In 1673, two French explorers were the first to travel the entirety of the Mississippi River. Louis Jolliet and Father Jacques Marquette’s expedition entailed thousands of miles of travels, as they navigated their vessel—the Griffin—upwards, led by their Native American guide, the Pottawatomi tribe’s Chief, Ouabousso. The arduous voyage faced frequent hazards of dangerous rapids and lowland swamps, yet they managed to arrive in the current Midwest region that was an unknown territory beforehand. Many historians speculate the significance of their well-documented trip, both from a cultural, yet geopolitical perspective.
The possible reasons for Louis Jolliet and Father Jacques Marquette’s collaboration may range from their shared goal in trying to locate a northwest passage to the Pacific Ocean and trading with the Chinese, to potential Catholic missionary efforts. While no one can truly answer why they sought this exploration, it was essential in sparking the further discoveries of the continent by other explorers, such as Robert Cavalier de la Salle, by establishing the critical French claims first.
Although the very first European experience with the Mississippi dates back even before the 1673 expedition, it was primarily sparked by the reports of traders, conversing with locals on Indigenous lands. Spanish settlement in present-day Louisiana was initiated by a Franquese explorer-Hernando de Soto- as he went further inland as well, to find an azure mountain, later to be called the Blue Ridge Mountains. It was a gradual occurrence that Europeans began realizing the full capacity of this river, finding its bounds and questioning the relationship between the powerful Mississippi and other rivers.
Tribes of Native Americans were crucial in the French missions, for example; the Pottawatomi were integral in providing provisions to the explorers, in addition to guiding them along the rivers’ passages. These tribes held all the information that got translated from, word of mouth, through to the traders and members of the French court. Without their assistance, once daunting missions may have become much more complex. Modern cartographers now recognize the significant impact of their mapping as well as navigating skills, in transforming this expedition into a breakthrough.
Some experts in the field now investigate whether this expedition did have a long-term impact on the Amerindian cultures it encountered. For instance, by Jolliet and Marquette selling these cultures the items they found in demand, they effectively became part of the fur trade network that was established in the 17th century. This movement was so pervasive to the point that Indigenous tribes began to rely on European manufactured goods, and in turn, caused the socio-cultural attributes of these tribes to change drastically.
Effects of the Explorations
The entries of European nations as well as the United States into this mission distorted the traditional practices of Amerindian cultures at an alarming rate, as these nations sought to advance the commerce of their homeland. This caused severe inequalities between Indigenous communities, later to be referred to as ethnocentrism. Further, as the settlement and trade gradually increased, the presence and control of Europeans over the Mississippi River summoned the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Native Nations from the American Midwest, to their current-day Oklahoma reservations.
Political Implications
Also, the geopolitical implications of the 1673 expedition cannot be overlooked, as it effectively planted the French flag on this vast territory. As the French were busy settling the Mississippi Valley, the other European powers began to anticipate the potential investment opportunities, making it a polemical site for negotiations. The importance of the Valley lay in the lucrative fur trading networks as well as advantageous access to commodities such as iron and coal, along with gaining control of the Mississippi River trade itself.
Eventually, due to the appeal of this now-known Mississippi Valley, The French and Indian War commenced in 1754, a defining moment that led to the French ceding the Mississippi Valley to the English. Nonetheless, the political ramifications of this expedition remained, as the Louisiana Purchase would take place around a century afterwards, in 1803. The lack of French control in the Mississippi Valley initiated a series of turns, where by the time of The Louisiana Purchase, the United States had become a formidable opponent. Ultimately, this purchase—consisting of the land from the Mississippi to the Rocky Mountains—cemented the beginning of way for the establishment of the United States of America.
Exploration of the Mississippi Rivers: A Macro-level View
As a whole, the journey carried out by Jolliet and Marquette, along with the further expansion of Europeans into the Mississippi Valley, can be recognized as an effort of cultural and political supremacy. The sheer implications of their actions—the corruption and displacement of the Native Nations, and the establishment of the Louisiana Purchase—exemplifies the instances of colonization in North America. The discoveries of the Mississippi River’s full potential sparked the curiosity of those nations, thus leading them to engage in a much wider mission of control and organization. Thus, ultimately, they could disseminate it in the way they wanted, by imposing the systematic practices in the fashion they saw fit.
Significance in the Present Day
In this day and age, although we have come to terms with the alternations to the Native American cultures and the harsh uprising of the European nations, it is pivotal to reflect on this era of exploration. The tremendous efforts that were put into the 1673 expedition established the political landscape of what is the United States of America today, and the identity France holds. In retrospect, without the determination and ambition of the two French explorers, the modern-day world would not look like the one we live in.
Modern Applications of the Exploration
In addition to the historical importance, many of the discoveries of the mission are still being re-evaluated today. For example, the cartographic methods being used were designed for river navigation, are now used by the U.S. Coast Guard training to perfect river boat operations and marine safety training. Moreover, the legacy of Louis Jolliet and Father Jacques Marquette’s journey manifested in the formation of conservation organizations, such as the Jolliet-Marquette National Heritage Corridor. This non-profit promotes recreation and preservation efforts, such as educational programs on the history of the Mississippi Valley. Ultimately, this organization and ones similar, recognize the historic accomplishments that this expedition accomplished.
Travel and Exploration Providing Clues
The exploration of the Mississippi River is still debated by many, especially with regards to the Indigenous peoples and the disruption of their traditional lifestyles, it reached an ultimate goal to find a pathway the the Pacific Ocean. The travels of these men provided a major breakthrough for navigation and cartographic explorations, leading to results for Europeans to claim a stake in U.S. soil. Essentially, the motivations of Father Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet can be considered daring and miraculous for the period in which this took place, as it was an immense area to travel and process.
The Impact on Understanding of History
Though the effects of the 1673 expedition can be debatable, its role in our own understanding of history and the past cannot be overlooked. Without this voyage, the geopolitical dynamics of the time would have been drastically different, no doubt with fascinating consequences. In the present day, we can evaluate this event in many viewpoints, be it the Eurocentric, or the Indigenous perspectives. This mission was an innovative exploration of space, an example of ambition, and of course, the beginning of a chapter that strives to be accepted and appreciated by the current American society.
