Louisiana (DPS)

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Federal Republic of Louisiana République fédérale de Louisiane
Flag
Motto: Ex quo terram divitiis
Anthem: They Shall Not Pass
Capital and largest city	Lafayette
Official languages	French
Ethnic groups (2015)	78% White 10% Afro-Louisianais 10% Native Louisianan 2% Other
Demonym(s)	Louisianan, Louisianais
Government	Federal parliamentary presidental Republic
Legislature	National Assembly of Louisiana
• Upper house	Senate
• Lower house	Popular Assembly
Independence
•	1 July, 1815
• Federal Republic of Louisiana	18 May, 1816
• Formal end of British control	10 June, 1835
Area
•	2,302,937.14 km2 (889,169.00 sq mi)
Population
• 2020 estimate	49,394,213
• 2010 census	45,642,134
• Density	20.57/km2 (53.3/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)	2019 estimate
• Total	$1.9 trillion
• Per capita	$40,415
Gini (2015)	33 medium
HDI (2019)	0.922 very high
Currency	Louisianan franc (LF)
Date format	dd/mm/yyyy
Driving side	right

The Federal Republic of Louisiana is a nation in central North America, and borders the United States to the east, Canada to the north, California to the west, and Mexico to the south. Louisiana consists of 18 Provinces and 1 Federal District. With a population of 47 million and a land area of 2.3 square kilometers, it has one of the lowest population densities in the world with just 20 people per square kilometer.

Louisiana has been inhabited for thousands of years by Native Louisianans. It wasn't until the 17th century when French explorers traversed the Mississippi, eventually establishing forts along the river as well as a port in modern New Orleans. Following the Seven Year's War. Louisiana became a colony of Spain in 1764, and was administered from Mexico City until it was retroceded back to France in 1801, who attempted to sell it to the United States. The Federalist government of the United States under John Adams refused, and so it was kept until the British occupied the territory in 1815 following Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo. For the next 20 years, the British kept Louisiana as a semi-independent Republic, seeing it as too much of a hassle to Anglicize the vast territory. In 1835, one year after President Lafayette's death, Louisiana became a fully independent nation, and would experience rapid population and economic growth. Today, Louisiana is considered a middle power, alongside its neighbors (except the United States). It is also a high income country, and scores high in human development.

A highly developed country, Louisiana is the 10th largest economy in the world, 20th-highest nominal income per capita, and 13th highest human development. It is part of the United Nations, NATO, the French Community, G10, G20, Organization of American States, the North American Trade Agreement (with Canada, United States, Mexico, and California), North American Union (with California and Canada), and is an observer in the Caribbean Agreement.

History

Colonial History

Louisiana had been part of New France until it’s ownership passed to Spain who administered it as part of New Spain from Mexico City. French citizens in the now British owned Canada faced expulsion and economic hardship as the British attempted to combine the newly conquered territories with their existing territory on the Eastern Seaboard. This was an attempt to Anglicize the former French Canada and deter France from attempting to retake possession of the colony. By the start of the American Revolution, the French population in the former French Canada was about 2/3rds what it had been when the British took possession, and by 1795 only about a third of the original French population remained until they were coerced into moving down to Spanish Luisiana in 1801. Each expulsion typically coincided with a major influx of British colonists, especially after the American Revolution when many loyalists escaped north to Canada, many of whom took over dwellings recently vacated by former French Canadians who moved down to Lower and Upper Louisiana (they typically settled in New Orleans or Saint Louis, or built new towns all together). Spain was eager to receive colonists into the vast, underpopulated, and economically poor performing colony, even going as far to offer Anglo-Americans places to live and fur trapping contracts. Viceroy of New Spain, Bernardo de Gálvez, helped establish the Isleños community in Louisiana, further increasing the population of the colony which by now had a population numbering 30-34,000, with most of the population residing in New Orleans with around 23,000 people with Saint Louis being a distant second with around 2,000 people.

In 1776 the Thirteen Colonies revolted against the British Crown, and Spain eventually joined the Americans and the French in the American quest for independence. Gálvez recruited a number of the Isleños to help fight the British who participated in a number of battles. In 1783 the war concluded, and Spain regained control of Florida (the American states of East and West Florida) as well as Mississippi (The Louisianan Provinces known as Haut-Mississippi and Bas-Mississippi) from the British. The Spanish would send a number of colonists to settle in Louisiana, particularly from the Canaries and Galicia, in attempts to increase the population of Upper Louisiana. A number of French colonists were also settled in Saint Louis during this period as well, and by 1790 the city had a population of around 5,000 (around 1,200 Spanish, 2,000 French, 150 Free People of Color, and the rest being slaves) while the total population sat at around 40,000 people. This was dwarfed by the enormous population of New Spain and the now independent United States who had around 3 million people.

A number of refugees made their way from France to the new world as the Revolution began to heat up. Many first went to Saint-Domingue until that colony too was thrust into Revolution as the slaves revolted. As such, a large number of white French settlers found themselves on their way to Louisiana. It is unknown how many settlers fled, but they brought with them slaves who would greatly increase the African presence of New Orleans (as well as the French speaking, Free, and Mulatto population of the city). It wouldn’t be until 1804 when Haiti gained her independence.

Napoleonic Louisiana

In 1800, Napoleon Bonaparte entered talks with Spain to regain control of Louisiana for France. This was achieved in the Third Treaty of Ildefonso in 1801, and the French Tricolor was raised over New Orleans in November that year. Napoleon had hoped to use it as a staging ground to retake Saint-Domingue, but by 1804 this plan lost steam as the Revolters and the French concluded the war and Haiti became an independent nation (the second nation to do so in the New World). With no reason to keep the territory (as it was still underpopulated, albeit mostly self-sufficient with around 50,000 people), Napoleon attempted to sell it to the United States. President John Adams rejected the proposal on the grounds that it would violate the Constitution, not to mention the lack of support from Congress in taking over a territory with little Anglo and Protestant population. And Spain, unwilling to take it back, left Napoleon with the colony for the rest of the Napoleonic Wars. This period is marked with little other than attempts to increase the population with skilled Bourgeoisie workers rather than rich-future plantation owners as well as those escaping France from the wars which had already ravaged the Continent for more than a decade. In 1803, the first group of Irish Catholic settlers settled in New Orleans after the 1803 Irish Rebellion failed. A group of around 150, led by James Hope, established the first Irish community in Louisiana, which would later constitute a large minority in the future Republic.

In 1814, Napoleon was exiled for the first time. However, he would later escape Elba, raise an army and retake control of France. The Bourbons had been left with Louisiana, but the British would occupy the colony in April 1815. Napoleon would be defeated at Waterloo in June, however the British kept control of Louisiana.

British Protectorate

Many of the settlers were weary of their new British overlords, and rightfully so as many were descendants of those that had been removed from Canada. But, rather than seize control as full colonial overlords, the British Crown set up Louisiana as the semi-independent Crown Protectorate of Louisiana. The British made no serious effort to send Britons to the colony, however a number of Scottish and Irish settlers came to New Orleans and Saint Louis, as well as a number of small towns up and down the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers.

The Crown Protectorate was short lived, and in 1816 the British allowed for the formation of the Federal Republic, who then invited Marquis de Lafayette to become president. Upset with the autocratic nature of the new Bourbon king, he accepted. In 1817, the Constitution was ratified. A provision of this new Constitution was the establishment of a new capital to the center of the country to help the population of the less populated north and attract business there. A location had been spotted when explorers Lewis and Clark, who had been hired by the Colonial Government in 1803 to explore the Missouri River, established a small camp at the confluence of the Kansas and Missouri Rivers, stating it would make a good location for a fort. It was decided to build the capital on the south bank of the Missouri, as it was best protected by the tall River Bluffs. Construction began in 1819 and by 1827 the capital was moved from New Orleans to the new city of Bourgmont (later renamed Lafayette in 1834 following his death). In 1828, US Troops and Louisianan troops skirmished in the contested Mississippi Region (modern day Haut and Bas-Mississippi). Several skirmishes in what would be known as the Mississippi War took place between 1828 and 1829 until the British stepped in and forced the Americans to recognize Louisianan control over the region in exchange for Aroostook Region in what is now Northern Maine as well as the threat of another invasion.

With its newfound semi-independence, Louisiana found itself a prime destination for immigrants, especially Catholic immigrants. Large waves of German and Irish immigrants came over- roughly 500,000 Germans came over between 1820 and 1870, primarily from Southern Germany. Large groups of French immigrants came over as well. Most German-Louisianans integrated into the Francophone society, with many learning French. Most second generation Germans were not very culturally distinct from their Francophone counterparts. However, the German-Louisians retain a number of their own holidays and traditions, such as Oktoberfest. The Irish came over, mainly to escape the Protestant rule of the British. The Irish-Louisianan Passage Organization (Organisation de passage irlandais-louisianais) helped some 40,000 immigrants come over before the Great Famine, after which some 1 million Irish immigrants would arrive between 1850 and 1900. Another source of immigration came from Native Americans leaving the United States for the more friendly Louisiana. Approximately 60,000 native Americans left or were forcibly removed from their Tribal Homeland between 1830 and 1850, and many settled in Louisiana.

The Marquis de Lafayette had ruled Louisiana from its independence in 1815 until his death in 1834. In his last year, he petitioned the British to relinquish the Republic from being a Protectorate, which was initially rebuffed but after further protest, the British allowed Louisiana to part ways with the Empire in 1835. President Lafayette would not live to see this, however, as he died in May 1834. By the time of his death, the population had grown to almost 2 million from the 115,000 and the nation had built a new capital. André Roman took over as President after Lafayette. A young politician, he was 40 when he took over and would oversee the transition into a fully independent nation. He would remain president until 1845, but would dominate politics in the country until his death in 1866.

Epoch Initiale (1835-1870)

The British formally relinquished their control over the country on 10 June, 1835 (now known as Republic Day). During the British administration, the Republic was divided into 4 Provinces (Basse-Louisiane, Haute-Louisiane, Arcansas, and Nouvelle-Occitanie) with everything north and west of the modern Haute-Louisiane being Territoire Federale controlled from the capital (later administered from Vieufort), which itself was on the fringes of settled Louisiane. During this Epoch Initiale, many new provinces were added or split off from existing ones. Nouvelle-Occitanie was split in 1840 between Nouvelle Occitanie du Sud, Nouvelle Occitanie du Nord, Padoucas, and Choutou, and Haute-Louisiane would see Missouri, Osage, and Cansez split off in 1843 and its capital relocated to Fort Des Moines (renamed Des Moines in 1847). The first province to be added from the Territoire Federale was Santee in 1850, followed by Panis (named after the Pawnee tribe) in 1863. Following the admission of Panis, the modern day Province of Moniteau was split off from the all encompassing Territoire Federal and made into the Territoire Moniteau, it would later be admitted as a province in 1870. The remaining land was organized as the Territoire du Nord and administered from La Salle (now the capital of Dacota). Dacota, Chauchône, and Assiniboine would become provinces in 1879, 1886, and 1893 respectively.

Large scale land reform under Roman helped limit sharecropping by promoting black land ownership (slavery had been abolished in 1825). The admission of new states necessitated the need for governmental reform in the form of the new National Assembly. This National Assembly was divided between two houses: the Popular Assembly and the Senate. Seats in the Popular Assembly were based on Provincial population while the Senate was made up of 3 seats per province (today that number is 57 plus a further 25 delegates from each tribe for a total of 82). This reform was enacted in 1859, replacing the old British style system wherein the wealthy landowners made up the Upper House while the provinces sent delegates to the Common House. This reform also introduced the Ranked-Choice system of voting for all delegates as to avoid a two party system like one that formed in the neighboring US.

Industrialization occurred in the early 19th century in the Second French Administration when a mill was opened up near Saint Louis in 1810. More mills and factories were opened up along the rivers in the country in the South Central area (modern Osage, Missouri, and Arcansas) where cotton was transported and turned into textiles. By 1835, Louisiana was one of the premier textile manufacturers in the world. Many Afro-Louisianais found work in these factories, and this started the Great Migration of Afro-Louisianais north. Mass industrialization continued well into the twentieth century. Guns and weaponry began to be produced en masse in the 1860s, particularly by Manufacture Nationale d'Armes (MNA) based out of Lafayette. Some of the first Gatling Guns were produced by MNA in the 1860s as well. In 1826, the SS Feu made the first crossing from New Orleans to Brest, France to become the first steam ship from Louisiana to cross the Atlantic.

The population of Louisiana continued to swell with immigrants, particularly from Catholic nations, as it was a far more favorable nation to Catholics compared to the more populous but very Protestant United States next door. By 1860, the population reached 3.5 million, with New Orleans still leading the way with more than 540,000 residents, followed by Saint Louis at 273,000. The capital had also seen substantial growth, and sat at the fourth largest city with just over 100,000 people. The European wars, such as the Risorgimento in Italy and the wars in the German states brought over many immigrants. By 1900, Louisiana had some of the largest German, Irish, and Italian diasporas who together accounted for half the population, either as first or second generation immigrants. These, and other groups, formed their own communities, especially the Italians.

The political landscape of the later part of the Epoch Initiale was dominated by the socially liberal Parti Libéral, the party founded by Marquis de Lafayette in 1829. The party is still a main party in Louisiana today, and is one of the oldest operating political parties still in existence. The Parti National faced off against the Parti Libéral in elections from 1834-1910 as the main conservative counterpart. The Parti Radical entered the fray in the late 1850s, as a more leftist party. But it remained small until the 1880s.

In 1860, upheaval over slavery caused the US states of East Florida, West Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina to proclaim their independence. Louisiana was initially neutral until the Confederate States laid claim to Haut and Bas-Mississippi and began a military incursion into them in 1862. The Confederates captured Prudhomme in August 1862, but were mostly driven out of the Mississippis by August the next year, with General Beauregard seizing Mobile in September 1863. Louisiana would occupy much of Alabama and Tennessee from 1863-1864 when the war concluded in February of that year. This would be the first major conflict troops of the Republic would partake in, and they proved to be staunch fighters. Occupation forces from Louisiana were allowed to keep troops in Mobile for another year before leaving and handing full control back to the United States (who was led by President Seward).

Epoch Exceptionnelle (1871-1913)

Louisiana entered what is called the Epoque Exceptionelle with the election of Pierre Murphy-Riboux as President, the first Irish-Louisianan elected president as well as the first President from the Parti Radical elected. Elected on a pledge to expand welfare and healthcare, he is credited with laying the foundation for the modern Louisiane healthcare system, which would be expanded in 1904 when healthcare as a whole was nationalized under the direction of Adolphe Hurwitz (President 1900-1910). President Murphy was aided with control of the National Assembly, which the Parti Radical would control with a supermajority until the following election.

Much of the Epoque Exceptionnelle is marked by industrial and population growth and the fight between the three major parties for control of the nation. Due to its good relations with the natives, Louisiana would see little action in the Indian Wars fought first by the United States and then mostly by Canada by the 1880s. As such, the Military would not see much action from the American Civil War until the Régiments de volontaires louisianais (RVL) in the First World War, and even then that was not an official military action by the government.

At the Turn of the Century, Louisiana entered the new century with a population totaling nearly 9 million, most of the growth then being in Saint Louis, Lafayette, Sainte Valérie, Des Moines, and Vieufort. Growth in New Orleans had slowed, as the natural limitations of the city and weather discouraged movement of people and industry to the city. At this point, it was still the largest city, however. The first aviation company was founded in Lafayette in 1907 by Sébastien Mercier, which today remains one of the premier aviation companies in Louisiana alongside McDonnell based in Saint Louis.

In 1876, the Centralist Republic of Mexico erupted into civil war when the province of Alta California revolted against the military dictator in Mexico City. California had around 2.5 million people, and had a substantial Louisianan and British immigrant population, who by this time accounted for 60% of the population. Aided by Louisiana and British Canadian forces, achieved independence in 1877. With this, Mexico lost nearly a third of its territory, and entered a decade of political and military upheaval. It wouldn’t subside until Porfirio Díaz assumed power in 1885 that tensions between the Mexican government, the military, and various armed groups were put to rest.

Much of the rest of the Epoch Exceptionelle was characterized by economic and population growth. Louisiana shied away from most international politics, preferring to stick to a Continentale strategy focused on increasing Louisianan influence in the Americas, such as aiding the United States in its war with Spain (1899-1901). However, in 1905, Louisiana signed the Gustavia Accord with France wherein both nations increased trade ties, rekindling a long dormant relationship with her former colonizer.

World Wars

When the First World War kicked off in 1914, Louisiana remained on the sidelines. With its small army and navy, it was in no position to fight, and most in the government saw no reason to join a conflict half a world away. However, a provision of the Gustavia Agreement with France signed a decade earlier provided the provision that neither party should trade with the enemy of the other: in this case Louisiana could not trade with the Central Powers. When Germany announced unrestricted submarine warfare in 1915, Louisianan ships suddenly found themselves a target. As such, the first conscription laws were passed that year and production of war material was ramped up through 1916. When the small liner SS Frontenac was sunk on 19 September, 1916, Louisiana declared war on Germany and subsequently found themselves embroiled in the bloody conflict they had tried to avoid. The first Louisianan troops arrived in France in mid-October that year, in total around 100,000 Louisianans would fight in the war.

The 1920s would prove prosperous. New waves of immigrants fleeing Europe both during and after the War helped bolster economic growth. While Louisiana had approximately 9 million people in 1900, this would climb to around 13 million by 1920 and 17 million by the start of the Second World War. GDP growth remained high after the war, however the Great Depression would set in by 1930 in Louisiana, as it was a major trade partner with the United States. The modern welfare state was created in response to the Great Depression, as spearheaded by Prime Minister Jacques-Marie MacLeod in 1933.

As with World War 1, Louisiana opted to maintain neutrality when Germany invaded Poland in 1939. However, as the US entered the war after Germany fired upon San Juan in December 1941, Louisiana found itself in the grasp of the Western Allies once again. The United States, who was already pressuring the Empire of Brazil to join, began doing the same. When the Germans sank 3 Louisianan ships between August and September 1942, Louisiana one again declared war on Germany. In all, nearly 1 million Louisianans would serve between 1942 and 1945 and some 55,000 were killed and a further 62,000 wounded. Troops would participate in important engagements such as the Invasion of Italy, Normandy Landings, and would help liberate the Netherlands alongside Canada. The War would reinvigorate the Louisianan economy, as war material provided much needed work for the thousands who had become unemployed due to the ongoing depression. Louisiana would come out of the war with a robust war economy, become a center for Military R&D, and a large, experienced military.

Contemporary History

The post war economic boom saw the average wealth of Louisianans increase dramatically. Louisiana also became a player in international politics, as it became a founding member of NATO and the United Nations. François Blanchet (President 1955-1970) further instituted social democratic reforms, introducing Medicare, a national pension, and universally free post-secondary education. President Blanchet, while supporting the general Western ethos of Democracy, universally condemned US actions in South America, particularly when it came to regime change, even going so far as to warn the Brazilian government of a potential US-backed coup in 1962 which soured relations and caused both to break off diplomatic relations until 1966.

While rights for Afro-Louisianois were generally much better than those of their African American counterparts, lingering tensions culminated in 1949 when Louis d'Armagnac was killed by two white teenagers in West New Orleans. This led to the 1950 Reforms, wherein equal rights were constitutionally confirmed. The 1950s and 1960s also saw calls for more rights for the Native Louisianan Reservations as well as calls for more autonomy for the Reservations. These were both granted in the Native Act of 1968, and the reservations were allowed more autonomy in their own, internal dealings and were granted to send one representative each to the Senate.

Louisiana continued to encourage immigration from Europe, as well as Asia and Africa beginning in the 1960s and 70s. Louisiana would surpass 40 million people in 2000, and is expected to pass 50 million by 2022. The large scale post-war economic boom ended in the 1970s with the oil crisis, however GDP growth picked up during the 1980s and remained high until the 1996 Recession. By 2006, the total GDP surpassed $1 Trillion for the first time, and would continue to grow despite the 2008 Recession. With the cooling of relations between the West and Eastern Blocs, Louisiana formally normalized relations with the Soviet Union in 2010, but still focuses on relations with neighboring nations in the Americas and has recently focused on furthering relationships in South America.

Geography

Mount Favreau. At 4,401 meters it is the highest mountain in Louisiana and 27th tallest in North America

At 2,302,937.14, Louisiana is the 8th largest country by land area in the world. Due to its size, the climate of Louisiana varies greatly, with humid subtropical climate covering much of the southern areas, the Rocky Mountains in the West, and the Great Plains in the Central West. Of the 18 Provinces and 1 Federal District, only 3 (Nouvelle Occitanie du Sud, Basse Louisiane, and Bas Mississippi) have coastal access. 12 Provinces also share a border with a neighboring nations (Canada, United States, California, or Mexico), whole the remaining 6 only border other provinces.

A swamp in Bas-Mississippi

Louisiana has a relatively short coastline (the shortest in North America), however it contains the important port cities of New Orleans and Sainte Valerie. It's entire coastline is on the Gulf of Mexico, and as such is susceptible to hurricanes. Southern Louisiana is characterized by its hot, humid summers and mild winters. The Provinces of Haute-Louisiane, Nouvelle Occitanie du Sud, Nouvelle Occitanie du Nord, Haut-Mississippi, Bas-Mississippi, and Chouteau are generally considered to be the southern Provinces.

The Central Provinces of Missouri, Osage, Lafayette, Padoucas, Cansez, and Moniteau contain the Louisiana Plains and are considered to be the southern part of the "Louisiana Breadbasket". They also contain part of the Louisiana Rocky Mountains, including the highest summit, Mount Favreau. The Central Provinces are warm and humid in the south (especially south of the Missouri River), and get colder in the north. Weather patterns can vary and be volatile, especially in the summer months. This region also contains "Tornado Alley"; Tornado season lasts from mid-March through late-June.

The Northern Provinces of Panis, Haute-Louisiane, Santée, Dacota, Chauchône, and Assiniboine are the coldest and driest provinces. In the East, the area is relatively flat and used for farming. However the Western areas are characterized by the Rocky Mountains.

Economy

Transport

The Federal Autoroute System (Système d'autoroute fédérale) was built between 1955-1989

The LGV opened its first route between Lafayette and Saint Louis in 1987. Today some 15 million people use it annually.

Transportation in Louisiana is dominated by the automobile and rail. The Federal Autoroute System, built between 1955 and 1989, is very extensive, connecting every major Louisianan city with connections to neighboring highway systems in Mexico, Canada, California, and the United States. Since the 1980s, automobile ownership has increased dramatically from around 250 vehicles per 1000 residents to 603 vehicles per 1000 residents. Louisiana does not have a domestic automobile manufacturer, however several companies have plants in various cities. The main companies include Peugeot, Toyota, Ford, Chevrolet, and Renault.

Passenger rail usage remains high, especially since the LGV opened in 1987. Louisiana was one of the early adopters of high speed rail, having begun studies in 1975. The first line opened between Lafayette and Saint Louis in 1987 using TGVs built by Alstom of France in the Beaulieu-sur-Missouri suburb of Lafayette, the main hub of the LGV network. Normal railways remain extensive as well, connecting major cities and most towns via Federal Railways (Chemins de fer fédéraux, or CF). The rail network in Louisiana is one of the most extensive in North America.

From 1924 to 1994, the air transport market in Louisiana was government owned, with Saribal (Service aérien de la Basse-Louisiane) being the only major airline operating. Several smaller, more local airlines existed, but Saribal was the only one allowed to operate to airports outside of Louisiana. In 1994, the government decided to sell most of its shares in Saribal to private investors in light of government reform of the air market. With the 1994 reform the smaller airlines were allowed to expand, and some like Air Lousisiane, Southeast Airlines, and Gulf Coast Air to expand. The largest airport in Louisiana is Marquis de Lafayette International in Lafayette, where approximately 55 million people passed through it in 2018. New Orleans International Airport, New Montreal-Perrot International Airport, and Sainte-Valerie Airport are also major hubs and have flights to many international destinations.

Demographics

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1900	9,035,746	—
1910	11,762,234	+2.67%
1920	13,652,513	+1.50%
1930	15,453,485	+1.25%
1940	17,504,234	+1.25%
1950	19,342,432	+1.00%
1960	23,621,954	+2.02%
1970	28,934,234	+2.05%
1980	33,134,361	+1.36%
1990	37,438,123	+1.23%
2000	41,137,849	+0.95%
2010	45,642,134	+1.04%
2020	49,394,213	+0.79%

Culture

Symbols

Louisiana's symbols often relate to the natural geography, history, and indigenous peoples. The Fleur de Lis is an internationally recognized symbol of Louisiana, despite its disuse in France, as many of Louisiana's original immigrants came during the time of the Ancien Regieme of France. The American Bison has been the national animal of Louisiana since 1908 when conservation efforts to save the once ubiquitous animal began en force with support from the National Assembly. Soccer and Basketball are the two nationally recognized sport, and often considered the main national sports of Louisiana. The Flowering Dogwood has been the national tree since 1927, and the Western meadowlark has been the national bird since 1930. Some material items have become national symbols as well, such as the Louisianan Pretzel, Louisianan beer, Gumbo (the national dish), and Jambalaya. Many of these symbols can be seen on Louisianan coins and bills.

Food

Cuisine is perhaps the major hallmark of Louisianan culture, and most Louisianans pride themselves on the national cuisine. There are several distinct national cuisines, depending on the region. The south is home to many of the more famous national dishes such as Gumbo and Jambalaya. Southern Louisiana is characterized by its use of seafood, and by its Creole-style cooking. Crawfish boils are common, especially in the summer. Popular dessert dishes include Bananas Foster and Beignets (which can also be served at breakfast). The Central Provinces are known for their more German, Italian, and Irish influences. Pretzels and sausages were popularized in the mid 1800s in Saint Louis, as were toasted raviolis. Gooey butter cake, often considered a national dish, was also invented in Saint Louis. Lafayette is home to the largest number of barbeque restaurants per capita in Louisiana, and remains the largest meat producing city in the nation.