Vocabulary

1. Vocabulary • Speculator:one who buys items (such as land) hoping they will increase in value and, when sold, provide a profit • 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 • Cote Des Allemades:German Coast • Slave:a person who is bound to a life of service to others and is considered property • Plantations: a large estate or farm • Code Noir:a set of laws governing the conduct of the slaves during the French colonial period • Specie:Gold or silver • 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 • 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 • How did the German settlers help save the colony?They produced enough food to keep the people from starving • 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. • What mistake did Perier make with the Indians?Creating “metal chiefs” that did not follow the tribal traditions creating tensions • What actions by the Chickasaw led to Bienville’s attack?Refusing to give up the Natchez survivors seeking haven with the Chickasaw • Who was the last royal governor?Louis Billouart, Chavalier de Kerlerec • Why did the casket girls come to Louisiana?to become wives for the colonists and create more stability

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

3. John Law created the Company of the West, an investment company, to take over the proprietorship of the Louisiana colony Law’s goal: to make money for the investors as well as to increase income for the French government and improve the French economy. He made plans to operate the colony by bringing back Bienville as governor. John Law: Company of the West

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

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

6. 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. A “finder’s fee” for locating potential colonists led to families being kidnapped The Search is ON!

7. 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 The Code Noir

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

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

10. Both the French and the British would create hostilities or escalate hostilities between tribes for their own benefit. The Native Americans realized that their lifestyle was under attack 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

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

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

13. French commander led the Choctaw force against the Chickasaw 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. 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

14. Bienville received orders from France that declared that he must defeat the Chickasaw or sign a peace treaty (fast) for the glory of France. Bienville with so few soldiers asked for help from Pierre d’Artaguette- they both were captured and defeated by the Chickasaw. 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. The Chickasaw asked for a peace treaty. Bienville saw the war as a total failure and retired as governor in 1742 War With the Chickasaw

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

16. 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 The Struggle to Survive