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What I Learned Section 1 -- Answer the
Following Questions: a) Nashville and Natchez. The Natchez Trace runs from northeast to southwest between Nashville, Tennessee, and Natchez, Mississippi. Some of the locations along this route are Columbia, Hohenwald, Colbert Ferry, Muscle Shoals, Bear Creek Mound, Tupelo, Tupelo National Battlefield, Chickasaw Village, Bynum Mounds, French Camp, Ridgeland, Jackson, Clinton, Grindstone Ford, Port Gibson, Mount Locust, Emerald Mound, and the Grand Village of the Natchez State Historic Site. Did you know "trace" is another word for trail? More than 12,000 years ago, grazing animals (such as bison and deer) created a path through the lower Mississippi region. When American Indian tribes came to this area about 12,000 years ago, they followed the animals from the high ground. These tribes consisted of the Choctaw, Chickasaw, and Natchez. In 1540, Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto was the first European to walk the Natchez Trace. In 1673, Father Jacques Marquette and trapper Louis Joliet traveled down the Mississippi River and landed near the Natchez Trace. In 1682, René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle claimed the land along the Mississippi River for France. In the mid-1700's, the Ohio River, the Mississippi River and the Natchez Trace were important trade routes. Explorers, shopkeepers, and pioneers transported their goods down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to Natchez, Mississippi. They then used the Natchez Trace to travel back home. This allowed trade to increase because people in the central United States could sell their goods to people in the lower Mississippi region. 2. Is the Natchez Trace
located east or west of the Mississippi River? The Natchez Trace, however, runs from Nashville, Tennessee, to Natchez, Mississippi. Both of these cities are located east of the Mississippi River. In the 1700's, the Natchez Trace connected the United States with its newly acquired frontier along the lower Mississippi River. This region was called the Southwest, and it consisted of present-day Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas, and eastern Texas. The Natchez Trace helped the United States control trade in the Southwest. 3. True or False: In
1783, the United States gained control of Natchez, Mississippi,
after defeating Britain in the American Revolution. In 1540, Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto was the first European to walk the Natchez Trace. In 1673, Father Jacques Marquette and trapper Louis Joliet traveled down the Mississippi River and landed near the Natchez Trace. In 1682, René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle claimed the land along the Mississippi River for France. He thought France should build forts along the river to defend their land. In 1716, the French established Fort Rosalie at present-day Natchez, Mississippi. This fort was the first European settlement near the Natchez Trace. The Natchez Indians lived near the fort in the Grand Village of the Natchez. By 1743, the French wiped out the Natchez. A settlement near Fort Rosalie took the tribe's name. Today, this town is called Natchez, Mississippi. Natchez was an important town because it was located on the Mississippi River. First France ruled the town, then Spain, and then Britain. In 1783, the United States gained control after defeating Britain in the American Revolution. On April 7, 1798, the U.S. Congress established the Mississippi Territory, and Natchez became the territory's capital. In August, 1798, Winthrop Sargent became the first governor of the Mississippi Territory. He was appointed by President John Adams. In 1801, Sargent asked the Choctaw and Chickasaw tribes to allow the U.S. Army to build a road through their lands. This road linked Natchez, Mississippi, and Nashville, Tennessee. In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson purchased the Louisiana Territory from France which doubled the size of the United States. This is known as the Louisiana Purchase. It also gave American traders the right to sail the Mississippi River for free. These two events (the road linking Natchez to Nashville and the Louisiana Purchase) contributed to the success of the Mississippi Territory. 4. How long is the Natchez
Trace (in miles or kilometers)? Travelers had to face the elements when traveling the Natchez Trace. They endured rains, hurricanes, and floods. Travelers also had to be aware of robbers. Some of the notorious villains were Joseph Thompson Hare, the Mason gang, and the Harpe Brothers. Hare dressed like American Indians so people would suspect the Choctaw and Chickasaw. Some people who survived the journey along the Natchez Trace called it "The Devil's Backbone." Despite the dangers, people continued to travel the Natchez Trace. In some places, the pathway sunk up to 20 feet from the constant use. 5. What year did the
entire path become known as "The Natchez Trace?" 6. True or False: The
Natchez Trace was used as a postal route. In early 1800, Abijah Hunt carried the mail between Nashville and Natchez. In April, 1800, Congress designated the Natchez Trace a post road. John L. Swaney was one of the first post riders. It took him about one month to make the round trip. He delivered newspapers, personal letters, and government dispatches to the territorial governor. Swaney used "a deerskin pouch well treated with oil to prevent water from ruining its contents." The postal schedule had one rider leave Nashville every second Sunday at 9:00 a.m. Another rider left Natchez at the same time. These riders met at Hoolky Creek (just south of present-day Tupelo, Mississippi). They exchanged mail and rested for one day. Then the riders returned to either Nashville or Natchez. 7. Which of the following
inventions decreased the importance of travel on the Natchez Trace
in 1812? b) Steam Engine. In January, 1812, the steamboat New Orleans arrived in Natchez, Mississippi. More steamboats followed in the coming years. Before the steam engine, it was difficult for people to travel upstream. With the steam engine, steamboats could travel north up the Mississippi River and northeast up the Ohio River. Travel on the rivers was now easier, faster, and safer. People could return to the northeast on the rivers rather than traveling the Natchez Trace. Stretches of the original Natchez Trace disappeared. This happened partly because it was not used as often so trees, brush, and grass covered the route, and partly because people living along the trail built better roads. What I Learned Section 2 -- Define the
following words: Dispatch: An important official government message Ford: (noun) The place where a river or stream is crossed; (verb) to cross a river or stream Port: A town that has a harbor for ships taking on or delivering cargo Stand: A place where travelers could eat and rest Territory: Part of the United States that is not yet admitted as a state Bonus Questions (Answer 1 of the
Following Questions for Your FREE
Bookmark): The name of the Natchez Trace has changed throughout the years. In the late 1700's, it was called "The Path to the Choctaw Nation," "The Choctaw-Chickasaw Trail," and "The Chickasaw Trace." In the early 1800's, it was called either "The Natchez Road" or "The Nashville Road" depending on which way the people were traveling. In 1826, the entire path became known as "The Natchez Trace." b. Describe the importance
of stands along the Natchez Trace. The best known stands were Doak's Stand, French Camp, Mount Locust, and Red Bluff. Doak's Stand later became a stagecoach stop. French Camp was opened by Frenchman Louis Le Fleur in 1810. Mount Locust and Red Bluff were large enough to be called inns. Today, Mount Locust is the only restored stand remaining along the Natchez Trace. The stands were still a dangerous place because of robbers. Did you know travelers tried to protect themselves by burying their valuables before entering the stands or taking turns sleeping? c. What is the Natchez
Trace Parkway? The Natchez Trace Parkway has historical markers identifying historical sites. Near Hohenwald, Tennessee, a sign marks the grave of Meriwether Lewis. Lewis was one of the leaders of the Lewis and Clark Expedition from 1804 to 1806 which traveled from St. Louis to the Pacific Ocean. In 1809, Lewis died along the Natchez Trace while traveling to Washington, D.C. Along the Natchez Trace Parkway people can visit Colbert Ferry, Tupelo, and Port Gibson. Colbert Ferry is located in Alabama. It is the location where George Colbert reportedly charged part of Andrew Jackson's Tennessee army $75,000 to transport them across the Tennessee River on the way to the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812. Tupelo is in Mississippi. It is the site of Civil War battle in 1864. Today, there is a Tupelo National Battlefield. Port Gibson is also located in Mississippi, and is a site of a Civil War battle. On May 1, 1863, General Ulysses S. Grant's Union army marched through Port Gibson, defeated the Confederate army, and continued to Vicksburg. Visitors can also see Indian mounds along the Natchez Trace Parkway. Some of these mounds date back to prehistoric times. These sites include Bynum Mounds (southwest of Tupelo) and Emerald Mound (near Natchez). Emerald Mound covers eight acres and is one of the largest Indian mounds in the United States. d. Describe ONE of the
following people or groups of people: e. Describe the trip
made be Francis Baily and his party in 1797. Thirty horses carried the party's supplies. The party brought food to last them for the intended three week trip. They killed an ox and dried the meat. They baked 25 pounds of hard biscuit. They packed 6 pounds of flour, 12 pounds of bacon, and 3 pounds of rice for each person. They also brought some coffee and sugar. Each person took a small bag of cornmeal. In case food ran out, they could survive on cornmeal mixed with water. Baily and the party traveled 60 miles up "The Path to the Choctaw Nation." It was a long, uneventful walk. Then they came to Grindstone Ford (near present-day Port Gibson, Mississippi). Here, Natchez Trace became wild country, and the party encountered danger. They crossed creeks carrying their supplies while the horses swam. They could not see some sections of the trail. Fortunately for the party, the Choctaw and Chickasaw tribes gave them help. The party had a daily routine. After packing the horses, they traveled to mid-day or until they found water. They unpacked the horses, and rested for two or three hours. They then repeated the routine. It was difficult to find water along the Natchez Trace. The water they did find was dirty, and it often made people sick. The sick were left behind. When Baily reached the next Chickasaw village, he sent Chickasaw to help the sick travelers. Around July 20, 1797, Baily and his group reached Bigtown, near present-day Tupelo, Mississippi. It was a Chickasaw village with several clusters of four or five huts. The Chickasaw grew corn, vegetables, apples, and peaches. It was tradition for the Chickasaw and the travelers to trade items. After leaving Bigtown, the party crossed branches of the Tombigbee River, and they walked through poison ivy. It was called "poison vine." They continued walking with itchy, swollen legs. Baily and his party had been walking three weeks when they came to the Tennessee River. It was one mile wide. They cut wood and built rafts. Cherokees helped the party across the river, and they shared a meal. The party hauled their supplies 20 feet up the steep river bank near present-day Muscle Shoals, Alabama. At this point, the group was 125 miles from Nashville. They heard from a person on the trail that the Creek were on the warpath. To avoid detection by the Creek, the party whispered and did not build fires. They ate a spoonful of cornmeal a day because they had eaten all of their food. A few days later, Baily and his party met two Chickasaws they had met earlier. The Chickasaws gave the travelers food. The party continued. On July 31, 1797, the group reached Nashville. It had taken them twenty-seven days to make the trip from Natchez to Nashville. Baily wrote, "The sight of [Nashville] gave us great pleasure." f. Use five of the words
in Section 2 in a sentence.
g. Have a parent or friend give you a spelling test with EACH of the words in Section 2. More Valuable Information about The
Natchez Trace:
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The Natchez Trace (Cornerstones of Freedom)
Hernando de Soto: In 1540, Hernando de Soto was the first
European to walk the Natchez Trace. De Soto was a Spanish Explorer.
He and his expedition crossed the Natchez Trace in present-day
Mississippi, and they spent the winter of 1540-1541 near the trail.
Did you know de Soto and his
men eventually traveled through much of the present-day southeastern
United States?
