Or one of my favorites, aaron burr breaks off louisiana from the United States along with significant Mexican territory and forms the Kingdom of Burrtonia
That was actually part of his grand plan, at least allegedly. I think I just may post this in another thread, as I like the idea.Never heard of that one.
If Jefferson doesn't purchase Louisiana, or if Congress refutes it, you could have it developing independence during the *Napoleonic Wars.
My Better than One TL has Louisiana becoming the Kingdom of France during the Alt-Napoleonic Wars (as Portugal and Brazil did IOTL), and the King takes up residence in New Orleans as of 1815.
My first thought was much like your first thought. Perhaps some Bonapartian folks move to the area after the fall of the Empire. They rebel at a later date and France proper is too weak or even not allowed to intervene. The US supports the venture and the British take no action or what they do is too limited to make a difference. With the US reluctant and no unable to expand coast to coast the new Louisiana Republic takes up the idea and goes Gulf to Coast gaining power along the way at the expense of Mexico. The relationships such a thing creates with France, Mexico, Britain, USA, and Canada eventually are quite interesting. Have to work on some maps.
As for the King coming over ... seems there isn't much incentive for him to cross the pond before the land is up for sale. Probably could accomplish a lot more staying closer to Europe.
My first idea for a POD would be to have no Seignurial System in New France by Louis XIII which would encourage the Huguenots to flee and settle in the New World.
I was personally hoping for something to happen before the American Revolution
I don't see where there are any real answers to the question of population, at least in the northern portions of Louisiana.
I was personally hoping for something to happen before the American Revolution
Or one of my favorites, aaron burr breaks off louisiana from the United States along with significant Mexican territory and forms the Kingdom of Burrtonia
predating the ARW is much preferred, and my rough idea does have the ARW failing with some interesting long term results.
For the record, when the 7 Years War broke out, there were only 70,000 Frenchmen in all of New France, from Quebec to Idaho and New Orleans.
There were over a million English settlers along the East Coast.
And I believe Canada held 60,000-65,000 of those settlers, which ought give an idea on Louisiana's population of the time.