Adsactly Education: Missouri River Part 2
In the first part of this post (available here) we discussed the course and flow of the Missouri River, the Geology of the drainage basin and the early history of the river.
We know that there have been people living in the Missouri drainage basin and along the banks of the river for at least 12,000 years. For most of that time they lived in relative peace, trading and cooperating with each other. The rich bounty of the river provided sustenance to millions of inhabitants.
European Contact
All that would change fairly rapidly with the first Europeans on the Continent. It would take some time for the first English led settlers to cross the Mississippi and make the earliest contact with indigenous people of the Missouri, certainly the mid 17th Century at the very earliest.
Source
The first contact and a huge impact on the people would come from the south and the Spanish who were much more active and organized than the English in North America. Coronado, the Governor of New Spain (Mexico) crossed into what would be the US in early 1540. His party fought violently with the local inhabitants killing many and enslaving many more. His most important contribution to the population of the Missouri river was horses. He lost horses during the expedition and they would change the drainage basin forever.
In less than 100 years horses would become a major part of the life and livelihood of many of the tribes in the western US. By the time the first French trappers and traders made contact with the upper Midwest natives horses were an established force for many of the tribes. Horses made buffalo hunting relatively easy and allowed vast populations to roam the plains in a relatively nomadic way, without depending on the river for food and transportation,
The history of the French and English in North America was particularly brutal in the context of the inhabitants of the continent. Superior weapons and disease that the natives had no defense for decimated the indigenous population east of the Mississippi, Many of the agrarian tribes disappeared entirely. That would change when whites first crossed the Mississippi and entered the Missouri basin.
In 1673 the first official French expedition down the Mississippi discovered the mouth of the Missouri, the first written sighting. The French would be the primary explorers of the region right up until the Americans bought the basin from France. The explorer Bourgmont was the first to travel up the Missouri (and the first to call the river by that name). His writing show that he made it to the confluence with the Platte river in 1714. He also described the ‘blond natives’ (the Mandan tribe) who certainly lived in North Dakota.
The French defeat in the French and Indian war cost France it’s holdings in Canada to the English and much of the Louisiana Territory to the Spanish, essentially ending their exploration of the Missouri. In 1795 the United States signed a treaty with Spain that detailed the use of the Mississippi river (which included access to the Missouri) which was revoked by Spain in 1798. The Spanish also secretly returned the Louisiana Territory to Napoleon which set up the purchase of the Territory by the US in 1803. The purchase of the territory doubled the size of the US.
President Jefferson was in trouble with the electorate and the Congress for spending $15 million on the purchase so he quickly formed up an expedition to follow the Missouri River all the way to the Pacific Ocean. Lewis and Clark would find out fairly early that wasn’t going to happen but they did map the Missouri all the way to the Yellowstone and continue on to the Pacific, a nearly three year trip.
The Lewis and Clark expedition proved once and for all that there was no ‘Northwest Passage’ through America. It also mapped a sizeable fraction of the Missouri basin and found flora and fauna that was just completely unknown prior to their trip.
There is no question that the North American fur trade drove the complete exploration of the Missouri. Traders, not trappers really drove the push to the west when they discovered that the natives would be happy to trade manufactured goods for furs. Mountains of furs. The traders routinely returned to civilization with tales of endless animals and land. The rush was on. It started as a bare trickle of Europeans and ended as a flood of immigrants entered the basin.
In the end, it was the flood that overwhelmed the natives in the basin. Their populations had been decimated by disease (smallpox) and the sheer number of settlers ended their free run on the western half of North America.
All the well known trails that helped settle the west started on the Missouri, which was the very edge of civilization in the early 19th Century. The California, the Oregon, the Mormon and the Santa Fe all started there. The later Pony Express started at the Missouri.
Independenc Rock, Wyoming. Photo Courtesy of the author. So named because travelers on the Oregon Trail wanted to be here by Independence Day in order to avoid the snows in the mountains ahead.
Gold. The legendary gold strike at Sutter’s Mill California populated the state and most of those people took the California Trail westward to get there. There was no Panama Canal, the sea voyage around the tip of South America was expensive and perilous. The California Trail was no bargain, but in the mid 19th Century it was the obvious alternative.
It wasn’t long and gold strikes in Montana, Colorado, Wyoming and Utah brought more people westward, and the Oregon Trail was opened. It was long and arduous but it was a significant improvement to the California Trail. Settlers by the tens of thousands headed out into the plains and inevitable conflicts with the native inhabitants.
By 1857 the conflicts had involved the US Army which led to the Fort Laramie Treaty which promised a huge hunk of the Missouri drainage to the Sioux and other northern plains tribes. By 1878 the treaty had been broken by the US and rewritten twice. The Army relentlessly pursued the ‘hostiles’ and forced them onto reservations. Even the Sacred Black Hills were taken when Gold was discovered there. There is a lawsuit involving the Sioux tribes and the US Government that is still pending and concerns the payment promised to the Sioux for the Black Hills which now involves billions of dollars.
On a very personal note, my Grandfather was born in Kansas after his father had served in the 7th Cavalry in the area. He and his wife and parents decided to head west to Oregon. They waited until my Grandfather was 2 years old and thought that he could survive the trip. He did. They were part of the last big push before the railroads really got to they plains. We will discover the impact of bridges over the Missouri and the railroads on the entire plains in the last installment of this series.
While the words and ideas in this post are strictly those of the author this source was referred to by me to insure numerical and historical accuracy.
Wikipedia: Missouri River
Unsourced Photos are used courtesy of the author.
Authored by: @bigtom13
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Once again, this was an enthralling piece of history. One thing is obvious that the natives had a very deep connection with the surrounding land and perhaps even with the river itself. It seems that for past 12000 years the human binges and the river had grown together side by side.
It is also not surprising to know about the struggle of people to gain control over the natural resources of the region. Particularly when the region is full of natural resources and rich in life. That historical development of the region is filled with conflict and yet so much of it become the wealth of the region and even a reason for its prosperity.
The last tidbit of information was bit of a surprise. The payment for the Sacred Black Hills (taken when gold was discovered there) involving the Sioux tribes........... I had no idea that there was a possibility that of this payment exists, then it might be in billions of dollars.
It has been in litigation for over 100 years. The government offered a relatively minor tribe a payment of $20 million. They never accepted the payment, the government never paid. In the early 20th century a lawsuit was filed and the Tribe (s) won. The US Government was forced to pay. The tribes (all the tribes, this time) refused the payment. The money has been earning interest at the same rate as US Treasury bills ever since. It is a significant amount today.
I do not see any of the Sioux tribes ever accepting that payment. They contend that the several Laramie treaties guarantee them the hills forever. They want the hills back.
I understand their desires. The Black Hills are among my favorite places, too.
Thanks for a wonderful comment.
I think, I can understand the need to have a part of your history and heritage back. Choosing heritage over money is a rare thing these days and I can only show respect to that attitude
This summer I went from St. Paul, MN on the Mississippi R. to Cario, Ill. were I went up the Ohio R., Tennessee River then down the TennTom Waterway to Mobile, Al. I sailed just a few days in my homemade 14 ft. sailboat (with cabin) then motored with a 4 horse. A 60 days, 1666 mile trip stopping every night and mtg. new and old friends. I am planning to build a kayak with folding akas and using a small sail besides paddling. The plan is to leave in the spring/summer of 2018. Your video has been so helpful to me to get an overview to plan for my trip. Good job.
Sounds good this trip!!
This fluvial basin should he nice.
Some guys did an espcial trip in several fluvial systems...if you can chceck it: https://steemit.com/caribbeansea/@chongobagio/what-amazing-trip
It has been a good trip, with more to come!
Wow. What an adventure! That makes my little motorcycle rides look like a day in the park! I'm really a river guy and that trip and the one you have planned makes me jealous!
Thanks for a great comment and good luck. What a journey.
I am very glad when I read this historical blog..Incredible recorded information.this story is also learnable..
History is the real phenomena.Be that as it may, the post is somewhat quiet on the exercises of the locals post contact with the Europeans. Not for anything other than rather adjust, reasonableness and equity. I always causes pleasure when I visit to your blog.. Congratulations,,Sir@adsactly for all your achievement and Continue your success..
👍👍👍
wow nice to know about this great historical heritage of north america.
btw is many civilization build in ancient besides the river?
i am waiting for part3 also
There were a couple of ancient civilizations based in the Missouri drainage. One was a very early and effective agrarian society, one was a classic hunter-gatherer type. Both flourished for a long time.
Horses are one of the oldest ways to be used as a transportation. Even today they are being used in a same way. Can you believe it with today’s transportation technology? When I travel to Pennsylvania to pass by one of the Amish city’s you can see it all over.
Exactly like that:
Great and educational article about history of Missouri River. About Bourgmont being first to travel up the Missouri and actually being the first to call the river by that name. How Missouri River was involved in a war with France against England and Spain. How eventually American army got involved. About the Lewis and Clark expedition and the way how the Missouri River was drawn on the map. I even get to read a short story about your grandfather 😆.
Ahhh. Thank you.
Horses made some of the Plains Indians into a highly mobile society. There is no question that it was a huge turning point for the Sioux and many other tribes.
I love this river..
Missouri River is the longest river in North America.Rising in the Rocky Mountains of western Montana, the Missouri flows east and south for 2,341 miles 3,767 kmbefore entering the Mississippi River north of St.
It's a great river, and so much of the history of the US is wound through it.
Great historical knowledge. However, the post is a bit silent on the activities of the natives post contact with the Europeans. Not for anything but balance, fairness and justice. In all the post is great. I love such history.
I have some prejudices in this area, and I very carefully did not want them to show through in a 'balanced article'. I may have been too careful.
Thank you!
I loved reading this story, Native Americans fought a lot for their customs that had from generations to generations, it is true what you say they had wild ways to resolve conflicts but you have to take into account where they come from and where they live, they were that way because they were in contact with the wild nature. anyway I want to congratulate you for such an implacable article. Greetings
It was their culture and their way of life. They lived and were subjugated doing it their way. For that, I admire the natives.
Thanks for a thoughtful comment.
This river has a great history @adsactly
It does! Thank you.
Missouri River workout element 2. As I said in my last blarticle, I, my spouse Carol, and some eager fly fishers who came to enroll in us on the Missouri River this beyond fall observed oddly heat climate for the season and, at the entire, grumpy trout. As I additionally said, at some stage in the ones weeks it struck me how flexible and open-minded experienced fly fishers get while the same old guidelines of fly fishing arise quick. certainly one of our techniques, which I also mentioned, have become pushing ourselves off the bed early to streamer fish the banks.
Wow. I'm an old fly fisherman, though I've never fished the Missouri I have fished a large number of the tributaries. The Firehole and the Madison are my favorites, I think.
My dad always said "There is a difference between fishing and catching fish. Both are enjoyable if done properly." I get the grumpy trout. I would still fish, too.
Thanks for your comment.
Yep Your Welcome @bigtom13
Thanks so much @bigtom13 for availing me a panoramic escapade of early life of one of the Americans Aborigenes as it affects their influence (s) by early European Colonianists.
As an African, it is nostalgic of my ancestral travails in the hands of other set of European Colonianists, but this time along the Niger Creeks in modern Nigeria.
Quite similar influences of cultural and social medlings on my Forebeers and the Arborigenes!!
But ONE difference is outstanding: while the indegenes succumbed to diseases of the Invaders along the MISSOURI River, the Opposite was the case along the Creeks of the Niger River😄😄
Thanks also goes to @adsactly who has been availing us , regularly, very creative and informative CONTENTS!! Please can @adsactly put me on a prompt WHENEVER a content is posted??? I love to read YOU whenever .
Aha! I'm glad one native population evened the score with the Europeans. I firmly believe that had Smallpox and other diseases killed as many as 6 million natives that the story in today's US would be much different. Imagine if the White settlers would have been forced to respect the land as did the Indians? It would look very different today.
Thanks for a terrific comment!
Thanks @bigtomb13!
“Wonderful, touching, and terrifying writing.
Thank you! I appreciate that.
Very good article and information. I did not know anything of this.
How rich was the america history before europenas?
However much of this gone! We lost to much knowlegde that native inhabitants had - even today you can find "original" information in some regions of America...
I think this articles help us recovery part of this information!
Thank very much for share
One thing for sure, it was as varied then as the country is now. A lot of the history has been lost, but much of it has been ignored because it wasn't written. All the tribes have histories of their regions that are interesting at the very least.
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This the history about Missouri River.This is an ancuent history but I cherished perusing this story, Native Americans battled a considerable measure for their traditions that had from ages to ages, it is genuine what you say they had wild approaches to determine clashes yet you need to consider where they originate from and where they live, they were that way since they were in contact with the wild nature.
This is really educational history.. History is always gives us teach how to forward for the present world..
At any rate I need to praise you for such an inflexible article. So,I think you always sharing this valuable learable post..
Nice story...... Great
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That's a really valuable historical post.We learn a lot from history..This history is about a gander at a guide if require be the Missouri River is a supply route some portion of the existence blood of water in the USA it goes into the most real framework.
The tar sand pipe line is in that spot!! You will transform that entire framework into rock Michigan!!! You will spill into a vital waterway framework a substance difficult to tidy up!! That muke once in the waterway you can't tidy it up, it is rock however with far more harmful things!!! This is insane as of now ever!!! Take advantage of 20billion cubic whatever found in texas!!! Ensure the substance which will permit another H2O us Canada dollar! You will make poisonous a noteworthy souce of water with this pipeline!! With a worldwide temperature alteration going insane right presently water being a substance no human progress can live without!
It must be predictable, clean, dependably source or a human advancement just implodes!!! Over night in verifiable terms nobody poof unadulterated confusion!! Have I held you hand sufficiently long here!! Do u get why obviously insurance of a Major conduit!!! Is a monstrous point of convergence in this country..That we have to begin the discussion now session how vital water willnbe getting to be a history..
I can learn a lot from your valuable historical post.
This is a copy paste job from another comment. That really irritates me. It's worth a flag.
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Where I can use these coins?
Nowhere. It’s a scam.
Don't use this post for your own promotions, please. It's a flag offense.
Yes it is the heartblood of America. I'm guessing we will get to the pipelines and such in the last part of this series. Spoiler Alert: I'm no fan.
Thanks for a great comment.