Nebraska History Chapter 2 Nebraskas Early Inhabitants and
Nebraska History Chapter 2 Nebraska’s Early Inhabitants and Visitors Page 39
Earliest Residents • “Nebraska the Good Life” • Paleo Indians • • • Earliest inhabitants Large game hunters 10, 000 years ago ice age ended Folsom and Clovis- spear tips Cold climate
Different Cultures • Archaic Culture- 8, 000 to 2, 000 years ago • Hunter gatherers • Hunted smaller animals, fished, and gathered berries • Plains Woodlands Culture- 2, 000 to 1, 100 years ago • • Learned to cultivate crops Maize, squash Bows and arrows Buried their dead
• Central Plains Tradition- 1, 100 to 550 • Small villages of earthen lodges • Different crops- maize, beans, squash • Seasonal hunting trips • Coalescent Tradition- 550 to 250 • • Climate improved Large village period Dismal River Complex and Loup River Complex Redbird Complex and Oneota Complex
Modern Native American Traditions • East- Missourias, Omahas, Otos, Pawnees, and Poncas • Earthen lodges • Horse made these tribes great hunters • Horses came from the Spanish and reached the plains around 1700 • Western Tribes- Arapahos, Cheyennes, and the Lakotas • Lakotas called Sioux by enemies • Lived in teepees and mastered the horse
European Explorers • Spain, France, and England regular visits to NA • Francisco Vasquez de Coronado possibly first to reach the Nebraska area in Kansas • Looking for Quivira- 1540 • By 1600’s French fur traders also reached the area • Jacques Marquette found Missouri River in 1673 • La Salle- explored Mississippi and claim for France Louisiana territory • Etienne Veniear Sieur de Bourgmount- first to reach Nebraska- Nibraskier
• Spanish worried about French infringement • Colonel Villasur • Went to find the French • Attacked by Pawnees or Otos near present day Columbus • Pierre and Paul Mallet • Found Platte River and adopted French word meaning “flat” • French had to give up NA land after 7 years war they lost to English • Gave Louisiana to Spain • Still maintained trading posts • Napoleon- French king- sold Louisiana territory to US in 1803 for 15 million dollars
American Explorers • Thomas Jefferson authorized exploration of LT • Meriwether Lewis and William Clark chosen • • • Look for Northwest passage Corps of Discovery Left St. Louis May 14 th, 1804 Traveled up Missouri River Sergeant Charles Floyd died near present day Sioux City Returned in 1806 • 1806 - Zebulon Pike • Crossed Nebraska on way to Colorado • Great desert
Fur Trade • Traders sought beaver and buffalo hides • Natives got guns and other goods • Fort Lisa- trading post near Council Bluffs • Missouri Fur Company • American Fur Company- traveled from Columbia River, through South Pass, along Platte to St. Louis • Fort Atkinson- built by Colonel Henry Atkinson near Council bluffs • Stephen Long- kept going towards Yellowstone- map said Great American desert
Expansion of the Fur Trade • 1823 - New Post at Bellevue- Andrew Drips • William Ashely- responsible for the “rendezvous” • 1831 - Logan Fontanelle purchased fort at Bellevue • Peter Sarpy opened another nearby fort • 1837 - Fort opened near Chadron • Effects of Fur Trade • Beaver decline • Natives exposed to disease and drink • 1831 -32 - half of Pawnee died of small pox
Missionaries • Reverend Moses and Eliza Wilcox Merrill • Came to Bellevue to baptize Natives • Established a school • Presbyterian- John Dunbar, Samuel Allis • Catholic- Father Jean Pierre De Smet
Western Trails • Colonel Henry Dodge- traveled through Kansas, Nebraska, and Colorado visiting Natives • John C. Fremont- “Great Pathfinder” followed Platte making maps • The Oregon Trail • Heading to Oregon • Went along Platte • Attracted to Oregon country • What was life like on the trail? ?
Points Along the Trail • Fort Kearny • Fort Leavenworth • Fort Laramie • “Seeing the Elephant” • Chimney Rock, Scotts Bluff, and Courthouse Rock
Alternative Trails • “Feeder Trails • Ox-bow Trail- emerged from Nebraska City • Nebraska City-Fort Kearny Cutoff • Mormon Trail • • • Mormons chased from New York to Ohio to Missouri Finally established settlement in Utah Brigham Young- leader 1847 - left for Utah Stayed on North side of Platte Started settlement at Salt Lake City
• California Trail • 1848 - gold discovered in California • Separated from Oregon trail • 130, 000 crossed California trail from 1849 -1853 • Denver Trail • Gold Rush to Colorado in 1858 • 45, 000 followed Platte and diverted to Colorado following South Platte • Possibly 500, 000 crossed Nebraska between 1841 and 1866
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