The Mississippi River has long been an integral part of American history, and its full development as an iconic river system can be seen taking shape in 1840. From the bustling river settlements of St. Louis to the monstrous steamboats that rolled down its waters, this powerful force of nature had become a powerful economic engine in the early 19th century.
The Mississippi watershed has been home to many nations throughout its long history. European powers, including Spain, France, and England, established settlements, ports, and valuable trading posts along its banks, while indigenous peoples once fished, hunted, and farmed in its fertile valley. By 1840, much of the landscape had changed, with the arrival of steamboats, railroads, and industrial production, though the river itself still carried a wild, untamed feeling for both travelers and river folk alike.
1840 was undoubtedly a period of intense growth and development, as the burgeoning American nation enriched itself with the bounty of the Mississippi’s raw materials. Steamboats were an especially important part of this development, with hundreds of them utilizing the rivers to transport people, goods and services from one part of the country to the other. In fact, by 1840, the steamboat had become a mainstay of the American economy, with the Mississippi being dotted with these vessels as far as the eye could see.
The second decade of the 19th century also saw more urban development and expansion along the river’s banks. Many thriving river towns and cities popped up between St. Louis and New Orleans, including Memphis, Nashville, Baton Rouge, and Vicksburg. Smaller town grew up as well, with new industry and businesses providing employment and services to the ever-growing population.
Though the Mississippi showed signs of progress and development, it maintained its wild and untamed flair for much of the 19th century. Its waters were still home to an abundance of wildlife, including beavers, bears and otters, as well as a host of fish species, many of which continued to bring a substantial source of income to river traders and fishermen. Meanwhile lively river settlements up and down the river continued to attract a steady stream of travelers.
In many ways, the Mississippi River of the 1840s was much like rivers of today. There were bustling cities and towns, industry and transportation, and a vibrant natural environment that provided a unique backdrop to life on the river. The Mississippi of 1840 may have been wilder and more rugged than today, but it was still full of life and vigor.
In 1840, navigation and sailing of the Mississippi River was difficult and risky. The waters were often quickly changing and unpredictable and dangerous sandbars and snags created hazards that could easily trap or sink passing vessels. Sailors of the era used a combination of eye and ear to guide their vessels, with the use of landmarks and their ears trained to the sound of underwater rumbling or bubbling, which indicated shallow water or hidden hazards.
Accurate maps were hard to come by and those published were usually outdated, leaving captains and navigators to rely on their own knowledge and skill to find their way. As a result, many captains chose to hire experienced pilots to serve as guides along the river. These pilots had an intimate knowledge of the waterways and an ability to “read” the river, which enable captains to move more safely and quickly between destinations.
River pilots and navigators also devoted much of their time to mapping the river, and their efforts facilitated the early development of the communities relying on the river for sustenance. As well, these nautical experts played an important role in helping establish the legal navigational boundaries on the Mississippi and developed techniques for transporting freight up and downriver.
River Life and Habitation
The river and its associated tributaries had long been home to native Americans, who utilized the natural resources found in the area for centuries. Though the degree of native habitation would drop drastically in the nineteenth century, in 1840 their presence was still visible up and down the Mississippi.
Just as the area was home to native Americans before them, the nineteenth century European settlers were also intimately intertwined with the river, with people living and working along its banks. Towns, villages and cities took up space along the wide expanses of the river and its tributaries, while small farming communities clung to its shorelines, supported by its rich soils.
The villages and towns along the river also provided its inhabitants with a vital source of transportation, employment, and their livelihood. From trading goods and services to providing recreation and activities, life on the river was vibrant and full of character in 1840.
Agriculture and River Trade
Agriculture and trade were booming along the Mississippi in the early 19th century, and the wealth of natural resources and enterprises were not lost on the settlers of the area. Along with the boom of steamboats providing transportation for goods and services, agriculture thrived in the rich delta soils of the great river. Plantations spread up and down the river providing a wealth of goods from textiles and lumber to tobacco, rice and spices.
Staple crops such as wheat, corn and cotton were also a staple of life along the Mississippi, as well as small scale subsistence farming practiced by many settlers. As goods transported and activities grew, so did the reliance on the river and so, many towns and cities began to grow and expand along the river’s banks making trade a key factor in the wealth of these settlements.
River Politics and Society
In 1840, the Mississippi River had a profound effect on politics and society, particularly in the South where the river was seen as an economic lifeline. The Mississippi was, at times, a heated source of debate regarding state boundaries, trade, transport and other issues that impacted the river’s usage. Though tensions did arise, the river was a valuable source of revenue for many of the states in the region and could often provide a chance for reconciliation and rapprochement.
The Mississippi was also integral to the social development of the region. As a major transportation system and with its associated trading posts, the river connected vast regions and brought people together in a way that would have been impossible before. Small towns and communities sprang up all along the way, while major cities like New Orleans and St. Louis connected more distant settlements to the wider world.
The river was also a major source of entertainment and leisure for both local populations and those travelling along the river. Brigades of steamboats often carried passengers up and down the river where they could enjoy the beauty of the diverse landscape, sample the local sights and wares, or simply take in the grandeur and majesty of the river itself.
Steamboat Accidents and Disasters
Unfortunately, the Mississippi River also had its share of tragedy. As steamboats became more prominent, so did the rate of accidents, with many resulting in loss of life. By 1840, steamboat accidents were becoming more and more common, with reports of explosions, ruptures, and drownings associated with these vessels becoming the norm.
In addition to mishaps on the river, diseases and other illnesses were also persistent along the river, often taking a heavy toll on the livelihoods of its inhabitants. As diseases like cholera, yellow fever, and malaria continued to spread through the towns and settlements, the river became a major source of illness, with doctors and medical relief arriving too late or often unequipped to treat its victims.
An additional ecological risk also faced the river during this time. As forest resources were depleted to fuel steamboats’ steam engines, the dangers of runoff and waste dumping began to take their toll on the surrounding environment, polluting the river’s tributaries, soil, and wildlife.
Conclusion
The Mississippi River in 1840 was full of life, danger and adventure. The river was both an economic lifeline for the region and a source of entertainment for travelers. Steamboats had become a mainstay of the American economy and along with the expansion of towns and villages, brought a sense of progress and development throughout the region.
At the same time, the river was wild and untamed. Steamboat accidents, diseases, and ecological damage posed a real threat to the inhabitants of the region and the river’s changing nature made navigation difficult and dangerous. It was a powerful and unpredictable force of nature, but, in many ways, the Mississippi River of 1840 still holds a unique place in the mythic, romantic image of America’s past.
