Post on 14-Jan-2016
1600-1750
The Early World of Chicago
Marshy area know to natives as “The wild-garlic place”
First people to the area came from land bridge made of ice from Siberia and Mongolia.
Few natives chose to settle in Chigagou b/c it was too wet , thus not great for hunting
Chigagou
First major tribe was the Illinois (Illini or Illiniwek)
Iroquois decimated the Illinois around 1650 and the neighboring Miami tribe moved in
C. 1800 Miami moved to warmer region; Potawatomi moved in
Potawatomi kicked out by European settlers in 1833
Native American Chigagou History
Saw Chigagou as very important geographical location
System of rivers in Illinois led to the Mississippi River (The Great River)
The intersection of rivers around Chigagou created all-water connection b/w great lakes and the Mississippi
Overland journeys would become a thing of the past
Europeans in Chigagou
Jacques Marquette: Jesuit Missionary and explorer
Louis Joliet: ExplorerMarquette hoped to convert natives to
ChristianityJoliet hoped to map the vast unknown
heartland of North AmericaTheir task was to find “The Great River” that
flowed in the west and claim the land for France.
They found the Mississippi River and realized that it flowed through the heart of America, not west to the Pacific Ocean
French Explorers
René-Robert de la Salle was sent to survey the Mississippi in 1682 and voyage all the way to the Gulf of Mexico
The French claim the whole region and call it Louisiana for French King Louis XIV
French focus more on New Orleans and Canada; Chigagou remains largely unsettled
France had too much territory and not enough money
The French and Chigagou