Throughout the early 19th Century, Americans 

 herded into Louisiana. French influence, however, re- 

 mained strong. Botli the French and Enghsh languages 

 were officially used there until 1898. Today, Louisiana 

 is unique among the states in basing its state laws upon 

 the Napoleonic Code. 



R 



rom prosperity to war 



Sugar planting expanded rapidly in the 1800's and 

 Louisiana's industry and commerce became a bulwark 

 of the South. New Orleans, despite constant floods and 

 epidemics, grew and prospered during the steamboat 

 era. Both river and rail commerce made New Orleans 

 one of the most important and influential ports in the 

 country. Many persons became rich, as indicated by 

 the huge, now old and romantic columned mansions 

 on the plantations scattered throughout the region. But 

 this affluence was short-lived. 



Louisiana seceded from the Union on January 26, 

 1862, to join the Confederacy in an attempt to sustain 

 the South's economic dependence on slavery. The state 

 provided significant manpower to the Confederacy dur- 

 ing the War Between the States, including two of the 

 most famous generals of the time, Bragg and Beaure- 

 gard. But Union forces invaded the state in 1862 and 

 demolished its industry. After the War, the Recon- 

 struction period was as depressive and devastating to 

 Louisiana as it was to most other southern states. Polit- 

 ical strife, racial conflict and economic confusion were 

 rampant. Economic conditions were deplorable when 

 Louisiana was readmitted to the Union in July of 1868. 

 Until as late as 1900 the great problem facing most of 



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