Early Republic

Schoolcraft discovers source of Mississippi River

in 1832
Minnesota
Date
in 1832
Location
Minnesota
Type
expedition

What happened

In 1832, Henry Schoolcraft was guided by a group of Ojibwa headed by Ozaawindib to a lake in northern Minnesota, discovering the true source of the Mississippi River. Schoolcraft named it Lake Itasca, combining the Latin words for truth and head.

People involved

When this happened

Schoolcraft discovers source of Mississippi River occurred in in 1832, during the early republic period of American history.

Where this happened

Schoolcraft discovers source of Mississippi River took place in Minnesota. Explore the full history of Minnesota and primary source records from this era.

Historical context — Early Republic

The early republic period saw the United States move from the weak Articles of Confederation to the federal Constitution ratified in 1788, with the Bill of Rights added in 1791. George Washington served two terms as president (1789–1797), establishing precedents for executive authority, and the federal capital moved permanently to Washington D.C. in 1800. The Louisiana Purchase (1803) doubled the nation's territory for roughly $15 million, opening vast trans-Mississippi lands to American expansion. The War of 1812 against Britain ended inconclusively but produced a surge of American national identity and eliminated most British support for Indigenous resistance east of the Mississippi. The Northwest Indian Wars (1785–1795) and the Creek War (1813–1814) broke Indigenous confederacies that had resisted US expansion. The Missouri Compromise of 1820 temporarily balanced slave and free states as the nation expanded westward, but embedded the contradiction of slavery in every subsequent territorial debate.

Source

Content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia: 19th century.

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Overview
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Geology
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LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
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Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
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Historical Maps
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Finds & Access
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Literature
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Points of Interest
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About Schoolcraft discovers source of Mississippi River

What was Schoolcraft discovers source of Mississippi River?
In 1832, Henry Schoolcraft was guided by a group of Ojibwa headed by Ozaawindib to a lake in northern Minnesota, discovering the true source of the Mississippi River. Schoolcraft named it Lake Itasca, combining the Latin words for truth and head.
When did Schoolcraft discovers source of Mississippi River happen?
Schoolcraft discovers source of Mississippi River occurred in in 1832.
Where did Schoolcraft discovers source of Mississippi River take place?
Schoolcraft discovers source of Mississippi River took place in Minnesota.

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