New Orleans is commonly known as the birthplace of Jazz music. Jazz music was a product of a diverse New Orleans. It encompasses influences from French, Caribbean, Spanish, African American, and Creole-individuals of mixed French  and African ancestry- cultures. New Orleans was initially a French territory. The territory was surrender to Spain in 1763 only to be returned to the French in 1803. After gaining the territory back, the French sold it in the Louisiana Purchase to the United States. The French left behind a party culture characterized by frequent festivals and the consumption of alcohol.  African slaves were exported to the area influencing the culture as well. The influx of Africans gave rise to the Congo Square, which was a safe space for enslaved Africans to showcase the sounds of their culture. Slaves were allowed to preserve their drumming and African dance in Congo Square. As time progressed, slavery was terminated, and the city of New Orleans was left with a diverse population. In New Orleans, the neighborhoods and ghettoes were not solely characterized by race, but income. This then meant that whites lived next to blacks and blacks next to creoles. This caused an intermingling of cultures, constructing  a distinct and unique culture that could only be that of New Orleans.