| The 1790s see a continuation of the last decade's intrigues
by Spanish officials and the leaders of the American settlements in Kentucky
, the "state" of Franklin in eastern Tennessee and what was briefly known
as the "District of Mero", named after Louisiana
Governor Miro, located on the Cumberland River in Western Tennessee. Leaders of the American West at this time included: Spanish agent and ranking U. S. Army General James Wilkinson; a young Tennessee lawyer named Andrew Jackson, pioneer James Robertson and William Bount, Governor of the new state of Tennessee. Thomas Jefferson, who already believed America's destiny was expansion to the Pacific Ocean, will resign from his post as the first Secretary of State in 1793 and will make a run for the presidency in 1796. Even the signing of Pinckney's Treaty in 1795 did not totally halt the plots and deceit over western settlements. Francisco Luis Carondelet who becomes governor of Louisiana in 1791 orders construction of a new post on the east bank of the Mississippi at Nogales in 1794 by future governor Gayoso. In 1797 alliances in Europe have again changed and the Spanish ministers are compelled to appease the Americans. The Spanish posts remaining in new American territory are abandoned and Carondelet is transfered to New Granada. Louisiana begins a period of confusion as prime minister Godoy secretly begins to negotiate the transfer of the colony to France. |