1763: The province of Louisiana passed from French to Spanish control following the conclusion of the Seven Years’ War.

1763: The province of Louisiana passed from French to Spanish control following the conclusion of the Seven Years’ War. This transfer mirrored the geopolitical shifting of “ceded islands” like Dominica, highlighting how European powers bartered Caribbean territories without regard for their inhabitants. Despite the change in official administration, Louisiana remained deeply anchored in the French Atlantic world through persistent customs and commerce. These inter-imperial transitions created spaces where masterless populations could navigate the gaps between competing colonial systems. The realignment ultimately failed to sever the long-standing social and economic ties that linked New Orleans to the French West Indies.