State Historical Society of Iowa

Iowa Patriot Letter about Important Rivers for Settlement, July 18, 1839

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Courtesy of Library of Congress, "Letter to My Dear Friend," The Iowa Patriot, Vol. 1, No. 7, pp. 1, 18 July 1839

Description

This letter, addressed to "My Dear Friend," was written for The Iowa Patriot. The writer described the important rivers for settlement in Iowa, with an emphasis on the Mississippi River. Burlington served as the territorial capital before it was moved to Iowa City in 1841.

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Source Dependent Questions

  • According to the author, why were the rivers in Iowa so important for settlement and the economy?
  • Why was the author so concerned with the lower rapids on the Mississippi River?
  • According to the author, who was responsible for making the Mississippi's rapids navigable? How well were they fulfilling this responsibility?
  • Why would the government and not private citizens be seen as the ones responsible for making the Mississippi's rapids navigable?

Citation Information

"Letter to My Dear Friend," The Iowa Patriot, Vol. 1, No. 7, pp. 1, 18 July 1839. Courtesy of Library of Congress Courtesy of Library of Congress