{"id":13094,"date":"2024-02-04T15:35:12","date_gmt":"2024-02-04T14:35:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/?p=13094"},"modified":"2024-02-04T15:35:12","modified_gmt":"2024-02-04T14:35:12","slug":"who-claimed-the-mississippi-river-valley","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/who-claimed-the-mississippi-river-valley\/","title":{"rendered":"Who Claimed The Mississippi River Valley"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Introduction<\/h2>\n

\nThe Mississippi River Valley is a culturally, economically, and politically important geographical area in North America. It stretches from Wisconsin in the north all the way to Louisiana in the south and provides waterway access to the Great Lakes, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Atlantic Ocean. It is a key transportation network and hosts a diverse range of ecosystems. The Mississippi River Valley has been inhabited since the early 16th century and has a long and fascinating history. But who actually claimed it?\n <\/p>\n<\/section>\n

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Native American Tribes<\/h2>\n

\nThe Mississippi River Valley was home to many Native American tribes, who had ancestral and legal claims to the land. Tribes such as the Chickasaw, Choctaw, and Seminole had lived in the region for centuries before the arrival of Europeans. However, these tribes were forcibly removed from the area in the 1830s as part of the Indian Removal Act. This act depopulated the area, paving the way for further European settlement.\n <\/p>\n<\/section>\n

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France<\/h2>\n

\nIn 1682, French explorer Robert Cavelier de La Salle claimed the Mississippi River Valley for France. He named it “La Louisiane,” in honour of King Louis XIV. Under French rule, the region grew in population and prospered. In addition to settlement, the French developed trading posts, planted crops, and established forts. By 1763, France had established outposts as far north as Wisconsin and as far south as Louisiana.\n <\/p>\n<\/section>\n

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Spain<\/h2>\n

\nIn 1763, France transferred ownership of the Mississippi River Valley to Spain as part of the Treaty of Paris. Though the Spanish had established outposts in the region prior to this, the transfer of ownership signaled a major shift in the area’s politics and demographics. Under the Spanish, fortifications were built and trading increased significantly. Additionally, Spanish settlers moved into the region, introducing their own cultures and customs.\n <\/p>\n<\/section>\n

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United States<\/h2>\n