American Theater, New Orleans (1830) The flag of the United States waves proudly against the sky in this drawing by Hugh Reinagle, in the hand-colored lithograph printed by Netherlist. The Historic New Orleans Collection

fter defeating the Austrians in June of 1800, Napoleon made it clear that he intended to dominate Europe. He had his eye on England, but he needed to control the rest of Europe first, and he needed money to finance his campaigns. Napoleon demanded that King Charles IV retrocede Louisiana to France. The King of Spain agreed.

Although the Spanish transferred Louisiana to France in 1800, the official ceremony took place three years later on November 30, 1803. That day the Spanish flag was lowered and the French flag was raised again. The government authorities representing Spain were dismissed and new French officials were invested. This was a formality that had to be fulfilled to properly deliver Louisiana to the United States, since in April of that year it had been purchased from Napoleon Bonaparte by the third president of the United States, Thomas Jefferson. The flag of the United States was raised on December 20, 1803. The Louisiana Territory extended approximately from the Gulf of Mexico to Canada, and from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains.

William Charles Cole Claiborne was appointed governor. His task was difficult in part because English was an alien language for the people, who spoke either French or Spanish, if not something else. The people were overwhelmingly Catholic instead of Protestant and the imposition of new laws of English origin was traumatic. Enmity between original Louisiana Creoles and United States Anglo-Saxons remained for years after the purchase of the Territory.

On April 30, 1812, nine years after the United States purchased it, Lousiana became the 18th state of the United States. Claiborne was elected governor. A few days later, the United States declared war against England.This war was fought inland and the English enjoyed great success at the beginning. In 1814 the rumor spread that England would attack New Orleans. General Andrew Jackson defeated the English in Mobile, Alabama, but the real invasion was yet to come.

England prepared to invade Louisiana in December, launching a massive attack under the command of General Sir Edward Packenham. General Jackson heard about the plans and went ahead with the preparation of the defense. The assault on New Orleans began on December 28 and the English were repelled. Their final charge took place on January 8, 1815, and again was received with fierce resistance. Packenham himself was killed, as was his second in command, Major General John Keane, and the English left on January 27. The Battle of New Orleans ended England's attempts to control any part of the territory of the United States.

Battle of New Orleans (1815) This painting by the French-American artist and architect Jean Hyancinthe de Laclotte commemorates the triumph of the United States over England's troops. New Orleans Museum of Art