1. Bernardo de Galvez
Bernardo de Galvez became governor in 1777. He was a military general for the
Spanish. Since the American Revolution broke out, Spain believed it was in the best
interest of Louisiana to have a military governor. In the beginning, Spain remained
neutral, but eventually, Spain and France decided to join in the war to assist the
Americans. Galvez was given the goals of clearing the British out of the Mississippi
River and the Gulf of Mexico. He successfully cleared the British out of Manchac, Baton
Rouge, Natchez, Mobile, and Pensacola despite three hurricanes.
2. Francisco Luis Hector, Baron de Carondelet
Baron de Carondelet was considered the last important Spanish governor.
Though he was born in France, he served the Spanish crown and military. Carondelet
dealt with many problems in Louisiana. First he settled the northern boundary line with
America with the Treaty of San Lorenzo. Second, he stopped the Point Coupee Slave
Rebellion though many people blamed him for causing it with relaxed slave laws.
Carondelet also dealt with the French Revolution and the "new" French immigrants
coming into the colony.
3. Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon Bonaparte took control of France after a long and bloody revolution.
Napoleon declared himself emperor and began taking control of many European
countries. In the fall of 1800, Napoleon forced Spain into giving Louisiana back to
France with the Treaty of San Ildefonso. Napoleon wanted to use Louisiana for lumber
and food for his sugar plantations on St. Domingue. But, a slave rebellion on St.
Domingue changed his plans when he lost the island to Toussaint Le Overture.
Napoleon needed money for his war with England; therefore, he offered to sell the
entire colony to the Americans for fifteen million dollars. This became known as the
Louisiana Purchase.
Illustrate one Event during this Time Period
Bibliography
Cambell, Anne and Marston, Wilson A. Louisiana The History of an American State.
Selma, Alabama, Clairmont Press, 1999.
Jones, Terry L. The Louisiana Journey. Layton, Utah: Gibbs Smith, 2007.