“Louisiana as a Proprietorship”

“Louisiana as a Proprietorship” Important Peoples of Section 3 Antoine Crozat Antoine de Lamonthe Sieur de Cadillac Lois Juchereau de St. Denis

Chapter 6 Section 3 Section Three - "Louisiana as a Proprietorship" (pp. 205-212)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 profitQuestions 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 • The colony was so bad off the Bienville had to beg for food from the Spanish in Pensacola • Iberville never returned to the colony, he left Europe for Louisiana but died of Yellow Fever before he reached the colony

Problems during the French Period • Colonial officials quarreled because of the structure of the government • The governor was usually a naval officer who was in charge of both military and general administration • The colony had a business manager called the Commissionary Commissioner who was in charge of the budget and certain parts of the judicial system • 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 • 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 • King Louis decided to try a proprietorship to give a contract to operate the colony as a business • The proprietor was given almost total control but had to meet certain requirements • 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 • 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 • A businessman that had little interest in a colony or settler, rather he was driven by the possibility of finding gold in the colony

Crozat chooses a governor for his colony • Antoine de Lamothe, Sieur de Cadillac was chosen to lead the colony • 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 • He also had a very unpleasant personality which many settlers and government officials of the colony did not like

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

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) • St. Denis was familiar with the natives and the land, he was also skilled in diplomacy and exploration • Crozat and Cadillac were interested in a fort in Natchitoches to build a trade relationship with the Spanish that were close by • Built at present day Natchitoches on the banks of the Red River in 1714

French and Spanish Friends? • 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 • Problems began to overwhelm the colony • 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 • Never sent supplies to the colonists in the required amounts stated in the proprietorship contract • Never found gold or silver in the colony, so his promised riches did not exist. • 1717 Crozat surrendered his proprietorship charter back to the French government

“Louisiana as a Proprietorship”