Disharmonious French Government in the Louisiana Colony
The colony of Louisiana has faced many challenges. Besides having settlements along the Gulf Coast and all along the Mississippi River, I think obtaining this colony from the French is a bad idea. The French have had nothing but trouble while trying to set up Louisiana as a colony. The French lacks consistency in governing, they sent the wrong types of settlers, there are no cash crops, and they have trouble with the Native Americans. (Sept. 17,2012). There is a lot of disharmony within the government of the Louisiana colony. The King appoints Antoine Crozat to become the proprietor of Louisiana (40). Crozat, has no interest in Louisiana and proved that by never stepping foot on its land. He has full authority that a governor would have, but since he is estranged from Louisiana, it makes it hard for the settlers to follow his rules. The settlers are more apt to listening to Sieur de Bienville, who is present in Louisiana and is the acting commandant and military commander (39). Crozat then appoints a proprietor, Cadillac, to lead the colony and to be his acting voice present in Louisiana. Cadillac followed Crozat’s instructions and set up a Superior Council to help govern Louisiana. This council is mimicked from laws in Paris, giving it the name “Custom of Paris” (41). The problem with this council is that only the elite are appointed, which leaves the typical, uneducated settlers unable to have a voice when setting and enforcing rules and laws (Sept. 17, 2012). Eventually, Cadillac and Bienville have a disagreement and no longer get along. The quarrel between two of the most powerful people in Louisiana leads to weakening of the colony and unable to handle its difficulties. Crozat eventually removed Cadillac from proprietor of Louisiana. A few years after that, Crozat went bankrupt. And because of Crozat’s failure, Louisiana became the ward of the French crown. The French crown is now trying to find someone to become the proprietor of Louisiana but