Beautiful Crescent: A History of New Orleans by John B. Garvey, Mary Lou Widmer Page B

which is a monument to the period of Spanish domination.
    In addition, credit goes to them for roofing the Indian Market on the riverfront. The market had always been a vital place of business and continues to be today. It has always been called the French Market, although it was originally the Indian Market, roofed by the Spanish, supplied by German farmers, and later on, run by Italian vendors—a typical New Orleans amalgamation.

CHAPTER V
    On Becoming American: 1803-15
    On April 30, 1803, when Thomas Jefferson was America’s third president, the territory of Louisiana was purchased from Napoleon Bonaparte , consul of France, by the United States, for the sum of $15 million. This event took place before any ceremony had officially made Louisiana French again. It wasn’t until November 30, 1803, that the Spanish flag was lowered and the French flag raised in the Place d’Armes , although the transfer of Louisiana from Spain to France had taken place three years earlier, and another transfer had since been arranged. On that same day, Pierre Clément de Laussat , colonial prefect of France, was given the keys to the city and put in possession of the province for France. Although de Laussat’s actions were purely symbolic (coming after the sale of Louisiana to the United States), he nonetheless abolished the Spanish Cabildo, appointed the Frenchman Étienne de Boré mayor, appointed two adjuncts, and created the first city council of New Orleans, which consisted of ten members.
    Just twenty days later, on December 20, 1803, the same ceremony was repeated in the Place d’Armes . This time, however, the French flag was lowered and the flag of the United States took its place. William C. C. Claiborne, General James Wilkinson (acting for the president of the United States), and Pierre de Laussat (representing France), signed the papers making the Louisiana Territory part of America. Claiborne was to be in charge of civil affairs and Wilkinson in control of the army.
    In one year, New Orleans had been under three flags: first Spanish, then French, and finally American.
    Circumstances leading up to and surrounding the purchase are interesting and complex. To begin with, Napoleon, having recently lost the island of Saint Domingue in the Caribbean, felt that his dream
    Portrait of Andrew Jackson. From a miniature commissioned by Jackson, painted by Jean Francois Valle in New Orleans. Presented to Edward Livingston, March 1, 1815.
    Extract of note from Andrew Jackson to Edward Livingston.
    of a French empire in America had ended. He feared that it would be impossible to protect Louisiana financially or militarily if he went back to war with England, and if he couldn’t protect Louisiana against the British, he preferred America to have it. Also, badly in need of money for his European wars, he was receptive to entreaties by Livingston, US Minister to France, who urged him to sell the Isle of Orleans and West Florida to the United States. Napoleon, through his negotiator, Barbé-Marbois , offered to sell all of Louisiana for $15 million.
    President Jefferson, without consulting Congress, agreed to the purchase, although there was a total of only $10 million in the US treasury at the time. This was an act that came close to causing the president’s impeachment.
    Further reasons for Napoleon’s sale of Louisiana to the United States is given in his own words: “This accession of territory strengthens forever the power of the United States, and I have just given England a maritime rival that will sooner or later humble her pride.” The irony of the situation is that the United States had to make loans from British and Dutch banks in order to finance the purchase.
    The Louisiana Territory included 827,987 square miles, which would later be divided to form thirteen other states, or parts of states, in the nation. The territory extended from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico and from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains.