America's French Colony: A History of New Orleans | Legendary Cities Cultural History Documentary

Summary

The video explores the rich French heritage and cultural history of New Orleans. It traces the founding of the city by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville in 1718 and highlights its French colonial architecture, such as the French Quarter and St. Louis Cathedral. The video delves into the cultural impact of free people of color, the influence of French opera, and the birth of jazz. It also touches on key historical moments, including the Louisiana Purchase and New Orleans' recovery after Hurricane Katrina, celebrating the city's unique music and enduring legacy.

Takeaways

• 🌍 René-Robert Cavelier de La Salle named the Mississippi Delta region Louisiana in 1682, honoring Louis XIV.
• 🏙️ New Orleans was founded in 1718 by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville and named in honor of the Duke Philippe d'Orléans.
• 🏛️ The French Quarter, despite being rebuilt mostly by the Spanish, retains its French colonial charm and history.
• 🏰 St. Louis Cathedral, the oldest cathedral in the U.S., holds historical flags and honors its French namesake, Louis XIV.
• 🏆 The free people of color played a crucial role in the cultural development of New Orleans, especially in the establishment of St. Augustine Church.
• 🎶 The city’s opera culture, supported by free people of color, thrived in the 19th century, attracting famous operas from France before New York.
• 🎺 Louis Armstrong, a key figure in jazz, launched his career in New Orleans, and the city's Congo Square is considered the birthplace of jazz.
• 🍸 New Orleans claims to be the origin of the word 'cocktail,' stemming from a Creole pharmacist’s creation of an aromatic bitters drink.
• 📖 The French Quarter attracted many literary figures, including Tennessee Williams, who was inspired by the city’s vibrant, tolerant atmosphere.
• 🚢 The sale of Louisiana to the United States in 1803 was marked by a formal ceremony in The Cabildo, now one of New Orleans' main museums.

Q & A

Who named the land Louisiana and in whose honor?

René-Robert Cavelier de La Salle named the land Louisiana in honor of Louis XIV.

Who founded New Orleans and in what year?

Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville founded New Orleans in 1718.

What is the significance of the name 'New Orleans'?

New Orleans was named in honor of the regent, Duke Philippe d'Orléans.

What is the Vieux Carré, and who was entrusted with planning the city?

The Vieux Carré, or the French Quarter, is New Orleans' historic district. The French engineer Adrien de Pauger was entrusted with planning the city.

What is the historical significance of Napoleon Bonaparte's house in New Orleans?

Napoleon Bonaparte's house is significant because the mayor at the time, Nicholas Girod, had attempted to free Napoleon from his exile in Saint Helena and move him into this house.

What type of people primarily made up the French settlers in New Orleans?

The French settlers in New Orleans were primarily servicemen, adventurers, convicts, prostitutes, and counterfeiters, known as smugglers.

What is the historical importance of the St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans?

St. Louis Cathedral is the oldest cathedral in the United States, built in the 18th century alongside the birth of the French Quarter. It houses a collection of flags representing the countries that have dominated the region.

How is the St. Augustine Church connected to the free people of color in New Orleans?

The St. Augustine Church was built in 1842 by the free people of color, who were black and mixed race people freed from slavery for several generations. Some of them fought for slaves to have access to this church.

What role did free people of color play in the cultural development of New Orleans?

Free people of color played an important part in the cultural development of New Orleans, with many artists, including opera singers, being of this group. They were also instrumental in the early opera scene in North America.

How did the end of the American Civil War affect the free people of color in New Orleans?

The end of the American Civil War and the subsequent segregation led to the free people of color losing some of their privileges, including participation in operas.

What is the connection between New Orleans and the development of jazz music?

New Orleans is considered the cradle of jazz music. The city's African-American culture, particularly in places like Congo Square, now Louis Armstrong Park, played a significant role in the development of jazz.

Outlines

00:00

🏞️ The Birth of Louisiana and the Founding of New Orleans

In 1682, René-Robert Cavelier de La Salle claimed the Mississippi Delta, naming the land Louisiana in honor of King Louis XIV. The city of New Orleans, founded by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville in 1718, became a key French settlement. Strategically located, New Orleans quickly developed into a major port, with its French influence still visible today, particularly in the French Quarter, planned by Adrien de Pauger. Though rebuilt by the Spanish after fires, the area retains its French heritage and atmosphere.

05:03

🏛️ Napoleon’s Legacy and the French Influence

New Orleans houses notable historical landmarks, such as Napoleon Bonaparte's House, now a bar dedicated to the French emperor. Local legends claim the mayor, Nicholas Girod, attempted to bring Napoleon to New Orleans. French settlers, including adventurers, soldiers, convicts, and counterfeiters, built iconic homes like Madame John’s Legacy. Despite harsh living conditions, such as heat, mosquitoes, and lack of necessities, these settlers, including the narrator's own counterfeiter ancestor, carved out a better life than they had in France.

10:04

⛪ St. Louis Cathedral and the French Religious Legacy

St. Louis Cathedral stands as the oldest cathedral in the United States, embodying the French roots of the city. Built in the 18th century, the cathedral was reconstructed after several fires and houses flags representing Louisiana's colonial history. The cathedral is dedicated to Louis XIV, whose influence is depicted throughout the church. Nearby, the St. Augustine Church, built by free people of color in 1842, stands as a symbol of their resilience and fight for equality. Givonna Joseph, a Creole opera singer, and her daughter continue this cultural legacy in New Orleans.

15:06

🎷 Congo Square: The Birthplace of Jazz and Armstrong’s Rise

Congo Square, now Louis Armstrong Park, is a historic site where African-American culture thrived through song and dance, considered the birthplace of jazz. Louis Armstrong, the central figure of New Orleans jazz, launched his career in the Storyville District, performing in the city’s early clubs. Today, music is everywhere in New Orleans, particularly on Frenchmen Street, known for its vibrant jazz scene. The city’s rich musical culture continues to define its identity, attracting locals and tourists alike.

20:06

🍹 New Orleans: The Home of Cocktails and Literature

New Orleans' cocktail culture began in the 19th century, with one of the first cocktails allegedly created by Antoine Peychaud. The city’s vibrant culture also drew writers like Tennessee Williams and William Faulkner, who were fascinated by the city’s tolerance and festive spirit. Literary figures found inspiration in New Orleans’ unique blend of French, Catholic, and Creole cultures, which fostered a more open and liberated atmosphere compared to other parts of America. Shops like the one frequented by Robert Sullivan Desmarais maintain the city’s deep French literary connection.

25:07

🚢 The Natchez Steamboat and Post-Katrina Resilience

The Natchez steamboat, one of the last paddleboats on the Mississippi, symbolizes New Orleans' enduring connection to its history and culture. Named after an indigenous tribe, it continues to navigate the river, bringing the spirit of the past to the present. After Hurricane Katrina, the return of the Natchez to the city, with its calliope playing, became a symbol of hope and recovery for the citizens of New Orleans. Debbie Fagnano’s calliope music remains a significant part of the city’s identity, offering comfort and a sense of continuity after the disaster.

Keywords

💡René-Robert Cavelier de La Salle

René-Robert Cavelier de La Salle was a French explorer who is credited with claiming the Mississippi Delta for France in 1682, naming the region Louisiana in honor of King Louis XIV. This event set the foundation for France's influence in the area and is central to the video’s exploration of French cultural heritage in New Orleans.

💡Louisiana

Louisiana, named by La Salle after King Louis XIV, is a key geographical and cultural region in the video. It symbolizes France's historical presence in the New World and serves as the backdrop for New Orleans' development, from its early days of exploration to its evolution into a vibrant city with French roots.

💡New Orleans

New Orleans is the central city highlighted in the video, founded by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville in 1718. The city is portrayed as a melting pot of French, Spanish, and American influences. It is celebrated for its historical French Quarter, its role in the cultural and artistic developments like jazz and opera, and its unique identity within the U.S.

💡French Quarter

The French Quarter, also known as Vieux Carré, is the historic heart of New Orleans. Though many of its buildings were rebuilt by the Spanish, it retains its French name and cultural identity. The video emphasizes its significance as a living memory of New Orleans' French origins, with landmarks like Madame John's Legacy and Napoleon's House.

💡Free people of color

The 'free people of color' were a unique class of black and mixed-race individuals who had been emancipated from slavery in New Orleans. They formed a significant part of the city's aristocracy and contributed to its cultural and social life. The St. Augustine Church, built by free people of color, represents their fight for inclusivity in religious spaces.

💡St. Louis Cathedral

The St. Louis Cathedral, located in the French Quarter, is the oldest cathedral in the United States. Built in the 18th century and dedicated to King Louis IX of France, the cathedral represents the deep French Catholic roots in New Orleans. The cathedral’s history, including multiple reconstructions after fires, is a testament to the city’s resilience and French heritage.

💡Napoleon Bonaparte’s House

Napoleon Bonaparte’s House, now a bar, reflects the legend that Nicholas Girod, a former mayor of New Orleans, planned to rescue the exiled French emperor and bring him to the city. Although Napoleon never lived there, the house is symbolic of New Orleans' strong connection to France and its historical figures.

💡Congo Square

Congo Square, located in what is now Louis Armstrong Park, is a historical site where slaves and free people of color would gather on Sundays to dance and play music. It is considered the birthplace of jazz, an important aspect of New Orleans' cultural identity, and is celebrated in the video as a crucial space for African-American heritage and musical innovation.

💡Jazz

Jazz, a genre born in New Orleans, is one of the city’s most defining cultural exports. The video highlights how jazz evolved from African-American musical traditions in places like Congo Square, with iconic figures like Louis Armstrong rising from New Orleans' vibrant music scene. Frenchmen Street is noted as the modern hub of jazz in the city.

💡Louisiana Purchase

The Louisiana Purchase of 1803 marks the moment when France sold Louisiana to the United States, ending its colonial rule in the region. The video references this event as a turning point in New Orleans' history, symbolized by the replacement of the French flag with the American one during the official handover ceremony at The Cabildo.

Highlights

In April 1682, René-Robert Cavelier de La Salle reached the Mississippi Delta, naming the land Louisiana in honor of Louis XIV.

Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville founded New Orleans in 1718, naming it in honor of Duke Philippe d'Orléans.

Adrien de Pauger, a French engineer, was entrusted with planning New Orleans, which became known for its French Quarter despite Spanish reconstruction.

The Vieux Carré, or the French Quarter, is the historic district of New Orleans, where the influence of French settlers remains visible.

St. Louis Cathedral, built in the 18th century, is the oldest cathedral in the U.S. and stands in the French Quarter, with strong French influences.

The St. Augustine Church, built in 1842 by free people of color, became a historic symbol of inclusivity for Black and mixed-race Catholics.

Free people of color in New Orleans played a significant role in the city's cultural development, particularly in opera and other arts.

Madame John's Legacy is one of the rare examples of French colonial architecture in the French Quarter.

Opera culture thrived in New Orleans, with French opera being performed here before New York, influenced by the city's diverse population.

Napoleon Bonaparte’s house in New Orleans, now a bar, was offered by Mayor Nicholas Girod as a potential residence during Napoleon's exile.

Congo Square, located in Louis Armstrong Park, was a gathering place for slaves on Sundays and is considered the cradle of jazz.

Louis Armstrong began his career in New Orleans' Storyville district, where he became a trumpeter, shaping the jazz scene.

The French Quarter's Frenchmen Street is famous for its jazz clubs and remains a cultural hub for live music in New Orleans.

The word 'cocktail' is said to have originated in New Orleans, derived from the French word 'coquetier,' a small French cup used for serving drinks.

In 1803, France sold Louisiana to the United States, marking the end of French rule in the region, with the handover ceremony taking place at The Cabildo in New Orleans.

Transcripts

(intense music)

- [Narrator] In April 1682,

after a journey lasting two and a half months,

René-Robert Cavelier de La Salle

and his men reached the Mississippi Delta.

(intense music)

Cavelier de La Salle set foot on the land,

and named it Louisiana, in honor of Louis XIV.

(intense music)

Nestled on the river, there is a legendary city

where the influence of France is clear,

New Orleans.

(intense music)

In 1718, Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville

founded New Orleans.

(intense music)

The city was baptized as such, in honor of the regent,

Duke Philippe d'Orléans.

(intense music)

Its location was strategic,

allowing the settlers to watch over the comings and goings

of the boats.

(funky music)

With Keys that stretch for 20 kilometers,

it's one of the principal ports of the United States.

(funky music)

A stone's throw away from the Mississippi,

we find the Vieux Carré, or the French Quarter,

New Orleans historic district.

(funky music)

The French engineer, Adrien de Pauger,

was entrusted with planning the city.

(funky music)

Even though the majority of houses here

have been rebuilt by the Spanish,

it is still known as the French Quarter.

(funky music)

The memory of the role played by the French

in the birth of this city many years ago

is still present here.

(funky music)

A distinctive atmosphere reigns in many

of this historic district's streets.

(upbeat music)

(cheering)

In the French Quarter of New Orleans,

you can find a surprising building.

Napoleon Bonaparte's house,

which is today a bar entirely dedicated

to the French emperor.

(light music)

The story goes that the mayor at the time, Nicholas Girod,

had attempted to free Napoleon

from his exile in Saint Helena,

in order to move him here into this house.

(light music)

Howard Margot is a regular here.

The architect comes to have his coffee every day

in this historic resident.

- [Translator] These people were, according to the legend,

about to set sail when they learned

that Napoleon had died.

So, it was a shame,

but it was still a success for the mayor

who had offered his house to Napoleon

because Napoleon was very popular

amongst the people of New Orleans.

I think it was a well thought out gesture.

(funky music)

- [Narrator] Just like Nicholas Girod,

many French settlers came to try their luck

in the new world throughout the 18th century.

(funky music)

Those who succeeded, built residences like this one,

named Madame John's Legacy.

(funky music)

It is one of the rare examples of French colonial style

in the French Quarter.

(funky music)

Howard knows this house well.

His grandfather moved into a house like this.

(funky music)

The French settlers who came to New Orleans

were primarily servicemen and adventurous,

but also convicts and prostitutes,

along with counterfeiters

that came to be known as (speaking foreign language)

or smugglers.

- [Translator] My own ancestor, for example,

was a counterfeiter in France,

and his punishment was being sent here.

At the beginning, obviously, it was all just propaganda.

For example, there were paintings and engravings

that depicted New Orleans amongst the mountains

with fresh water and so on.

(speaking foreign language)

The reality was heat,

mosquitoes,

terrible illnesses,

and a lack of many things.

A lack of basic necessities.

My ancestor didn't become rich,

but let's say that he did better than when he was in France.

(light music)

- [Narrator] In the heart of the French Quarter

stands the St. Louis Cathedral.

(light music)

St. Louis is the oldest cathedral in the United States.

It was built in the 18th century

at the same time that the French Quarter was born.

(light music)

The building is not the original.

It has been rebuilt several times after different fires.

(light music)

Today, it houses a large collection of flags

that provide of a summary of Louisiana's history.

They represent all of the countries

that have dominated this region,

from France to the United States,

whilst passing through Great Britain and Spain.

(intense music)

We can see amongst them, a French flag,

preserved as a relic and bearing the fleur-de-lis,

which dates from 1682,

the same year that Cavelier de La Salle

took possession of Louisiana.

(light music)

The St. Louis who lends his name to the cathedral

is Louis XIV, king of France.

He is depicted in almost every part of the building,

on the stained glass windows,

in statues,

and even above the alter in this mural painting.

(intense music)

A few streets away from the St. Louis cathedral,

in the Treme district,

there is a unique church,

the St. Augustine church.

Today, it celebrates it's 170th anniversary.

- Good morning, how y'all doing?

- [Woman] God bless.

(unintelligible chatter)

(gospel music)

- [Narrator] This church was built in 1842,

by the free people of color.

(gospel music)

The free people of color were black and mixed race people

who had been freed from slavery for several generations.

They formed a real aristocracy.

The majority of them were Catholics,

and some of them fought so that the slaves

could have access to this church,

a first in the history of the United States.

(gospel music)

(cheers and applause)

- I praise the God.

I am singing the name of the Lord.

Oh I just want to dance with Jesus!

I want to do a special dance for Jesus!

I was just wanna sing and praise Jesus!

So let us continue, alright?

Let us continue to celebrate

in the name of Jesus!

In the name of the Son,

in the name of the Father,

in the name of the Holy Spirit,

hallelujah!

Hallelujah!

Hallelujah!

Praise the lord!

Praise the lord!

(gospel music)

(cheers and applause)

- [Narrator] The opera singer, Givonna Joseph,

and her daughter, Aria, are descendants

of the free people of color.

- It just couldn't have been a more perfect thing to,

my daughter and I both, lovers of history,

and especially our own history.

This is home.

- Well, at the time, in New Orleans,

they had the highest population of free people

in the United States.

So, it was kind of an organic thing

for people to decide to,

you know, who owned property,

to decide to find a place of worship.

There weren't many places of worship at the time.

There was St. Louis cathedral,

and there was the Ursuline Sisters Chapel,

and then the Irish were were founding

St. Patrick's across town,

but there was no home for them to feel welcome

and to feel as though they were part

of the liturgy and worship,

and so they decided to found their own,

since they had already founded this neighborhood,

and that was growing by leaps and bounds, as well.

(gospel music)

- [Announcer] Givonna is a Creole opera singer,

a vocation that has been passed down from her ancestors.

Free people of color have played an important part

in the cultural development of the city.

(opera music)

The majority of artists that appeared

on the stage of New Orleans French opera

were free people of color.

(opera music)

In the 19th century,

the biggest operas that came from France

played here well before arriving in New York.

(opera music)

- And so, opera was originally grown in Louisiana,

as we were the first city of opera in North America.

(opera music)

But the reason opera

and the culture of balls

and all of that came to Louisiana,

especially came to New Orleans,

because the place was inhospitable.

(light music)

So they thought, "We have to bring in something

"that people could get attached to

"and would fall in love with

"and want to be here and feel special about being here."

As a French tradition, it was that slaves

had not work on Sunday.

That was a time for worship

and go to mass and that sort of thing.

But if they had particular skills,

they could hire themselves out on a Sunday,

and either they made their own money

that they used to buy their freedom,

but they also bought a ticket to the opera.

And so, it saved New Orleans

because people were about ready to leave.

(light music)

(opera music)

(applause)

(intense music)

- [Announcer] In 1865, the end of the American Civil War

marched the abolition of slavery.

And then came segregation.

(intense music)

The free people of color lost some of their privileges,

including that of taking part in the operas.

(jazz music)

It's even said that a certain Louis Armstrong, as a child,

tried every which way he could to get inside

and listen to this music that fascinated him so much.

(jazz music)

In New Orleans, every October, the brass band,

from the club of the Black Men of Labor,

celebrates the anniversary of its creation.

(upbeat music)

These brass bands always take place on a Sunday.

At the time, it was the only day of rest for the slaves.

(upbeat music)

They would meet here at Congo Square,

now Louis Armstrong Park,

to sing and to dance to the sound of tambourines.

(upbeat music)

This mythical place of African-American culture

is considered to be the cradle of jazz.

(upbeat music)

The main character here in New Orleans is this man,

Louis Armstrong.

(upbeat music)

It was here that he launched his career,

and it was in the Storyville District, full of clubs,

that he became a trumpeter.

(upbeat music)

At the time, these weren't really jazz clubs,

but more like brothels.

(upbeat music)

Today, music is everywhere in New Orleans,

and forms a part of this world-renowned identity.

(upbeat music)

And the street where all the jazz clubs are situated

is called Frenchmen Street.

(upbeat music)

(singing in foreign language)

(upbeat music)

(funky music)

Night has fallen on New Orleans.

(funky music)

(unintelligible singing)

(upbeat music)

The party is in full swing, and the cocktails are flowing.

(funky music)

We are in Antoine's Restaurant,

it's one of the oldest restaurants in the United States.

It's been run by the same family for more than 170 years.

It's said that the city's most popular cocktail

was invented at the beginning of the 19th century,

in the back shop of a Creole pharmacist,

who lived in the French Quarter.

(laughing)

Michael Kavanaugh has made it his specialty.

- Most of the color and flavor the drink has

comes from this product,

the aromatic bitters of Antoine Peychaud.

Bitters were, you might say, the Coca-Cola

of the 19th century.

He served his drink in a special way.

He had the use of a double handle

piece of French crockery,

very small, called a coquetier.

The coquetier was a way in which

he served the drink,

but when the Americans heard

the French Creoles order the drink,

they did not hear coquetier,

they heard cocktail.

And so, that is how it came into use

in the English language.

The word itself came from the drink.

(unintelligible chatter)

(funky music)

(light music)

- This party atmosphere of New Orleans

attracted many writers during the first half

of the 19th century.

(light music)

They settled in the French Quarter.

(light music)

Robert Sullivan Desmarais is a professor of literature.

(ringing)

Each day he takes this tramway line

that was made famous in 1947.

- Now we are in a streetcar, a tramway,

like the one that inspired Tennessee Williams

in his work, A Streetcar Named Desire.

For him, it was more of a symbol.

He's not talking about the streetcar itself,

it's the symbol of the city of New Orleans,

and of everything that the city meant to him.

(upbeat music)

- [Announcer] The writers were seduced by the exoticism

and the unique culture of this American city.

(upbeat music)

- This society was Catholic,

and the Catholics were much more tolerant than the Baptists.

So, Tennessee Williams and William Faulkner

came here from the state of Mississippi

and they saw people dancing in the streets,

having fun and drinking without being cruel or nasty.

And they weren't just lower class people,

and that fascinated and liberated them.

(upbeat music)

- [Narrator] Robert goes nearly once a week

to one of these shops that illustrate the link

maintained by the city with it's French origins.

- Hi there! - Hi Robert, how are you?

- [Translator] I'm good, thank you.

- [Translator] It's good to see you.

- [Translator] It's good to be here.

As always, I just want to see what you've got today.

- [Translator] Goodness me, we have everything.

- [Translator] Oh, I know.

(light music)

- [Narrator] An address that is known by only a few,

practically a temple of French literature,

lost in this little corner of America.

(light music)

- [Translator] In 1730, 1731,

the first work that really spoke about Louisiana

in literary terms was Manon Lescaut,

known for the opera.

And now, historians say, "Well, it's not important.

"It's not true, it's fiction."

But, in fact, the subject of a woman

who is seized as a prostitute and sent to the colonies,

that's true, it happened!

After a little research,

you can find that Mr. Girod

discovered that at the time

women were immigrated to Louisiana,

and in 1917 to 1920,

amongst the names of women forcibly sent to the house,

was Maryann Lescaut.

So, there is some truth behind the novel.

(intense music)

- [Narrator] France has a colossal cultural heritage

in Louisiana.

(intense music)

Even though it only had possession of the region

for 83 years.

(intense music)

In 1803, France finally sold Louisiana to the United States.

In December, 1803, the formal hand over ceremonies

took place in this building, The Cabildo,

which has become one of the city's main museums.

(intense music)

The French flag can be seen on this painting,

which flew above New Orleans until this date

when it was replaced by the Star Spangled Banner.

After this ceremony, a grand dinner took place here,

to celebrate the eternal glory of Louisiana.

(intense music)

(upbeat music)

This boat, the Natchez,

is one of the last paddle steamboats

to navigate along the Mississippi.

(upbeat music)

It's name, Natchez, refers to an American Indian tribe

that revolted against the French settlers

in the 18th century.

(light music)

(fun music)

Debbie Fagnano has been playing this distinctive instrument

for 24 years.

(fun music)

It's sound is part of the musical scene of New Orleans.

(fun music)

- This machine was invented as a steam organ

in 1856,

and it was given the name calliope,

which is Greek muse

of voice or of song,

and it's become sort of like the voice of the river.

(fun music)

After the hurricane, the whole city was devastated.

When the boat came back down river,

I got on the boat and I played the calliope

for about an hour coming back down river,

and when people heard the calliope,

and they knew that we were back,

it gave them a sense that things were gonna be okay.

Things were gonna be fine.

The city was gonna come back

just because of this little instrument.

(fun music)

My favorite French songs are,

there's one that's a little waltz

called Plaisir D'Amour, A Love Song.

(fun music)

(funky music)