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The District of Louisiana or Louisiana District was an official United States government designation for the portion of the Louisiana Purchase which was not organized into Orleans Territory. The area above present-day Arkansas was also known as Upper Louisiana. The Louisiana District was also an administrative division under French and Spanish rule,
In legislation enacted October 31, 1803, Congress made provisions for a temporary government of the territory purchased from France. The President was authorized to use military forces to maintain order, although local civil government was to continue as it had under French and Spanish rule. This military rule was in effect from March 10, 1804 (the official date of transfer from French hands) until September 30, 1804.
On March 26, 1804, Congress enacted legislation effective October 1, 1804, on which date authority over the District of Louisiana was transferred to the Governor and judges of the Indiana Territory. In 1804, Indiana Territorial Governor William Henry Harrison and territorial judges Davis, Griffin, and Vandenberg held court in the District capital of St. Louis and enacted laws for the region.
On March 3, 1805, Congress enacted legislation organizing the District of Louisiana into the Louisiana Territory, effective July 4, 1805. This territorial government was organized similarly to that of the Indiana Territory.
See also: New France
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