Louisiana (New Spain)

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Louisiana ( Spanish Luisiana , French La Louisiane , Eng. Louisiana ) - subordinate territory of Spain from 1764 to 1803 . Spain received this territory from France and then returned it to France in 1803, after which Napoleon immediately sold it to the United States . It included a vast territory west of the Mississippi , as well as New Orleans .

In 1762, a contract was concluded at Fontainebleau , under which France transferred the unprofitable territory of Louisiana to Spain. In 1763, under the Treaty of Paris, France transferred to England all the territories east of the Mississippi, with the exception of New Orleans. The transfer of Louisiana to Spain took place in 1764. At the same time, a reform was carried out in the Spanish administrative system, the purpose of which was to strengthen the position of Spain, threatened by England, in the Caribbean. As part of this reform, the newly-acquired Louisiana was subordinate to the captaincy general of Cuba and ruled from Havana.

The Spaniards managed to establish real control over Louisiana only by 1769 . Governor Alejandro O'Reilly divided the province into 12 administrative districts and 22 church parishes.

In 1788, a fire destroyed most of New Orleans. The restored city was no longer French, but a Spanish character, which continues to this day. In 1793, Louisiana was administratively merged with Florida returned to Spain, and the administrative center was moved from Havana to New Orleans.

Due to its good geographical position, New Orleans completely controlled the Mississippi River (one of the main waterways of North America) and was an important transit point for which, in accordance with the Pinkney Treaty , signed with Spain on October 27, 1795 , American citizens received the right to export trade through the port New Orleans. The Americans also received the right to use the port for transshipment of flour , tobacco , pork , bacon , bird feathers, cider , butter and cheese between the eastern and western states. The treaty also recognized the right of the American side, in view of the growth in business activity, to navigate all over the Mississippi River.

In 1798, Spain unilaterally canceled the Treaty, which greatly puzzled the leadership of the United States. In 1801, the Spanish governor, Juan Manuel de Salcedo, replaced the Marquis de Casa Calvo in this position, and the right to transship goods for the Americans was fully restored.

In 1800, the colony, which remained unprofitable, was transferred back to France under a secret treaty in San Ildefonso . In reality, Louisiana was transferred to France only in 1803, after which it was immediately sold to the United States .