Louisiana Territory: 1682-1800

Louisiana Territory: 1682-1800. . , Development , In 1682, one hundred and forty years after Hernando de Soto and his conquistadors searched for treasure in the vast regions west of the Mississippi River, the French explorer, LaSalle, claimed all the land, resources and peoples of the "country of Louisiana" in the name of King Louis XIV of France., During the following years, trading centers such as St. Louis, Natchez and New Orleans evolved as the mighty Mississippi carried skins, pelts, bear oil and other frontier products to market. By 1721, 8,000 people crowded the French colonies with fierce rivalries developing between the French and the steadily growing numbers of English traders., In 1762, France ceded the entire Territory to Spain in payment for the aid provided during the bloody French-Indian War (Seven Years' War). Spain, fearing growing American influence in the area, attempted to protect her new territory by placing controls on river trade. But the controls failed, and in July, 1800, Napoleon opened negotiations with Spain for the return of Louisiana to France. A temporary treaty stipulated France would not "sell or otherwise dispose of the Territory to any third party," leading Spain to believe their interests were free from American control., Resources , Lands along the Mississippi often proved unsuitable for settlement, but did provide an excellent environment for wildlife, especially fur-bearing mammals. Frenchmen recognized the potential trade value and quickly set up a trade network with the Indians along the Mississippi and its tributaries., Fur markets in Europe provided financial incentives to early Anglo-Americans in this area. Some of the mammals which fed early explorers and clothed Europeans still thrive in the remaining wetlands of eastern Arkansas. Beaver, mink, raccoon, swamp rabbits, opossum, gray squirrels, and occasional deer have adapted to these conditions and tend to live here year-round., Raccoons, adept tree climbers, feed primarily on frogs and crayfish and often live in hollow trees., Swamp Rabbits, large browsers (grazers), feed on the tender twigs, bark and leaves found in the swamp., Opossums, tree climbing marsupials (pouched mammals), are very adaptable animals that act as predators, scavengers or fruit eaters.