A History of Kansas

by Anna E. Arnold

2. Contrast the motives of the French and Spanish in coming to America.

3. Why did the English come to the New World?

4. What territory was claimed by the French? By the Spanish? By the English?

5. To what nations did what is now Kansas successively belong? How and when did it first become a part of the United States? How long was this after the discovery of America?

CHAPTER III

EXPLORATION OF THE KANSAS COUNTRY BY THE UNITED STATES

President Jefferson Sent Explorers. When the United States bought Louisiana the country from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean was a vast unknown area. President Jefferson was eager to learn something about the great West, and sent out several exploring parties.

Lewis and Clark. The first expedition, sent in 1804, the year following the purchase of Louisiana, was in charge of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. They were instructed to move up the Missouri River and on to the Pacific Ocean. After a difficult journey lasting two and a half years the party returned to St. Louis and brought to the people of the United States much important information concerning the West. It is the part of their journey along the border of what is now Kansas in which we are most interested.

The Journey. With about forty-five men and three boats Lewis and Clark started up the Missouri River in the spring of 1804. Two horsemen rode along the bank to hunt and bring in game, which was to go far toward supplying provisions for the expedition. After a five weeks’ journey they reached the mouth of the Kansas River, and encamped that night on the present site of Kansas City, Kansas. From there they continued up the Missouri River where it forms the present boundary line of Kansas, along the border of what has since become Leavenworth, Atchison, and Doniphan counties. Their account of the journey describes the country through which they passed and the different Indian tribes and villages they saw. It speaks of an Indian tribe as “hunting on the plains for buffalo which our hunters have seen for the first time.” Again we read, “Pecan trees were this day seen, and large quantities of deer and wild turkey.” By July 4 they had reached a point not far from the present city of Atchison. They did not have the means for much of a celebration, but their observance of the day included the firing of “an evening gun” and the naming of two streams, Fourth of July Creek, and Independence Creek. Independence Creek still retains its name. A week later they passed the fortieth parallel, which afterward became the northern boundary of Kansas, and continued on their way to the Pacific.