District of Louisiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids District of Louisiana |
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| Territory of the United States | |||||||||
| 1804–1805 | |||||||||
 A map of the District of Louisiana |
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| Capital | St. Louis | ||||||||
| Government | |||||||||
| Governor | |||||||||
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• 1804–1805
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William Henry Harrison | ||||||||
| History | |||||||||
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• Established
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1 October 1804 | ||||||||
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• Organized
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4 July 1805 | ||||||||
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The District of Louisiana was a special area set up by the United States government. It was a temporary name for a large part of the land bought in the Louisiana Purchase. This land had not yet become the Territory of Orleans.
The District of Louisiana officially existed from March 10, 1804, until July 4, 1805. After that, it became the Louisiana Territory.
From District to Territory
The District of Louisiana was created after the United States bought a huge amount of land from France in 1803. This event was called the Louisiana Purchase. The new land needed to be organized by the U.S. government.
The southern part of this new land became the Territory of Orleans. The rest of the land to the north was called the District of Louisiana. It was a temporary way to manage this vast area.
How it was Governed
The District of Louisiana was governed by officials from the Indiana Territory. This meant that the laws and rules of the Indiana Territory also applied to the District of Louisiana.
The capital city of the District of Louisiana was St. Louis. This city was an important center for trade and travel in the region.
The governor of the Indiana Territory, William Henry Harrison, was also in charge of the District of Louisiana during its short existence. He was responsible for overseeing the area.
Becoming the Louisiana Territory
On March 3, 1805, the U.S. Congress passed a law. This law changed the District of Louisiana into a more organized area called the Louisiana Territory. This change officially happened on July 4, 1805.
The new Louisiana Territory was set up with its own government. This government was similar to how the Indiana Territory was run. This step was important for the growth and settlement of the western parts of the United States.
