History of ChicagoHistory of Chicago

The Early World of ChigagouThe Early World of Chigagou

1600-17501600-1750

How Chicago got it’s nameHow Chicago got it’s name

Chigagou = wild garlic placeChigagou = wild garlic place

There is a wild grass that grows in There is a wild grass that grows in the area that smells like the area that smells like garlic/onions – natvies named the garlic/onions – natvies named the land after the wild grassland after the wild grass

Description of ChigagouDescription of Chigagou InhospitableInhospitable

Land was swampy – wet and muddyLand was swampy – wet and muddy Infertile soil – short planting seasonInfertile soil – short planting season Long, bitter, and cold wintersLong, bitter, and cold winters Flat landscape – not many hills and Flat landscape – not many hills and

trees to offer protection from the winter trees to offer protection from the winter windswinds

Winter temps below zero – windchills 20 Winter temps below zero – windchills 20 belowbelow

Native Americans in the areaNative Americans in the area

Came from Siberia – across the Came from Siberia – across the Bering Strait, through Alaska, Bering Strait, through Alaska, Canada and then southCanada and then south

Because of the weather and Because of the weather and inhospitable land, most natives inhospitable land, most natives didn’t settle in the Chigagou areadidn’t settle in the Chigagou area

Most natives used Chigagou Most natives used Chigagou as a meeting place or lived as a meeting place or lived close to the Mississippi Riverclose to the Mississippi River

Natives that lived hereNatives that lived here

Illini Indians (U of Illinios named after Illini Indians (U of Illinios named after them) – no major settlement here – them) – no major settlement here – conquered by the Iroquois (didn’t remain conquered by the Iroquois (didn’t remain here)here)

Miami Indians – moved in after the Illini Miami Indians – moved in after the Illini As described by the French – friendly, dark , As described by the French – friendly, dark ,

strong, very little clothing, and covered with strong, very little clothing, and covered with tattoostattoos

Miami leave the area about 1800 for Miami leave the area about 1800 for warmer territory southwarmer territory south

After the Miami, the Potawatomi – the last After the Miami, the Potawatomi – the last tribe to live in this area – came from tribe to live in this area – came from northern Wisconsinnorthern Wisconsin Multicultural – consisted of several different Multicultural – consisted of several different

indian tribesindian tribes

Because of the land and climate, no major Because of the land and climate, no major Native American settlement was established –Native American settlement was established –but Europeans saw the area differentlybut Europeans saw the area differently

European view of ChigagouEuropean view of Chigagou

It didn’t matter to Europeans that It didn’t matter to Europeans that Chigagou was cold, swampy, flat, and Chigagou was cold, swampy, flat, and windy – they liked Chigagou because windy – they liked Chigagou because it was located on a mini-continental it was located on a mini-continental dividedivide

Continental Divide - raised land that Continental Divide - raised land that allows water to flow in opposite allows water to flow in opposite directionsdirections

At Chigagou, waterways east run east and At Chigagou, waterways east run east and waterways west run west – which allows for waterways west run west – which allows for

easier travel to Atlantic Ocean(east) and easier travel to Atlantic Ocean(east) and Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico(west)Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico(west)

Europeans in ChigagouEuropeans in Chigagou

If there was a way to get from Lake If there was a way to get from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi River, it would Michigan to the Mississippi River, it would mean easier travel from Europe to the mean easier travel from Europe to the interior of North Americainterior of North America

European settlers discovered a marshy European settlers discovered a marshy area about 6 miles from present-day area about 6 miles from present-day downtown that was the center of the mini-downtown that was the center of the mini-continental divide – where east and west continental divide – where east and west flowing waterways met – this was called flowing waterways met – this was called The PortageThe Portage

The PortageThe Portage

East from the portage flowed a lazy, East from the portage flowed a lazy, shallow river that connected to Lake shallow river that connected to Lake MichiganMichigan

West from the portage flowed the Des West from the portage flowed the Des Plaines River, which dumped into the Plaines River, which dumped into the Illinois River, which flowed to the Illinois River, which flowed to the Mississippi RiverMississippi River

Europe to Gulf of MexicoEurope to Gulf of Mexico

To get from Europe to the Gulf of MexicoTo get from Europe to the Gulf of Mexico

Atlantic Ocean > St. Lawrence Atlantic Ocean > St. Lawrence River > Great Lakes > to Chicago River > Great Lakes > to Chicago portage > Des Plaines River > portage > Des Plaines River > Illinois River > Mississippis River Illinois River > Mississippis River > Gulf of Mexico> Gulf of Mexico

Europe in AmericaEurope in America

British established settlements in the British established settlements in the Northeast (Jamestown, Raleigh, Northeast (Jamestown, Raleigh, Pennsylvania, etc..)Pennsylvania, etc..)

Spain claimed lands and established Spain claimed lands and established settlements in Florida and the southwest settlements in Florida and the southwest (California, Texas, Arizona, etc…)(California, Texas, Arizona, etc…)

French mainly only sent missionaries and French mainly only sent missionaries and fur trappers to Americafur trappers to America

Differences between British and Differences between British and FrenchFrench

FrenchFrench Sent missionaries to Sent missionaries to

convert natives to convert natives to CatholicismCatholicism

Sent fur trappers to Sent fur trappers to hunt for beaver (for hunt for beaver (for their pelts –skin)their pelts –skin)

Didn’t establish citiesDidn’t establish cities

BritishBritish Create self-producing Create self-producing

settlementssettlements Locate natural Locate natural

resources to ship resources to ship back to Englandback to England

Stayed within 80 Stayed within 80 miles of the Atlantic miles of the Atlantic OceanOcean

First Europeans to see First Europeans to see Chigagou - 1673Chigagou - 1673

Jacques MarquetteJacques Marquette•Jesuit missionaryJesuit missionary•Mid-thirtiesMid-thirties•Hoped to convert Hoped to convert natives to Christianitynatives to Christianity

Louis JolietLouis Joliet•French explorerFrench explorer•Under 30 years oldUnder 30 years old•Wanted to map the Wanted to map the unknown interior of unknown interior of America and claim new land America and claim new land for Francefor France

Marquette and Joliet’s journeyMarquette and Joliet’s journey

Explored Wisconsin area for about a Explored Wisconsin area for about a monthmonth

Located the Mississippi River and canoed Located the Mississippi River and canoed south down the river as far as the south down the river as far as the Arkansas River (they concluded that the Arkansas River (they concluded that the Mississippi River emptied into the Gulf of Mississippi River emptied into the Gulf of Mexico – not the Pacific Ocean)Mexico – not the Pacific Ocean)

Problems for Marquette and Problems for Marquette and JolietJoliet

Now that they had canoed down the river, Now that they had canoed down the river, they had to come back north – they had to come back north – summertime and it was very hotsummertime and it was very hot

They had to paddle (no motors)They had to paddle (no motors) The river flowed south so they were going The river flowed south so they were going

against the currentagainst the current Marquette suffered from dysentery (severe Marquette suffered from dysentery (severe

diarrhea cuased by unsanitary conditions)diarrhea cuased by unsanitary conditions)

Marquette and Joliet had five other Marquette and Joliet had five other travelers helping in their journey - one of travelers helping in their journey - one of them was a young, native American boythem was a young, native American boy

This young boy suggested to Marquette This young boy suggested to Marquette and Joliet to, instead of going all the way and Joliet to, instead of going all the way the Mississippi River to Wisconsin, travel the Mississippi River to Wisconsin, travel east on the Illinois River to the Des east on the Illinois River to the Des Plaines River to the Portage to the Plaines River to the Portage to the Chicago River and finally to Lake Michigan Chicago River and finally to Lake Michigan (this was a major short cut)(this was a major short cut)

This allows Joliet to map the Chicago areaThis allows Joliet to map the Chicago area

Marquette and Joliet in Marquette and Joliet in ChigagouChigagou

First white men to see ChigagouFirst white men to see Chigagou Identified the portage as critical for travel Identified the portage as critical for travel

to the interior of the continentto the interior of the continent Marquette returned to Chicago in 1674 to Marquette returned to Chicago in 1674 to

teach the native Americansteach the native Americans He becomes snowed in, gets sick, and He becomes snowed in, gets sick, and

dies in 1675dies in 1675

Joliet beliefs for ChigagouJoliet beliefs for Chigagou Since Marquette was occupied in teaching Since Marquette was occupied in teaching

and converting natives to Christianity, he and converting natives to Christianity, he didn’t see Chigagou as a strategic locationdidn’t see Chigagou as a strategic location

Not so for Joliet – he wrote to France Not so for Joliet – he wrote to France suggesting a canal be built through the suggesting a canal be built through the portage and for colonies to be established portage and for colonies to be established in the areain the area

He predicted this would be very beneficial He predicted this would be very beneficial and provide a great advantage to France and provide a great advantage to France over other European countiesover other European counties

France’s response to JolietFrance’s response to Joliet

ARE YOU CRAZY ARE YOU CRAZY France didn’t have the man power, money, France didn’t have the man power, money,

or vision to make this happenor vision to make this happen They were happy to use it for what it was – They were happy to use it for what it was –

a way to get from Canada to the interior of a way to get from Canada to the interior of North America without having to go North America without having to go through British controlled territoriesthrough British controlled territories

France also authorized two men to build a France also authorized two men to build a chain of forts to protect French territorychain of forts to protect French territory

La Salle and de TontyLa Salle and de Tonty

Robert Cavelier Sieur de La Salle and Robert Cavelier Sieur de La Salle and Henri de Tonty were commissioned by Henri de Tonty were commissioned by France to build forts in the middle of North France to build forts in the middle of North America to secure their landAmerica to secure their land

Built a stockade (jail), cabin, and several Built a stockade (jail), cabin, and several forts in the Chigagou area in 1681-1682forts in the Chigagou area in 1681-1682

They explored more of the Mississippi R. They explored more of the Mississippi R. area and claimed the entire river basin for area and claimed the entire river basin for France – named it after the King of FranceFrance – named it after the King of France

La Salle saw how important Chigagou and La Salle saw how important Chigagou and the portage would be of strategic the portage would be of strategic importanceimportance

He describe the future of Chigagou as “the He describe the future of Chigagou as “the gate of empire” and “the seat of commerce”gate of empire” and “the seat of commerce”

La Salle didn’t get to see Chigagou grow to La Salle didn’t get to see Chigagou grow to his vision – he was killed by a group of his vision – he was killed by a group of frightened French colonists when he got frightened French colonists when he got them lost in the wildernessthem lost in the wilderness

Tonty continued to build forts until his death Tonty continued to build forts until his death in 1704in 1704

The future of ChigagouThe future of Chigagou

More and more Europeans begin moving More and more Europeans begin moving into the Chigagou areainto the Chigagou area

France is using the area to set up trade France is using the area to set up trade (fur trading)(fur trading)

Missions set up to convert Native Missions set up to convert Native AmericansAmericans

Native American ResponseNative American Response Local Indians began to resent all the Europeans Local Indians began to resent all the Europeans

in the Chigagou areain the Chigagou area 1714 – Native Americans murdered 12 French 1714 – Native Americans murdered 12 French

settlerssettlers 1720 – Fox Indians had blocked the southern 1720 – Fox Indians had blocked the southern

end of the portage (where it meets the Des end of the portage (where it meets the Des Plaines River) – this meant the French couldn’t Plaines River) – this meant the French couldn’t go from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi River – go from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi River – making Chigagou unimportantmaking Chigagou unimportant

Most French in the area either stayed in Most French in the area either stayed in Canada; others established a small settlement in Canada; others established a small settlement in New OrleansNew Orleans

The future of ChigagouThe future of Chigagou

Chigagou belonged to the French when Chigagou belonged to the French when they claimed the Mississippi River valleythey claimed the Mississippi River valley

It was expensive to man and supply forts It was expensive to man and supply forts and France was having economic issues and France was having economic issues back home – couldn’t afford to maintain back home – couldn’t afford to maintain themthem

Chigagou continues to be an unimportant, Chigagou continues to be an unimportant, swampy, outpost of a settlement on the swampy, outpost of a settlement on the frontier until 1750frontier until 1750