NEW ORLEANS From Bienville to Bourbon Street to bounce. 300 moments that make New Orleans unique. WHAT HAPPENED Spain ruled 1718 ~ 2018 the Louisiana territory for 40 years beginning 300 in 1762. TRICENTENNIAL The French of Nouvelle Orleans did not welcome their Spanish rulers with open arms when the Louisiana territory was ceded to Spain in 1762. Yet, over time, the Spanish government made great im- provements to the city and the territory, firmly establishing The Cabildo, shown here in commerce and populating the territory. 1904, was built Spain gained possession of Louisiana after helping the as the seat of French win the French and Indian War. But Spain was slow Spanish govern- ment after the to assert its authority. The first governor, Antonio de Ulloa, Great Fire of New didn’t arrive until 1766 and then implemented trade restric- Orleans in 1788. tions and limited the Superior Council’s authority. The French revolted and sent Ulloa, who did not have an Army, back to Spain. Spain sent the Irish- born Alessandro “Bloody” O’Reilly, to the territory in August 1769 with 2,000 troops to quash rebellion. He Tile signs placed the territory under a Cabildo, a combined municipal with the council and judicial system, divided Louisiana into parishes, Spanish co- banned Indian slavery and created a militia. Under the next lonial names of the streets governor, Luis de Unzaga y Amezaga, Spain began expand- of the French ing the promise of Louisiana, helping establish a strong mar- Quarter were a gift from ket for tobacco and increasing the territory’s population by the Spanish 500 percent from 1763 through 1799 by importing Spanish, government to the city in French and German immigrants. 1959. The decora- Among the immigrants were Isleños from the Canary Is- tive ironwork lands who settled in St. Bernard Parish. Following the 1788 The Irish- around born Don the French fire that destroyed most of the city, Spanish Gov. Esteban Allesandro Quarter is Rodríguez Miró was lauded for his relief efforts. The Span- Spanish O’Reilly was ish style of architecture, visible today in the French Quarter, the first in origin, Spanish though it replaced the French Colonial buildings that burned in the fire. governor to became Although Spain ceded the territory back to France in 1800, assert real popular in authority over the city after A Spanish picayune Spain continued to administer it until Nov. 30, 1803, when it the Louisiana it became coin was worth was turned back to France — 20 days before it was turned American. territory. half a real. over to the United States..