Question

What event happened in 1786 that helped increase the population of Louisiana?

Answer 1

In 1786, Louisiana was part of Viceroyalty of New Spain, specifically to the Captaincy General of Cuba and the Governor of this territory and Florida was Esteban Rodríguez Miró. He faced the problem of integrating into Spanish Louisiana large numbers of Anglo-Americans. He embarked on a plan in 1785, which would make possible the continued residence of Anglo-American landowners. Spain, eager to populate the province with colonists, already had experienced difficulties inducing Spanish immigrants to the lower Mississippi Valley. Anglo-Americans, under this plan, could become loyal Spanish subjects by fulfilling two requisites: taking an oath of allegiance to the King of Spain and adopting Roman Catholicism as their professed religion. Implementation of this plan began during the spring of 1786 and in this way, the Anglo-American settlement helped to increase the population of Louisiana because it also applied to new settlers who wished to enter the province as permanent residents.