Episodes Located: ORLEANS, Louisiana in the 1850's

  1. Suspected Stolen
    date February 25, 1857 to 1857map ORLEANS, Louisianatags African-Americans, Race-Relations

    Behind bars, Aaron, a free black man, was trying to figure out the contacts he could reach that would help to confirm his freedom. Was there any way he could reach his wife, other relatives, or his previous owner? Aaron was turned in to the authorities on February 25, 1857 by a white man, G.W. Mormon, suspected of being stolen from Alabama.

    The dispute between black and white authority frequently...

  2. Terrible Storm in Louisiana Kills Hundreds
    date August 10, 1856 to August 12, 1856map ORLEANS, Louisianatags Health/Death

    Last Island, Louisiana was a popular vacation spot for wealthy families in the nineteenth century. The island, located in the Gulf of Mexico, served as an ideal summer getaway because of its full exposure to southern breezes and desirable climate. Last Island was relatively small, measuring twenty five miles long and three fourths of a mile wide. The island's attractive qualities, namely its...

  3. Reward
    date November 21, 1855map ORLEANS, Louisianatags African-Americans, Law, Race-Relations, Slavery

    Be on the look out for a runaway slave. Wednesday morning, November 21, 1855 found Patrick finnegan, a slave owner, in a dismal mood. His slave, Edmund, became one of the many attempted runaways across the country. If only he could make it across the border line, Edmund would find himself a safe haven to live out the rest of his life.

    Edmund was described as a 5 feet high, stout built and...

  4. Meeting of the Board of Alderman
    date October 14, 1856map ORLEANS, Louisianatags Slavery

    On October 14, 1856 the Board of Alderman held a city council meeting to discuss the climate in the city of New Orleans. In the meeting, the Mayor advocated for the increase of the police force by more than one hundred men. The call for an increased police force stemmed from his desire to protect “the persons and property of our citizens (Daily Picayune, Oct 14, pg. 4).' In other words,...

  5. Technological Progress in Louisiana
    date 1853map ORLEANS, Louisianatags Economy, Government, Migration/Transportation, Urban-Life/Boosterism

    New Orleans' geographical location made it a prime final destination for all sorts of shipable goods. The city had become one of the premier metropolises of not only the state but also the entire South, thanks to the convergence of the Mississippi with the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Despite the abundance of water routes, the need for other methods of transportation grew along with the city. Far...

  6. The Daily Picayune reaches out for Support from its Readers
    date November 7, 1856map ORLEANS, Louisianatags Migration/Transportation, Slavery

    In June of 1856, the Pro Slavery Party of the Kansas Territory elected the city of New Orleans to manage the affairs of the party. This entailed disbursing funds to aid the cause and keeping their foreign friends abreast of current situations in the territory. The slavery advocates in Kansas were presumably too wrapped up in fighting abolitionists and Free Soilers to concern themselves with running...

  7. Yellow Fever Epidemic in Louisiana
    date May 25, 1853 to October 13, 1853map ORLEANS, Louisianatags Church/Religious-Activity, Health/Death, Economy, Slavery

    The yellow fever epidemic of Louisiana was especially deadly, arriving earlier than usual at the end of May and persisting until mid-October. At the time of the epidemic, little was known about the transmission, prevention, nature, and treatment of the disease. Among physicians as well as among the general population, there was much debate and confusion regarding yellow fever. In an effort to prevent...

  8. Economic Sociology of Enslavement
    date 1854map ORLEANS, Louisianatags Economy, Race-Relations, Slavery

    Henry Hughes published Treatise on Sociology: Theoretical and Practical at the age of 25 while living in New Orleans. His book argued that slavery was such a positive influence on dealings between masters and slaves that it should govern social relations throughout the United States, not just the South. African-Americans were not slaves, but rather warrantees. Hughes wrote: Property in men, is...

  9. Widespread and Acute Forebodings of Possible Slave Rebellions
    date January, 1857 to February, 1857map ORLEANS, Louisianatags Crime/Violence, Slavery

    A New Orleans newspaper editor published news of “slave disturbances' throughout the South. The Times Picayune of New Orleans, Louisiana reported, “the increased discontents have as often shown that a remedy has not been reached;it is not to be disguised that violent offenses, breaches of the peace, and homicides have multiplied, especially of late;' Other reports from various newspapers,...

  10. Cholera Epidemic in New Orleans
    date November 29, 1853 to December 2, 1853map ORLEANS, Louisianatags African-Americans, Health/Death, Education, Urban-Life/Boosterism

    New Orleans was hit very hard by infectious disease in 1853. Not only did the city have to contend with an outbreak of yellow fever, but cholera broke out as well. Most likely, the appalling sanitation system in New Orleans contributed to it. While cholera only took the lives of 129 people in late 1853 (as opposed to the near 8,000 who died from yellow fever) it still caused serious alarm. Most...

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