1790: Minister Diego de Gardoqui expressed exasperation over the social composition of Louisiana, describing its residents as people “expatriated” due to irr…
1790: Minister Diego de Gardoqui expressed exasperation over the social composition of Louisiana, describing its residents as people “expatriated” due to irregular misadventures. The Spanish government had attempted to attract stable settlers through various inducements, yet found the province populated by a mobile and unpredictable class of subjects. These residents often possessed extensive contacts across the Caribbean, making them difficult for the state to monitor or control. This diversity of background and experience contributed to a “masterless” outlook that frequently clashed with monarchical authority. Louisiana’s frontier character made it a receptive environment for the egalitarian ideas soon to arrive from revolutionary France.