The Mississippi River, sometimes known as the Great River, plays a significant role in the culture and history of the United States. It runs through ten states, starting from its source in Minnesota, to its outlet at the Gulf of Mexico. It is not just a source of fresh water and transportation, but also the subject of a long-standing debate: Does it separate the east from the west?
The vital importance of the Mississippi to the founding of America and its development as a nation is unquestionable. It was used to transport goods, people, and ideas throughout the vast continent, contributing to the early economic development of the region. After the invention of the steamboat in 1807, the river quickly became the main avenue for trade, making off-shore shipping profitable and giving people a sense of what the expanding nation was really like. Many people who live along its banks rely on it for their income and make it an integral part of their lives.
At a geopolitical level, however, the mighty river has long been the object of contention. Bandied about in books, movies, and television series, the Mississippi has come to represent both the boundary between the east and west and the idea of unity in a divided nation. While it isn’t a physical boundary, like the Rockies or the Appalachian, experts say it often serves as an important political dividing line that, due to its size and scope, has become a sort of symbol of regional identity.
Evidence suggests that the idea of the Mississippi River as an invisible line between east and west first emerged in the early 19th century and has remained influential ever since. The river continues to influence the US’s political, economic and cultural landscape. Its lush topography and unpredictable weather create an atmosphere of adventure, which has been a source of creative inspiration for generations. As such, the Mississippi acts as a connector between cultures and lends itself to a range of interpretations.
The Mississippi River also serves as part of the national infrastructure and is a vital natural resource. It is home to several endangered species and provides habitat for migrant birds, and its waters nourish the soil of farms along its course. It is thus not only a geographical divider, but also an important asset that needs to be preserved and protected for future generations to enjoy.
At its heart, the great river is an important symbol for the American people. Its free-flowing waters encapsulate the country’s spirit of diversity, progressivism, and strength, inspiring writers, musicians, and adventurers to explore its depths. Despite the many debates around it, the Mississippi River’s legacy will surely reverberate through time, never truly separating the east from the west, but rather uniting them in its all-encompassing vastness.
Impact on Extreme Weather Events
The vast expanse of the Mississippi River may act as a physical boundary between east and west, but it also plays an important ecological role in the US. While it serves as a source of fresh water and sustenance, and is vital to the economic development of the region, its unrelenting force and capricious nature can also bring disaster. As climate change causes rising temperatures and extreme weather events across the US, the at-risk states of Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Alabama, situated along the Mississippi River basin, suffer the most.
The severity of these extreme weather events, dubbed ‘100-year floods’, has been getting worse and it can no longer be overlooked. Statistics show that at least ten major floods have occurred on the Mississippi River from 1980 to 2012, with the floods of 2011 proving to be the \”most serious\” yet. The most destructive floods occur when the downstream states are hit by heavy rains or when hurricanes and tropical storms weaken the Rio Grande levees and the Mississippi tributaries.”
This has led to concerns that the Mississippi River is more vulnerable to the effects of global warming in comparison to some other parts of the US. A study published in 2019 by the Louisiana State University found that there has been a significant increase in the severity of these flooding events in recent years. The study concluded that climate change has caused more powerful winds and more intense precipitation, resulting in an increase in what are being labelled as ‘extreme’ flooding events.
The US government has been trying to improve its flood protection measures in the aftermath of the 2011 floods, which caused losses of over $3 billion. The Army Corps of Engineers is currently conducting an environmental assessment for the Mississippi River and Tributaries Project to investigate the proposed solutions available to reduce the flood risk. Despite these efforts, it is unlikely that the damaging effects of any catastrophes can be hampered without taking concerted action to combat the climate crisis.
Implications on Trade and Commerce
As the most important river in the US, the Mississippi continues to serve as a hub of trade and commerce. This is especially true in the one-third of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arkansas, where the Mississippi River Delta is located. In this area, the river meets the Gulf of Mexico, leading to a greater concentration of goods and goods transiting through the waterway.
In terms of goods transportation, the Mississippi River plays an integral role in the distribution of commodities and consumables from the east coast to the west coast and from the American Midwest to the Midwest. In fact, the river is referred to as the “most efficient highway in America”, due to its ability to transport large volumes of goods for much less than what it would cost to transport them on land. This is especially true in relation to the transportation of agricultural goods, where the Mississippi River can accommodate large barges of produce, while land transportation would involve more time and money.
Conversely, this method of transportation also carries implications. As more and more goods are transported through the river, the risk of oil spills and other water contaminants increases. In this way, communities along the Mississippi River are now at a greater risk of negative impacts from accidents caused by transporting goods downstream, with implications not just on the people and landscape, but also on the overall economic development of the region.
A recent example of the implications of this type of transportation is the danger posed by the large number of shipping containers that come into the ports of New Orleans, Houston and Mobile every day. Unfortunately, these containers are often not properly sealed, and if an oil spill occurs, it can have dire consequences for the environment.
The Protection of Civil Liberties
In addition to its importance as an economic resource and a symbol of regional identity, the Mississippi River also has long served to protect the rights of the people living along its banks.
In the wake of the Civil War and Reconstruction, the river had become a focal point of civil rights activism and a source of solidarity and unity for the African-American population. Freed slaves would gather at the banks of the Mississippi, using the river as a symbol of emancipation and freedom. They used it to escape the oppression of the South, and to find safety and stability in the North.
Since then, the Mississippi has become an important landmark in the protection of civil liberties and the right to freedom of expression in the US. In the later years of the Civil Rights movement, activists organized boat rides down the river, protesting both peacefully and passionately against segregation and prejudice. The spirit of camaraderie that surrounded these events was felt nationwide, and demonstrations were held from St. Louis to New Orleans.
Today, the Mississippi River still serves as a symbol of the march towards freedom, justice, and equality. Its timeless waters continue to support campaigns for social progress and justice, and it remains a connection between past and future generations of activists.
The Role of Local Governments
The mighty Mississippi not only has a strong presence in the US’s politics and culture, but it also has an important place in the local economics and politics of each of the states it runs through. Local governments have a key role to play in protecting the river’s water quality, ensuring the safety of people living close to the banks, and providing River-related services to the public.
In Louisiana, for example, the state has implemented several projects to restore the ecological health of the river’s wetlands and protect the population from floods. Federal and state funds have also been made available to localities affected by the 2011 flooding, with a focus on providing them with resources and support to rebuild.
In addition, local communities also organize numerous events and initiatives to celebrate the spirit of the Mississippi, such as music festivals, boat rides and talks. These events bring together locals and visitors alike, and help build community resilience.
It is clear, then, that the Mississippi River is of huge importance both at a national and a regional level. Its waters unite, its spirit protects, and its size divides. Unstoppable and wide-ranging, it continues to transform the US in ways both small and large.
