| In pre-Columbian times, the area that is today the state | | | | the exception of the area around New Orleans |
| of Louisiana was home to many Native American | | | | passed to the British, and the rest of French Louisiana |
| peoples. These included the Atakapa, Chitmacha, | | | | became a colony of Spain. During this period, |
| Bayougoula, Houma, Avoyel, Tunica and Caddo. | | | | French-speaking refugees from Acadia (French |
| The first Europeans to visit the region were Spanish | | | | colonies in Canada and New England) arrived in what |
| explorers in the 16th century. In 1528, Panfilo de | | | | is today Southwest Louisiana, their descendants |
| Narvaez's expedition visited the mouth of the | | | | eventually becoming known as the Cajun people. |
| Mississippi River, and in 1541, Hernando de Soto | | | | In 1800, France reacquired Louisiana from Spain in a |
| crossed the region. The French began arriving in the | | | | secret treaty, however three years, in 1803, the |
| late 17th century and quickly established settlements. | | | | territory was sold to the United States, in the Louisiana |
| Robert Cavelier de La Salle named the region | | | | Purchase. |
| "Louisiana" in honor of the French King, Louis XIV, in | | | | The United States divided Louisiana into two parts; the |
| 1682. And a settlement, Fort Maurepas, was | | | | Orleans Territory (which was to become the state of |
| established in 1699 (at what is now Ocean Springs, | | | | Louisiana in 1812), and the District of Louisiana (which |
| Mississippi, near Biloxi. | | | | was all the rest of the land acquired in the Louisiana |
| The French colony of Louisiana contained land on both | | | | Purchase). |
| sides of the Mississippi River and extended all the way | | | | A boundary dispute then arose between the US and |
| to Canada, including all or part of the following | | | | Spain over West Florida, with the Spanish insisting that |
| present-day states: Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, | | | | this region had not been sold back to France in 1800. |
| Oklahoma, Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Illinois, | | | | However, in the meantime, British settlers have moved |
| Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota and | | | | into the area, and rebelled against Spain in 1810 forming |
| North Dakota. | | | | the short-lived West Florida Republic, which was later |
| Following the Seven Years' War (generally known in | | | | annexed to the United States (eventually becoming |
| the US as the "French and Indian War"), control of | | | | Louisiana's Florida Parishes) by Presidential |
| most of the territory east of the Mississippi River, with | | | | proclamation. |