The French

From 1673

Mr. E’s Monday

Louisiana History Class

Ch. 6 – Early Explorers

Today is October 25, 2010

Oct. 25, 1769 ~ “Bloody" O'Reilly executes rebels who ousted

Ulloa to hang but no hangman, they were shot instead.

66. Analyze how a given historical figure influenced or changed the course of Louisiana’s history  (H-1A-M3)

1. What geographic feature most influenced the rise of all of these early civilizations?

2. What sea is the Roman Empire developed around?

Constructive response

The French wanted to expand their territory by looking for what was the Northwest Passage. In 1673, fur trader Louis Joliet and Father Marquette set out from Quebec to explore the great river the Indians had been talking about. They made it down the river to where the Arkansas meets with the Mississippi.

Ch. 6 The French Fact # 1

66. Analyze how a given historical figure influenced or changed the course of Louisiana’s history  (H-1A-M3)

In 1682 La Salle, seeking a trade route for the transportation of heavy skins, descended the Mississippi to its mouth. This was the first time that the entire course of the "Father of Waters" had been traversed by a white man.

Ch. 6 The French Fact # 2

On April 9, 1682 on the shore near the mouth, he erected a cross bearing the shield of France, and took possession of "this country for Louisiana" from "the mouth down the river Mississippi, and the rivers which discharge themselves there into, from its source . . . as far as its mouth. . . are claimed by King Louis XIV.”

Ch. 6 The French Fact # 3

“Louisiana” means “Land of Louis”. A Catholic priest celebrated mass with prayers and songs in Latin.

LaSalle was later given rights to a second trip to the Land of Louis.

Ch. 6 The French Fact # 4

Ch. 6 The French Fact # 5

LaSalle’s second trip was a failure and ended near Galveston Bay. The lost colonists had missed the Mississippi River and were worried and frustrated. They later mutinied and murdered LaSalle. His dreams ended in a nightmare of disaster.

66. Analyze how a given historical figure influenced or changed the course of Louisiana’s history  (H-1A-M3)

LaSalle never did establish a colony in Louisiana. When word of France's claim to the Mississippi River made its way to other European countries they began to worry. King Louis knew he had to establish a fort in the area to guard the new claim.

Ch. 6 The French Fact # 6

66. Analyze how a given historical figure influenced or changed the course of Louisiana’s history  (H-1A-M3)

Pierre Iberville and Jean Baptiste Bienville (only 18) were chosen for the mission. The brothers would leave their mark on Louisiana’ history forever. Their father had been governor of Quebec Canada.

Their first stop was the Spanish fort at Pensacola, from there they headed for Ship Island in Biloxi Bay.

Ch. 6 The French Fact # 7

From Ship Island they made their way to the Mississippi River where they landed on March 3,1699. The date was important because it was Mardi Gras day back in France.

The Indians told of the “Speaking Bark” left by another Frenchman in 1685. It was a letter from Tonti. It had been 17 years but the letter let them know they were on the river.

Ch. 6 The French Fact # 8

The site made a poor choice for a fort to protect the river. The Gulf coast made a better harbor. They completed a fort near the present day of Biloxi and named it Fort Maurepas to honor a French government official.

Ch. 6 The French Fact # 9

66. Analyze how a given historical figure influenced or changed the course of Louisiana’s history  (H-1A-M3)

Iberville then returned to France for more supplies, soldiers, and settlers. His requests were refused.

Bienville began to explore the river. He got supplies from the Spanish at Pensacola in 1701.

Iberville never returned to the colony, dying in Havana from yellow fever 1702.

Ch. 6 The French Fact # 10