The historical event that people remember most about New Orleans is the Battle of New Orleans - not the struggle you had claiming your luggage at the airport, but back in 1815 when Americans and Creoles fought side by side to repulse the British invasion.

You'd think a guy who would come all the way from Tennessee to save New Orleans from the British would have received a hero's thanks, but not so for Andrew Jackson.  This despite the fact that many of the city's fathers were debating surrender on the nights preceding the Battle of New Orleans to minimize anticipated pillage and plunder by the British.
After "Old Hickory" decisively defeated the British at Chalmette, it took several weeks before Jackson received official notice from Washington that the war was over.  To keep the city vigilant against another attack by the British who had yet to leave the area, he continued to maintain martial law and received severe criticism from state legislator Louis Louaillier  for this action. 
Jackson's response was to have Louaillier thrown in jail because such open criticism was indeed a violation of the martial law and a threat to security.  U.S. Attorney John Dick and Federal District Judge Dominick Hall released Louaillier pursuant to a writ of habeas corpus, but Jackson had them thrown in jail, too!
Finally, Jackson lifted martial law and released these prisoners, whereupon Judge Hall fined him $1,000 for contempt of court.  Jackson immediately paid the fine but he never got it back until nearly 30 years later when Congress ordered a refund with interest.