History LEAP Review

Louisiana Explorers Marquette and Joliet LaSalle Hernando DeSoto: Lewis and Clark Bienville Iberville Henry Miller Shreve

Hernando De Soto 1539 Set out from Havana, Cuba to expore the southern part of what is today the USA De Soto and approximately 600 men landed in Florida to search for gold. They wandered across the southeastern United States and treated Indians brutally as they hunted for riches.

De Soto discovered the Mississippi River, crossed into Arkansas, discovered Hot Springs, and then traveled down the Ouachita River. De Soto died from fever in southeast Arkansas. Few of his men survived, and they had no gold or riches. Europeans did not send another expedition for over 100 years

Marquette, Joliet, and others set out to explore the river. Paddled down the river in birchbark canoes Went as far as the Arkansas River where they heard it would be too dangerous to go any further Turned around

La Salle Rene Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle dreamed of finding a water route to China Lieutenant Henri de Tonti Set out from Canada with Tonti, soldiers, priests, and Indians with their families Entered the Miss. River in early Feb. 1682

Louisiane They traveled from Canada to the Gulf in two months. April 9, 1682 found the mouth of the river La Salle declared that France owned the land drained by the Mississippi River and said it would be known thereafter as Louisiane, which means “Louis’s land.”

A. Iberville Comes to Louisiane French Minister Pontchartrain chose Sieur de Iberville to lead the expedition. Iberville and his brother, Bienville, arrived in the Gulf of Mexico and anchored at Ship Island near present day Miss.

B. Finding the Mississippi Iberville and Bienville explored the mainland and met the Biloxi Indians. They searched for and found the Mississippi River on March 3—Mardi Gras Day!

Fort Maurepas Built near present-day Biloxi Insufficient food and supplies Afraid of attack from the Chickasaw who were allies of the British

Baton Rouge and Pontchartrain Iberville and a group of Indian guides who were helping him found a red pole sticking out of the ground. Iberville called the area Baton Rouge, or “red stick.” Iberville and his guides also found a shortcut to the Gulf and the largest lake he had ever seen. Iberville named the lake Pontchartrain after his superior, Count Pontchartrain. Iberville named the smaller lake after his son, Count Maurepas, Twice, Iberville had to return to France for supplies.

Bienville: English Turn Bienville entered the Mississippi River and spotted a large English ship anchored in the river. Bienville told the ship’s officers that it was too late to start a colony because France had already established one. He also told the English that they were in danger because French troops were nearby. Bienville claimed the French would attack if they did not leave. The English turned the ship around and left. This is how that section of the river became known as English Turn.

A New Governor In 1702, Iberville left Europe He died in Havana, Cuba of Yellow Fever in 1706. GLEs: 64, 66, 72, 73, 74, 76, 78, 80, 81

Bienville Takes Charge In 1701, Iberville’s younger brother, Bienville, became governor at age 22. Colony was weak Obtained food from St. Domingue and Spanish Pensacola

New Orleans In 1718, Bienville and the king’s engineers designed and laid out the city of New Orleans They had to chop their way through river cane as large as their legs while watching for alligators

Henry Miller Shreve Designed steamboats able to float in shallow water His snag boats were used to clear logs and stumps from the Red River. These inventions improved navigation and trade and helped open new areas to settlement. Shreveport named for him

Lewis and Clark Jefferson sent Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to explore the new territory even before the Louisiana Purchase was complete. Goal: To find the Northwest Passage; water route to the Pacific Ocean

Other Objectives Determine boundaries of the Louisiana Purchase Map out a route West Record and take specimens of new animal and plant species Learn about the Indian tribes along the route Study their languages, customs, and hunting practices Arrange for chiefs to visit Washington

Corps of Discovery Selected 26 men for the Corps of Discovery Some good woodsmen, some had experience with boats, and others were blacksmiths or carpenters; two were French-Indian traders and could speak Indian languages; they had experience on the Missouri Lewis and Clark left St. Louis in the spring of 1804. Along the way they kept a journal of valuable information on people, plants, animals, and geography of the West.

Oct. 25, 1804: 4,000 people of the Mandan and Hidatsa tribes lived Expedition built a winter camp naming it Fort Mandan Nov. 4, 1804: French trader Toussaint Charbonneau and wife Sacagawea join expedition Sacagawea was captured by the Hidatsa when she was 12 Lived with them for years on the plains Sacagawea was pregnant Feb. 11, 1805: Sacagawea gave birth to Jean Baptiste "Pomp" Charbonneau Lewis helped in the difficult delivery

Lewis and Clark left St. Louis in the spring of 1804. Along the way they kept a journal of valuable information on people, plants, animals, and geography of the West. After traveling nearly 4,000 miles in 18 months, they reached the Pacific Ocean. They spent the winter there and traveled back along different routes.

August 14, 1806> The Corps returns to the Mandan and Hidasta villages and said goodbye to Sacagawea and Pomp September 23, 1806> The Corps is back in St. Louis The men were honored by the Congress with rewards of land and money York was not rewarded; Clark gave him his freedom after ten years