how did the louisiana territory come to be under french control

Question

wwhitlock · Answer

LaSalle claimed the land for France in 1682. He named it after Louis XIV, the king who paid his bills while exploring. France had to give it up to Spain and England after losing the Seven years war in 1763. The Spanish used New Orleans to supply Americans during our Revolution. They also built most of the buildings in what is now called the French Quarter. The US got the eastern part that the British got from Spain when they won the Revolution.In 1800, Spain did a secret treaty with France and gave the western part back to France. Then Napoleon wanted some cash to fight wars in Europe so he sold it to Thomas Jefferson in 1803.