French Explore the
Mississippi
Chapter 2 Lesson 2
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North
America. About 2,320 miles (3,730 km) long, the river
originates at Lake Itasca, Minnesota, and flows slowly
southwards in sweeping meanders, terminating 95 miles (153
km) by river below New Orleans, where it begins to flow to the
Gulf of Mexico.
The Mississippi River
The leaders of New
France were eager to
explore the Mississippi
River. Control of this
river would help them
reach new lands where
they could build trading
posts. The French were
still hoping to find a
river that flowed west to
the Pacific Ocean- the
Northwest Passage.
Exploring the Mississippi
French missionary, Jacques
Marquette, set out to explore the
Mississippi River. He was
accompanied by a fur trader named
Louis Jolliet and 5 other
adventurers.
Marquette drew maps of the river
as well as speaking to the Natives
who lived along the river in their
own languages.
Nine years after Marquette, Robert
la Salle continued the French
exploration of the Mississippi
River. His goal was to sail from
the St. Laurence River to the Gulf
of Mexico.
When la Salle reached the Gulf of
Mexico, he claimed the entire
Mississippi River valley and all of
its tributaries for France. La Salle
named this territory Louisiana.
Robert la Salle
If you’re a tributary and you know it flow to the sea
If you’re a tributary and you know it flow to the sea
If you’re a tributary and you know it
And you’d really like to show it
Then you’re a stream, flow into a river and
Go to the sea
Tributary
(If You’re Happy and You Know It)
• The French built forts and trading posts in their
settlements. Many became large cities like Detroit and
New Orleans.
• With locations near the river, these cities became busy
trading centers and eventually, large American cities.
Detroit
St. Louis
New Orleans
New French Settlements
Your mission is to complete workbook page 59
with a partner.
Once your sheets are completed and given to
agent Reeves, you will need to decode the
message on pages 244-245.
Record your findings on workbook page 60.
Work carefully, this skill will be on your test.
You Have Another Challenge