Copy these terms to your notes and begin brainstorming with a partner what you know about them.

Jesuit Calumet Mission/ Missionary Portage Great Lakes

French Exploration of The Illinois River and the Mississippi River

Louis Jolliet Jacques Marquette Robert de La Salle

LOUIS JOLLIET
1645-1700 Born in colony of New France (present-day Canada) and began exploring for the French Crown in 1668-69.* Was chosen by Colonial Governor Comte de Frontenac to lead a westward expedition In 1673. ** Was a fur trader and also an experienced and talented map maker. *Jacques Marquette, "The Mississippi
Voyage of Jolliet and Marquette," American Journeys. **Roger Biles, Illinois: A History of the Land and Its People (Dekalb: Northern Illinois University Press, 2005), 9.

Jacques Marquette
Born in Laon, France in 1637. Became a Jesuit Priest in 1654, and came to New France in 1666.* Built and founded the mission of Saint Ignace in present day Michigan in 1671.* Was also selected by Frontenac to accompany Jolliet in order to carry Catholicism into the North American interior.** (It was customary for a priest to be involved in such trips*) Learned and was able to speak several *Jacques Marquette, "The Mississippi Voyage of Jolliet and Marquette," American **Roger different dialects of Algonquin Indian Journeys. Land andBiles, Illinois: A History of the Its People (Dekalb: Northern Illinois University Press, 2005), 9. language.

Voyage of 1673
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0nNXeD1fPA Frontenac and French Crown desired a route to the Pacific Ocean.* From Marquettes journal: (Jolliet) told them that he was sent by Monsieur our governor to discover new countries, while I was sent by God to illumine them with the light of the holy Gospel. Jolliet, Marquette and 5 other men embarked in 2 canoes from St. Ignace on May 17, 1673. Jolliets journal and maps were destroyed, leaving Marquettes journal as the only source on the voyage, which was the first documented excursion by Europeans on the Mississippi River.
*Jacques Marquette, "The Mississippi Voyage of Jolliet and Marquette," American Journeys.

Voyage of 1673
Traveled through Wisconsin to reach the Mississippi River and entered the Mississippi River on June 17th, 1673.* Voyage was considered to be dangerous, and Marquette wrote that different Indian tribes consistently warned him and Jolliet to turn back.* Had mostly cordial and reciprocal relations with Native American tribes. Gifts of Calumet were often exchanged. Turned back toward Canada just past the Arkansas River and followed the advice of Indians to take the Illinois River back to Lake Michigan along the way. They discovered a portage of only 2 miles to Lake Michigan.**
*Jacques Marquette, "The Mississippi Voyage of Jolliet and Marquette," American Journeys. **Roger Biles, Illinois: A History of the Land and Its People (Dekalb: Northern Illinois University Press, 2005), 9.

Robert de La Salle
Also known as Ren-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle. (No, you dont need to remember all of that, but be aware that you may see him referred to as any combination of those names.) Born in 1643 in Rouen, France. In 1682 he led the first European expedition down the Mississipi River to the Gulf of Mexico, with the help of allied Indian groups.* Was enlisted to once again try to find route to the Pacific. Traveled to the Mississippi via the Illinois River and built Fort Crvecoeur at present day Peoria.** Upon reaching the Gulf of Mexico, he claimed Lands extending all the way to the Rockies for France, and this became known as Louisiana. *Alan Taylor, American Colonies (New York:
Penguin Books, 2001), 382. **Roger Biles, Illinois: A History of the Land and Its People (Dekalb: Northern Illinois University Press, 2005), 11.

Robert de La Salle
On his return trip to Canada, La Salle established for St. Louis along the Illinois River at Starved Rock.* During an attempt to reach the Gulf directly from France in 1684 his final ship became ruined, leaving La Salle and his crew shipwrecked in Texas. He was killed by his crew in 1687.**
*Roger Biles, Illinois: A History of the Land and Its People (Dekalb: Northern Illinois University Press, 2005), 12. **Enchanted Learning, "Ren-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle: North American Explorer," Zoom Explorers.