History of New Orleans

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And educate their daughters and sons they did. The economical or racial situation of the children made no different to Sister Madeleine Hachard. The Nuns taught the Indians, Africans, whites alike however; her opinion of their behavior was less than admiral, though understanding.

“What is very pleasant to us is the docility of the children, who can be moulded as one pleases. As to the negroes, it is easy to instruct them as soon as they learn French. I will not say as much of the savages, whom it is impossible to baptize without trembling on account of their natural inclination to sin, particularly the women, who under an air of modesty hide all the passions of the beast.” “for besides debauchery, bad faith, and, finally, all the other vices prevail here more than anywhere else, but it must be added that they thus prevail with an abundance which is beyond all measure. As to the girls of a loose character, although they are carefully watched and severely punished by their being made to ride a wooden horse, and by having them whipped by all the soldiers of the garrison, yet there are enough of them to fill up a large refuge-asylum. A thief is tried in two days. He is either hung or broken on the wheel, whether he be a white man, a negro, or a savage. There is no distinction and no mercy.”

Sister Madeleine Hachard passed away “after having been, an excellent teacher for the youth of New Orleans, and after having fulfilled in a most exemplary manner all the duties incumbent upon her.” “The whole community deplored her death.” (Paulis) It was 1762 the same year that Louisiana was passed to the hands of Spain that she passed away.

The small town by our standards now had acquired many nationalities French, German Irish, French Canadians, Haitians, Americans and Africans had come and been brought in from everywhere. Many of the Africans were free individuals, but usually grouped in any census as slaves or servants. All these and more were present in this city early begins.

The changing of governments brought unrest in the peoples lives. They were afraid and angry. Feeling betrayed by the crown dissidence began to rise among the people. Finance and business ground to a slow crawl. Import and export slowed. The people were losing everything they had worked for. Food was getting short because flour was not coming to port. The areas’ hunted game was not enough to support a city this size. Bad weather had caused flooding and had destroyed a good percentage of locally grown crops, which added to the mounting food shortages.

The years in between the actual change of government saw two French governors of which could not deal with the peoples unrest The introduction of the first yet short lived Spanish governor which was ousted leaving only the French governor, at this point once again in the undesirable position. It was 7 years after the French- Spanish transition the permanent Spanish government took hold. In 1769 General Alexander O’ Reilly arrived, with an armada to enforce his edicts. He was quite stern, though it was said he was a fair man, but conducted his affairs in a rather military manner. This colony had not made money for the French, O’ Reilly was to see to it that it did, with or without the willing cooperation of the colonists. He meant to have sovereignty in the city.

The changes of government ushered in a new period for the people of New Orleans, a future with a Spanish government in control. This would open the Mississippi to the rest of America for trade, bringing a prosperous future to New Orleans.

A town within a city seemingly caught in time. With an eclectic history of people and traditions, this city has survived 292 years still harboring it ghosts from the past. I am sure it has surpassed any original vision Bienville had or imagined in 1718.

Works Cited

Jones, Howard Mumford. America and French Culture, 1750-1848. Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press, 1927. Questia. Web. 12 Feb. 2010.

Paulis, Father. "Normans on the banks of the Mississippi." Catholic World mar 1886: 813, 818, 819, 822.

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Stebbins, Robert A. The Connoisseur's New Orleans. Calgary: University press, 1938.