The Mississippi River

Major Similarity? Very important in the development of cultures

The Mississippi River has played major roles in the economic and historical development of the U.S. and North America, and the world would not be the same without it.

Down the Mississippi:

A Study of the Geographical, Economical and Historical Importance of the Mississippi River

By Jacob Eckmann

Minneapolis

St. Paul

Nile River

Mississippi River

Same

• Fourth longest river in World

• Longest river in World

• Very Important

• Banks are diverse

• Banks are desert

• Largest river in North America
• Starts in Minnesota, goes to Gulf of Mexico
• Length of 2,530 miles long
• Has many tributaries
• Mississippi Embankment is an area of fertile soil in south-central Mississippi area
• Mississippi River Basin- Area the river drains in to.
• Very meandering

• Fertile Soil

• Flows South

• Flows North

• 30,000,000 years old

• 10,000-20,000 years old

Geography

Mississippi River

Amazon River

Same

• Fourth longest river in World

• 2nd Longest river in World

• Very Important

• 11th highest discharge levels

• Largest discharge levels

• Flow into Atlantic

• Fifth largest basin in World

• Largest river basin in World

• Multitude of biomes around it

• Has own biome around it- Amazon Rainforest

• Chief river in largest river system in North America
• Begins in Minnesota, flows to Gulf of Mexico
• Length of 2,530 miles
• Defines borders of 10 states.
• Many tributaries
• South and central area- land is Mississippi Embayment
• Area with extremely fertile soil
• Sediment has been washed on shore
• Mississippi drains through the country through the Mississippi River Basin

Nile

• Longest river in world

• Flows northward

• Bank is desert

Mississippi

Same

• 4th longest in world

• Very important to development of countries

• Flows southward

• Bank composition varies

Chicago

Pittsburgh

Cincinnati

St. Louis

Economical Impact

• Very important in Civil War
• Side in control of river had advantage
• Military products and troops transported- major industry
• Supplies transported to military bases like:
• Ammunition, food, weapons
• Paid troops money to ride ships

• Supported many industries
• Construction, Military, Machinery
• Steel from Pennsylvania to all over county
• Coal in great loads from around Pennsylvania
• Glass for major building projects
• Mississippi very important in construction
• Commercial travel- another major industry

Louisville

Nashville

Memphis

Little Rock

New Orleans

Historical Impact

• The Steamboat Era
• Period of time with steam ships
• First ship to travel lower portion- The New Orleans
• Occured in December of 1811
• Steamboat remained major industry until early 1900's
• Major figure of this era- Mark Twain
• Talked about life on Mississippi

• Siege of Vicksburg
• City on river
• Held under siege by North
• Surrendured on July 4th, 1863
• Pivotal in eventual Union victory

• Each side wasn't necessarily wrong in thinking
• War was actually over State's rights more than slavery
• South had something to fight for, while North didn't necessarily have something
• Slight opinions still exist today
• Small but present animosity between South and North

• Civil War Importance
• Both sides wanted control of river
• Whichever did could transport troops and supplies further
• Just keep fighting inwards- take over cities around Mississippi
• Could gain control of pivotal cities
• One of most major battles occured with the Mississippi