Louisiana and 

 Tobacco 



.„lie Spaiiisli were pr()l)al)l\- tlie first 

 Europeans to explore the area now called Louisiana. 

 A 1530 expedition followed hy a later visit by Hernando 

 de Soto in 1541 opened tlie area to the interest of the 

 Spaniards. The French entered the scene in the 17th 

 century and in 1682 Robert de la Salle claimed for 

 France all the land drained bv the Mississippi River 

 and its tributaries. lie named part of this territory 

 Louisiana in honor of the I'^cnch Kini^ Louis XIV. 



