Protestantism

The protestant religion is branch of Christianity that was implemented into the New
Orleans/Louisiana culture after the Louisiana Purchase, with the first Protestant church being opened
in New Orleans in 1805.  Although Louisiana’s main religion remains Catholic, the Protestantism
comes in second.  The Protestant religion started off very small, with public expression of their faith deemed illegal.

Protestant section sign in the cemetery

With New Orleans being heavily religious they allowed a variety of individuals to be buried within their catholic cemetery, including slaves, and even a section for non-catholics.  The Protestant section of the cemetery was in the back of the cemetery and was between the wall vaults and brick walls.  This section was much smaller than the rest of the cemetery and located at the back, with a noticeable difference.  The area contained a sizable difference, showing just how much smaller the protestant religion was in New Orleans during this time. The ground was grass instead of concrete, and it laid between the wall vaults and surrounding brick walls.

Protestant grave

After Louisiana became a U.S. territory, the core of their ways started to alter. There was work being done to "Americanize" Louisiana/New Orleans, which included transforming their religion. Back when Louisiana's core was French, the protestant religion had many restrictions.  The incorporation of Protestantism into New Orleans  was problematic at first, but began increasing and influencing Louisiana more and more.  Protestantism has had many influences on New Orleans, such as, Caucasian race, abolition, spirituality, etc.  Overall the Protestant religion, although not an original core aspect of New Orleans, is a large base as to what shaped Louisiana into conform with the rest of the United States.

Louisiana Purchase 1803

Information Provided by: Alyvia Schneider

References

Bilinsky, S. (2011). Creating New Orleans: race, religion, rhetoric, and the Louisiana Purchase.

Teaching History.org, home of the National History Education Clearinghouse. (n.d.). Retrieved

            December 30, 2017, from http://www.teachinghistory.org/history-content/ask-a-

            historian/23448