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Alright, I've been working on a project for some time and I have the *post* POD events pretty well mapped out, but my problem is that it is infuriatingly difficult finding information about Louisiana before 1803 in English. Basically, here is what my ATL is *supposed* to look like:

1803
Nov. Spanish formally hand control of Louisiana back to France.
Dec. Before the treaty signing Louisiana over to the United States can be finalized, Pierre Clement de Laussat, along with the French garrisons in Lower Louisiana, bar Americans entry into Louisiana and declare independence from France for "Napoleon's Treachery" (against his subjects--Louisiana).
1804
Jan. to April--Laussat commissions a guerrilla force to head north along the Mississippi and attack cities and fortifications along the Eastern bank of the Mississippi, going as far inland as Jackson, Mississippi at the end of the Campaign.
Jan. to March--Laussat commands the consolidation force to bring the settled portion of Louisiana under control of New Orleans.
Feb. America invades.
March-April Louisienne Army (with help from Spanish and Texan mercenaries) fend off the Americans
May Louisiana occupies Jackson Mississippi--the guerrilla fighters don the uniform of regulars and push towards Alabama, seeking to occupy all of Mississippi by June.
June America sues for peace. In accordance with the original 1803 treaty, Laussat concedes to give a portion of Louisiana to the Americans. The final demarcation is the Arkansas River to the North, the Mississippi to the East, and Texas to the West. America is granted portage rights in New Orleans to ensure that trade continues unimpeded along the Mississippi River.

--And then--

1812-1813
Louisiana fights alongside the British in the War of 1812, seeing America's protest of British taxes and the blockade of Europe as siding with Napoleon. In the process, the Americans defeat the British, but cede additional land within the original Louisiana Territory to Louisiana.

--And then--
(I forget the year) Unable to actively become involved in Texas, Louisiana becomes the dominant force ensuring Texan independence. The same year that Mexico recognizes Texan independence, the Grand Confederation of the South is formed, comprised of Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, and Florida (ceded to Louisiana instead of America in TTL.)


My problem is this:
Obviously, Louisiana must have some substantial military power, so I'm envisioning a POD before 1803 that ensures Laussat's dereliction of duty in 1803 and his seizure of power the same year. Again, Louisiana must maintain this military power to be able to at least force if not outright take concessions in 1813, which in turn would allow them to directly interfere in Texas in the 1840's.

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The only thing I can think of is that the slave revolt in Haiti ultimately fails. With Haiti still in French possession, Napoleon's ambitions in the New World are not abandoned and he would have sent garrisons to Louisiana as a result. The major issue with this is that before the Haitian revolt succeeded, Napoleon was only interested in selling New Orleans to the Americans, and then once Haiti revolted, he saw no interest in keeping Louisiana and sold the entire territory.

My solution to this is that the Haitian revolt has to be bloody. It must make Robespierre and the Reign of Terror pale by comparison, but it must ultimately fail to ensure that Napoleon seeks revenge against the Haitians and see a need for increased fortifications and garrisons in the New World. In the interim, the British have begun playing games in the Caribbean. Having already promised Louisiana a bunch of garrisons and a push to settle more of the territory, Napoleon now renigs on this and instead focuses on the Caribbean, intent on selling Louisiana to keep America out of any sort of interference. The local government, military, French garrisons, and Laussat see this as a betrayal by the "Master of Europe" in selling off part of the Empire to a "second rate power" and decide to rebel and take control for themselves.

Any thoughts?
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