Louisiana Rebellion of 1768 facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Louisiana Rebellion of 1768
Part of the aftermath of the Seven Years' War
State historical marker in front of the New Orleans Mint
Date 1768 Location Spanish Louisiana Result Spanish victory
Belligerents
Spain	Creole settlers
Commanders and leaders
Antonio de Ulloa Alejandro O'Reilly	Nicolas de La Frénière  Joseph Milhet
Strength
2,100 23 warships	Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Unknown

The Rebellion of 1768, also known as the Creole Revolt, was a time when settlers in New Orleans tried to stop Louisiana from becoming part of Spain. This transfer was agreed upon in the 1762 Treaty of Fontainebleau. The rebellion was led by important Creole families and German settlers living nearby.

The main goal was to make the Spanish Governor, Antonio de Ulloa, leave New Orleans and go back to Spain. However, a new Spanish general, Alejandro O'Reilly, arrived and quickly stopped the rebellion. He punished the leaders and made sure Spain was fully in charge of the territory.

Why the Rebellion Happened

France Loses North American Lands

After the big worldwide conflict called the Seven Years' War, which was known as the French and Indian Wars in America, France lost almost all its lands in North America. This was decided in the Treaty of Paris in 1763. France gave Canada and all its lands east of the Mississippi River to Great Britain.

To make up for other losses, France secretly gave New Orleans and all its lands west of the Mississippi River to its ally, Spain. This was a big change for the people living in Louisiana, who were mostly French settlers.

A New Spanish Governor Arrives

The change of power in Louisiana was very slow. In 1764, the first Spanish governor, Jean-Jacques Blaise d'Abbadie, arrived. He was a French official who worked for Spain. He heard many complaints from the local people. Sadly, d'Abbadie died in 1765. A French officer named Captain Charles Philippe Aubry took over and continued to manage the colony for Spain.

Many people in New Orleans were unhappy about the transfer. A rich merchant named Jean Milhet even went to France to ask King Louis XV to change his mind. But the King refused to meet with him.

Governor Ulloa's Difficult Start

On March 5, 1766, the new Spanish governor, Antonio de Ulloa, arrived in New Orleans. He brought only 90 soldiers and a small group of officials. Spain had hoped that French soldiers would join their army, but very few did. Because he didn't have enough military support, Ulloa didn't officially take control of the colony right away. He didn't even raise the Spanish flag over the main square, Place d'Armes.

Instead, Ulloa decided to let the French interim governor, Aubry, continue running things. Ulloa finally took formal possession of the colony in January 1767, but it was a small ceremony held far from New Orleans. The next day, he changed his mind again, saying he would wait until he had more soldiers. The people of New Orleans were upset because the official transfer didn't happen in their capital city with proper celebrations. They were also confused because the French flag still flew over New Orleans, while the Spanish flag flew elsewhere.

Ulloa's Policies and Dislikes

Governor Ulloa had many problems. His bosses in Havana didn't send him the help he needed, like more soldiers or new Spanish money. Ulloa himself didn't like New Orleans society. He thought the people were rude and spent too much money.

Ulloa was a very smart man who loved science. He preferred to spend his time studying nature and corresponding with scientists from around the world. He often stayed at La Balize, a place closer to the mouth of the Mississippi River. In the summer of 1768, Ulloa announced plans to stop smuggling by controlling the river better. He also declared that Louisiana could no longer trade with France or its colonies. This was a common rule in other Spanish territories, but it greatly upset the merchants in New Orleans.

The Rebellion Begins

Planning the Uprising

In the spring or early summer of 1768, two important French officials who had continued their jobs under Spanish rule started a secret plan. These were Denis-Nicolas Foucault, the chief financial officer, and Nicolas Chauvin de La Frénière, the attorney general. Many merchants and other important people in the colony joined their plot. Most of their complaints were about the new Spanish rules on trade and other money-related issues.

Many of the people involved in the plot were related to Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne, who founded New Orleans. Many were also part of the Superior Council, which was the colony's main court. Over time, this council had also started making laws because Paris didn't control the colony very strictly.

Actions of the Rebels

The conspirators began to gather support. Joseph Milhet, the brother of Jean Milhet, went to villages west of the Mississippi River to encourage people to join the rebellion. Joseph Villeré visited communities northwest of New Orleans. Pierre Marquis was chosen to lead the local militia (a group of citizen soldiers).

The rebels even arrested a French military officer, Gilbert Antoine de St. Maxent, because they thought he was helping Governor Ulloa. Another rebel, Balthasar Masan, went to the British territory of West Florida to ask for help, but the British refused.

Governor Ulloa Leaves

On October 28, 1768, riots broke out in New Orleans. Governor Aubry, the interim French governor, helped Governor Ulloa and his pregnant wife get onto Ulloa's ship. The Superior Council then voted that Governor Ulloa had to leave within three days. He followed their order and left on November 1 on a French ship.

With the Spanish governor gone, St. Maxent was released. The Superior Council wrote a document called the Memorial of the Planters and Merchants of Louisiana. This document explained their actions, saying that Ulloa had been a harsh ruler and that Spanish trade policies were hurting the colony. They wanted to send this document to both New Orleans and France. However, they waited too long to send a group to Paris. By the time their delegates arrived in 1769, Governor Ulloa and Governor Aubry had already sent their own reports to Spain and France, and their versions of events were believed. The French people in Paris supported the rebels, but the French court did not. Many officials refused to meet with the Louisiana delegates, and none of them ever returned to the colony.

After the Rebellion

General O'Reilly Arrives

The Spanish government was not happy about the rebellion. They sent General Alejandro O'Reilly to Louisiana with a large force of 2,100 soldiers and 23 warships. He arrived in August 1769. This time, there was no doubt that Spain was taking full control.

On August 19, O'Reilly asked Governor Aubry for a full report on the rebellion, including the names of the leaders. Aubry gave him the information the next day. On August 21, O'Reilly invited nine of the rebellion's leaders to his headquarters under different excuses. He then accused them of treason and arrested them.

Justice and New Laws

Many people in New Orleans were worried about what would happen to the arrested leaders, as they had many family and business connections. O'Reilly tried to calm them, saying he wanted to give "precise justice" and that others had nothing to fear. He announced an amnesty (a pardon) on August 22 and asked all free inhabitants to swear loyalty to the Spanish crown on August 26.

The trial of the leaders began soon after their arrest and lasted until October 24. The trial followed Spanish law. Each accused person had a lawyer. The defendants argued that they couldn't be tried under Spanish law because Ulloa had never officially taken possession of the colony. However, they lost this argument. All the defendants were found guilty of rebellion and treason.

Punishments and Changes

A few days after the trial, O'Reilly announced his sentences. Five of the accused leaders – La Frénière, Marquis, Joseph Milhet, Pierre Caresse, and Jean-Baptiste de Noyan – were sentenced to death on October 25 and were executed by firing squad on October 26. Joseph Villeré would have faced the same fate, but he had already died. These five leaders are honored on a carving on the outside of the Louisiana State Capitol.

Foucault, who was a French official, was sent back to France. He was questioned and then given a prison sentence, serving two years. Five other plotters were sent to prison in Cuba for different lengths of time, but they were all released after two years. The property of the condemned men was taken by the government. Twenty-one other people involved in the rebellion were told to leave Louisiana, though one elderly man was allowed to stay.

One month after the executions, O'Reilly created new laws for the colony, known as "O'Reilly's Code." These laws combined Spanish laws with some French legal procedures that fit well with Spanish law. He also changed the way the government and courts worked. He got rid of the Superior Council, which had been a big part of the rebellion, and replaced it with the Cabildo, a type of council used throughout Spanish America.

Louisiana's Future

Louisiana remained under Spanish control until 1800. In that year, it was officially returned to France on paper, but Spanish officials continued to run the colony. In April 1803, Napoleon of France sold La Louisiane to the United States in what is known as the Louisiana Purchase. This was a huge sale of land for money and to cancel French debts.

In late 1803 and early 1804, the transfers of power were made official. The French flag was briefly raised in New Orleans and then in St. Louis, only to be lowered and replaced by the American flag. The 1804 ceremony in St. Louis is remembered as Three Flags Day. Even today, some parts of French law still exist in the state of Louisiana.

Images for kids

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  State historical marker in front of the New Orleans Mint