Clegg Strong

Dear Clegg,

Actually, nine years was pretty quick when you consider all the enormous changes that would be required to turn this polyglot population, this mixed bag of nations, races, and colors, into a state.

The "Real Estate Deal of the Century"-- the Louisiana Purchase -- almost doubled the land area of the United States, and its 830,000 square miles had been a bargain at about four cents an acre.

In 1803, the exact population of Louisiana was not known, because the last census taken by the Spanish was in 1788. There were some settled areas along the rivers and bayous, mostly in the southeast part of the present state, but most of the northern section of the state was described as "practically a primeval forest."

In the big city -- New Orleans -- the population was only about 10,000, and about a third of the population consisted of "Free Negroes" or slaves. Marshy lowlands, forests, and swamps surrounded the little rectangular-shaped town. While a few faubourgs had been laid out, they were not yet completely occupied.

In 1787, the Northwest Ordinance had declared that a population of 60,000 was a necessary requirement for statehood, so we had a long way to go.

The majority of the population was Creoles of French and Spanish descent, but after 1803 folks began arriving from the United States in greater numbers than ever. Most of the "Anglos" came down the Mississippi River from Tennessee, Kentucky or Mississippi, but others arrived from Georgia, Alabama, Virginia, the Carolinas, and the port cities of New England and New York City. Many of the Anglo-American immigrants brought their slaves along, thereby adding to the African population. Jean Lafitte and other smugglers also helped to increase the population as they continued to bring in slaves, for sale to south Louisiana planters.

From Dec. 20, 1803, to Oct. 2, 1804, William C. C. Claiborne was in charge of civil affairs in the territory, and he had his hands full. His major task was to get the locals to accept the American regime. Encountering many early difficulties, he distinguished himself, and in 1804 when the Territory of Orleans was created, Claiborne was appointed governor. He was given a great deal of power, and he appointed many locals to his 13-member Legislative Council. It was this council, to the dismay of the Creoles, that divided the Territory of Orleans into 12 counties. It was known technically as an "unorganized" territorial government, but the Creoles wanted immediate statehood or at least "organized" status.

However, both Gov. Claiborne and President Thomas Jefferson believed that the Territory of Orleans was not ready for statehood. They were happy to wait for the census of 1810 to establish the population. In the meantime, Congress passed a bill providing for the establishment of an organized territorial government in March 1805, once again changing the form of government. Then in 1807, the legislature divided the territory into 19 electoral units, and the counties again became parishes, the basic unit of local government.

Added to the difficulties during the territorial period were the West Florida Rebellion in 1810 and the slave revolt of 1811. Times were difficult during this transitional period.

Nevertheless, the census of 1810 showed that the Territory of Orleans had a population of over 76,000. Soon after, Congress acted and in 1811 authorized a constitutional convention to draw up a proposed state constitution. Meeting in a coffeehouse in New Orleans, the delegates, led by President Julien Poydras, argued over many issues including a name for the new state. "Jefferson" was rejected. They also argued over the state constitution and finally adapted the one drawn up by Kentucky in 1799. Congress approved the constitution and the new state was admitted on April 30, 1812. And a decided majority elected Claiborne governor.

Louisianans had progressed from Spaniards and Frenchmen under the control of monarchs to self-governing Americans in less than nine years.

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• Why did it take Louisiana a while to become a state after the purchase was finalized? For one thing, President Thomas Jefferson didn't think the "Territory of Orleans" was ready for statehood.