July 29, 2006

Historic New Orleans

By Stan Dyer

Many modern cities have professional sports franchises, large sports arenas, big buildings and a multitude of attractions. So does New Orleans. Few cities, however, especially those west of the Mississippi, have the colorful histories and storied pasts that New Orleans has. New Orleans' past is older than the United States with enough historic attraction to keep any history buff captivated for days.

It began in 1699 when Jean Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville and Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville sighted the location. In 1718, Bienville officially founded the city and named it "Nouvelle Orleans" for Phillip II, duc d'Orleans. In 1763, Napoleon I presented New Orleans along with much of the land that became the Louisiana Purchase to the Spanish as a reward for their assistance in the Seven Years War. Napoleon, strapped for money after years of war, reneged on the deal in 1800, and then sold the land to Thomas Jefferson and the United States in 1803 as The Louisiana Purchase.

General Andrew Jackson preserved ownership of New Orleans for the United States by defeating the British in the final battle of the War of 1812 at the Battle of New Orleans in January 1815. New Orleans was the state capital from 1812 until 1849 while it flourished as a trade port during the growth of slavery in the U.S. With the invention of the Cotton Engine, or "gin", the slave industry exploded and New Orleans was a major port of entry for new slaves. By 1850, over 300,000 African slaves lived and worked in Louisiana, and New Orleans became the largest market in the world for cotton and sugar.

On March 25, 1861, Louisiana officially joined the Confederacy, and New Orleans became a prime target for Union forces. In April of 1862, Admiral David Farragut shouted, "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!" and, along with General Benjamin Butler, captured the port for the Union. Butler is the general credited with declaring slaves "contraband of war" which led many to escape to Union lines and freedom. This pre-empted the Emancipation Proclamation that came September 22, 1862.

The post-war era was not good to New Orleans. Throughout reconstruction and beyond, poverty and corruption plagued the region. Huey Long brought hope with the promise of "A chicken in every pot", and "Every man a king", but he, too, was corrupt. He was assassinated in the State Capitol in 1935. The period of modern growth began for New Orleans under Mayor Chep Morrison. His projects revitalized the region and were continued by his successors. This brief history outlines New Orleans' past, but it does not include the struggle of the "freed men", the contribution of minority groups such as the Arcadians, and the growth of the culture of Jazz. There are 19 museums, many historic sites, and numerous landmarks in the city, many of which are easily visited in a walking tour. In my next article, I continue the historic trip and take you on a walking tour. I can tell you the history, but it is better to see it for yourself. I think you'll agree New Orleans is steeped in history with enough attraction to keep any history buff captivated for days.