What was happening in the Louisiana Territory during the French Revolution? Were there any attempts to bring revolutionary ideals to Louisiana? Were the people there aware of the revolution?

by Fizzleton
energyturtle_ak

During the period leading up to the French revolution, France was struggling and in heavy debt to a number of other European countries, which as we know, would eventually broke out into the French Revolution (~1789-1799). Before the French revolution, France lost the Seven Years War to England in 1763 and gave up a portion of Lousiana to Spain. Therefore, during this specific time period, Louisiana was still ruled by Spain.

However, it was also around the end of this time period that Napoleon took over as one of France's consuls (and eventually emperor). Post French Revolution, he passed the Napoleonic code (a reform of the previous French civil code) and since Louisiana was once again a French territory, these new laws were also mandated there. The general summary of these laws was essentially an attempt to equalize French citizens (regardless of socioeconomic status) and establish a civil legal system, which replaced the previous feudal system. These laws still have some influence on Louisiana's state laws today, as Louisiana still uses parts of the Napoleonic code.

Louisiana had a very ethnically diverse population at the time (indigenous tribes as well as a mostly French European populace), and there was already some resentment towards the Spain rule in the 1763-1800 period. In fact, there were a number of Louisiana citizens who tried to rebel against Spanish rule. By the start of the French revolution, there was growing resentment in Louisiana who felt that their rights were being restricted by Spain (such as restrictions on navigation rights on the Mississippi River). This resentment coupled with a number of other affairs that Spain had to deal with at the time (in 1793, they also declared war on France) lead to Spain realizing that economical gain from Louisiana was not worth the effort. In 1795, Pinckney's Treaty was established (intended to strengthen US/Spain relations), and allowed Americans to transfer goods from one ship to another at New Orleans without paying cargo fees.

It was in 1800 that Napoleon, as consul, secretly acquired Louisiana through the Treaty of San Ildefonso, and had control of the Mississippi River and New Orleans. There was indeed some inspiration in the "New World" from the French Revolution; in 1791, the slaves of Saint Domingue (trading port in the Caribbean that was the gateway to the Gulf/Louisiana) revolted and drove away colonial forces from their island. However, later on in 1801, Napoleon strong-armed these slaves and subdued them (but the French army took a big hit in the process). Many of the Creoles in Louisiana were actually descendants of the French colonials who had to leave Saint Domingue when this uprising happened.

While Louisiana was certainly affected by the aftermath of the French revolution, it's difficult to say how much revolutionary sentiment there was in Louisiana because of the French revolution (though there was certainly some). It is true that many of the French Creole residents in Louisiana harbored some resentment towards the US and did not support annexation, but there was also apathy as well.

[This] (http://www.loc.gov/collections/static/louisiana-european-explorations-and-the-louisiana-purchase/images/lapurchase.pdf) talks a little bit more about French Colonial Louisiana.