Three Flags Day facts for kids

Three Flags Day is a special day that remembers events on March 9 and 10, 1804. On these days, Spain officially handed over the huge Louisiana territory to France. Then, France quickly handed the same land over to the United States. This was the final step in the big deal known as the Louisiana Purchase from 1803. This important ceremony in St. Louis made it possible for Lewis and Clark to start their famous journey of exploration.

How the Land Changed Hands

France first owned the Louisiana territory. But after a big war called the Seven Years' War (also known as the French and Indian War in North America), things changed. In 1763, the Treaty of Paris (1763) ended the war. Spain received the French land west of the Mississippi River, including New Orleans. Great Britain received the French lands east of the river. This included an area once called the Illinois Country.

Spain officially took control of its new territory in 1769. Some people living there had resisted Spain taking over.

America's Growing Borders

The United States expanded its western borders to the Mississippi River during the American Revolutionary War. General George Rogers Clark took control of the lands east of the Mississippi. These lands had belonged to Great Britain. The United States' control of these areas became secure after two agreements: the Treaty of Paris (1783) and the Jay Treaty (1794).

On October 1, 1800, Napoleon Bonaparte secretly made a deal. France got La Louisiane back from Spain in the Third Treaty of San Ildefonso. However, this agreement was kept secret. Spain continued to manage the territory for a while.

The Louisiana Purchase

The U.S. and France agreed on April 30, 1803, for America to buy Louisiana. This big news was announced in the United States on July 4. But the U.S. did not immediately take control of the lands west of the Mississippi. Spain still managed the territory because it had not yet officially given it to France.

After the United States bought the land, President Thomas Jefferson planned an exploration. This was the famous Lewis and Clark journey. But Spain did not allow foreign exploration of its territory. So, Lewis and Clark had to wait. They spent the winter of 1803-04 at Camp Dubois. This camp was in what was then the Indiana Territory. It was across from where the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers meet. They waited until the lands were officially handed over to the United States.

The Flag Ceremonies

On November 30, 1803, Spain officially transferred the territory in a ceremony in New Orleans. This took place at the Cabildo and Plaza de Armas. Spanish Governors Juan Manuel de Salcedo and Sebastián Calvo de la Puerta y O'Farrill were there. The new French Governor Pierre Clement de Laussat was also present.

On December 20, 1803, New Orleans and the rest of Louisiana were transferred to the United States. This ceremony involved Governor Laussat and the new United States governor, William C.C. Claiborne. General James Wilkinson also attended. However, winter weather stopped boats on the Mississippi River. So, the news did not reach St. Louis right away.

The St. Louis Ceremony

On March 9, 1804, Amos Stoddard, the new U.S. lieutenant governor for the District of Louisiana, arrived in St. Louis. Meriwether Lewis was with him. They arrived by boat and met the Spanish lieutenant for Upper Louisiana, Carlos de Hault de Lassus. Hault de Lassus spoke to the people:

People of Upper Louisiana, I am now about to give up this post and its lands. The flag that has protected you for nearly 36 years will no longer be seen. Your promise to Spain now ends. Your loyalty and bravery will be remembered forever. I wish you all good fortune.

The Spanish flag was lowered on March 9. Then, the French flag was raised to fly over St. Louis for 24 hours. The French flag was supposed to be lowered at sunset. But it stayed up all night, guarded by soldiers.

The next morning, March 10, 1804, the American flag was raised. This event is sometimes called the "Three Flag Ceremony" or the "Ceremony of Three Flags."