Mr. E

1
Mr. Es Wednesday Jan. 28th Louisiana History
Class
Jean Lafitte Battle of New Orleans The
Contraband
2
Jan. 28, 1934 Court fights begin between N.O.
between Mayor Wamsley and Sen. Huey Long.
77. Describe major conflicts in context of
Louisiana history (e.g., Rebellion of 1768, the
French and Indian War)  (H-1D-M3)
3
CONSTRUCTIVE RESPONSE QUESTION
Is the Lafitte legend true? Most treasure legends
had two things in common- the burial at some
remote spot usually a marsh chenier, and nearly
always, the existence of an apparition - an
eerie light to lead the gold hunters astray, or a
big rattlesnake with fangs bared, perhaps a
cutlass-swinging skeleton, or some other ghostly
creature whose assignment was to guard the
pirates' money.

1. Are buried treasure tales true?
2. Where are most burials?
3. What is an apparition?

4
Jean Lafitte (ca. 1776 - ca. 1826) was a
pirate/privateer in the early 19th century. He is
believed to have been born in the French colony
of Saint Dominque along with his brother Pierre
and half brother Alexandre, commonly known by the
alias of Dominique You.
Fact 1
Fact 1
5



He has been called "The Buccaneer," "The King of
Barataria," "The Hero of New Orleans". At three
separate times, U.S. presidents have condemned,
exonerated and
Fact 2
again condemned his actions. He is known for his
piracy in the Gulf of Mexico, and lauded for his
heroism in the Battle of New Orleans. He hated
being called "pirate," for, as he saw it, he was
a "privateer.
Fact 2
6


His name was legend even in his day. He took an
island-full of bloodied seafarers and turned them
into an organization of buccaneers.
Fact 3
From the ships they plundered off the Caribbean
Coast he and his "crew of a thousand men" kept a
constant cargo of black-marketed and very
necessary provisions (including Negro slaves, a
very important "commodity" to the early South).
Fact 3
7
He never attacked an American ship. A man without
a country, he nevertheless respected the
constitution of American ideals and hoped that
what he called his "kingdom by the sea" might
someday become American.
Fact 4
Fact 4
8
Lafitte's commerce of merchandise of cloths and
linens, spices and trinkets, furniture and
utensils sold at discount prices, avoiding high
tariffs, to the grateful citizens of New Orleans.
In short, Lafitte's
Fact 5
methods proved to be a survival factor for what
was to become a major American city.
Fact 5
9
And then came a new territorial governor who
decided not to let alone a notorious pirate
become a part of the blossoming American texture.
Harassment and imprisonment followed, even
destruction of Lafitte's Valhalla. When Claiborne
needed to keep New Orleans and the entire
Mississippi River from enemy hands, Lafitte
despite the chastisement and the near ruination
he faced from Americans stepped forward
to defend them.
Fact 6
Fact 6
10
Lafitte's presence started when he and brother
Pierre opened a blacksmith shop.
Fact 7
(The smithy was merely a
cover, which served as a depot where the brothers
Lafitte took orders for goods recently
"confiscated" from ships at sea.) Jean, was
pleasant and fitting company. He was a well-read,
well-dressed, very cultured gentleman for his
young age, 24, he spoke four languages (English,
French, Italian and Spanish)
Fact 7
11
Under Lafitte were a fleet of fifty sailing
vessels and an army of buccaneers who sailed the
southern waters for plunder, bringing back riches
and spoils of every kind to sell for a price. The
ships they captured at sea, harvested boundless
wealth furniture, clothing, the latest silks,
dinnerware, wines and cheeses, slaves, silver,
gold, even medicines destined for other places
before being detoured.
Fact 8
12
By 1817 the privateers of Jean Lafitte were
capturing numerous Spanish slavers off the coast
of Cuba. The pirate's slave pens, on Galveston
Island were often swelled beyond capacity, with
slaves selling at 1.00 per
Fact 9
pound. Their illicit slave trade was via Black
Bayou on Lake Sabine or via the Calcasieu River
to Charleys Lake.

Fact 9
13
Then Lafitte learned that he could multiply his
profits by marketing slaves direct to the
Louisiana planters. By 1817, he had built slave
barracks on Contraband Bayou.
Fact 10
Probably the oldest legend along the Calcasieu
River was of Charles Sallier, a minor French
aristocrat. Months later, 1817, the Barataria Bay
pirate anchored in Charleys Lake where he was
supplied with tons of fresh vegetables and beef.
www.wtblock.com/wtblockjr/jean1.htm
Fact 10
14
Upcoming
Thursday(29) War of 1812 - Jackson Friday(30)
Post War of 1812 Monday(2) Movie The
Buccaneers Tuesday (3) The Buccaneers Wednesday
(4) The Buccaneers Thursday (5) Jeopardy Game
Friday (6) Major test of Ch. 7-8 Monday (9)
Antebellum Era