State Historical Society of Iowa

Iowa and Wisconsin Territories Map, 1842

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Courtesy of Library of Congress, Morse, Sidney E., Samuel Breese, and Harper & Brothers, "Iowa and Wisconsin," Morse's North American Atlas, pp. 33, 1842

Description

This map of the upper Midwest was included in an atlas of North America published between 1842 and 1845. The map highlights the Iowa and Wisconsin territories, both created in 1836. The Iowa territory had only been opened for settlement in 1836, following the conclusion of the Black Hawk War.

Source Dependent Questions

  • According to the mapmaker, what were the most important physical features of this region?
  • Using the map, what generalizations can you make about the impact of rivers on the settlement of Iowa territory'? How would geography have contributed to the growth of Iowa's early economy and its connection to the rest of the country?
  • Use the Iowa territory's geography to predict the location of future towns and cities. What would it take to populate other areas of the state that were not geographically advantageous?

Citation Information

Morse, Sidney E., Samuel Breese, and Harper & Brothers, "Iowa and Wisconsin," Morse's North American Atlas, pp. 33, 1842. Courtesy of Library of Congress Courtesy of Library of Congress