The impetus to cede the French colony of Louisiana to the Spanish was the long, expensive conflict of the French and Indian War, also known as the Seven Years’ War, between France and Great Britain. Initially, France offered Louisiana to Spain in order to bring Spain into the conflict on the French side. Spain declined. Spanish officials were uncertain about what exactly constituted the vague and immense colony of Louisiana. When the “Family Compact,” a supposedly secret alliance between France and Spain, became known to the British, they attacked Spain. France offered Spain the Louisiana colony following the .

In response, Spain the offer.

At the time, Spain was uncertain about the of the Louisiana colony.

Britain later attacked Spain after learning of a possible alliance with.