Who was the first person to explore the Illinois Country?
Who was the first person to explore the Illinois Country?
Exploration and settlement. The first French explorations of the Illinois Country were in the first half of the 17th century, led by explorers and missionaries based in Canada. Étienne Brûlé explored the upper Illinois country in 1615 but did not document his experiences.
Who was the first European to visit Wisconsin?
Unique information about Wisconsin also appears on Samuel de Champlain’s map of New France published in 1632 — two years before Jean Nicolet reached Wisconsin, and is presumed to have come to Champlain from Brule. We give both documents here so you can decide for yourself whether you think Brule was the first European to set eyes on our… more…
When did the French take over the Illinois Country?
Up until 1717, the Illinois Country was governed by the French province of Canada, but by order of King Louis XV, the Illinois Country was annexed to the French province of Louisiana, with the northeastern administrative border being somewhat vaguely on or near the upper Illinois River.
What was the major settlement in Illinois in the 18th century?
By the mid-18th century, the major settlements included Cahokia, Kaskaskia, Chartres, Saint Philippe, and Prairie du Rocher, all on the east side of the Mississippi in present-day Illinois; and Ste. Genevieve across the river in Missouri, as well as Fort Vincennes in what is now Indiana.
Who was the first person to explore Illinois?
The first European explorers in Illinois were Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet, Frenchmen who paddled by birchbark canoe along the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers. They traveled the length of the state-from what is now Chicago to the southernmost reaches of Illinois.
What was the history of the Illinois people?
This is the story of the Illinois people when they lived in their traditional homeland, a place the French used to call the “Illinois Country.” The story is based, in part, on historical descriptions of the Illinois by French observers like Jacques Marquette and Pierre Delliette, who traveled or lived among them three-hundred years ago.
What did the French do in the Illinois River?
They traveled along the Mississippi and the Illinois River making contact with the local Native American tribes. They claimed the land for France and soon the French were moving in to establish the fur trade with the local natives.
Where was the first settlement in Southern Illinois?
Important early outposts in Southern Illinois were located at Shawneetown and Fort Massac on the Ohio River. The English ruled the Lower Great Lakes region after defeating the French in the French and Indian War and with the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1763. Their rule of this area was short lived.