Warning: Undefined variable $num in /home/shroutdo/public_html/courses/wp-content/plugins/single-categories/single_categories.php on line 126

Warning: Undefined variable $posts_num in /home/shroutdo/public_html/courses/wp-content/plugins/single-categories/single_categories.php on line 127

By Kurt Vidmer

When analyzing the role of trading posts and routes in Antebellum America, it is impossible not to pay particular attention to the fur trade that took place in the newly acquired western territory. With this new, and largely unknown area of land now under American control, trading posts and routes served as communication outlets to the far away lands. Also, these posts helped to maintain order in the new territory; the trading posts and military forts were some of the only authoritative establishments in the west. My historiography will analyze three books in which relate to the theme of trade serving as a means of communication in Antebellum America. The books are, The Frontier in American History, The American Fur Trade of the Far West, and Undaunted Courage. Although these books all have separate themes and messages, they all portray trade as the catalyst for westward expansion and settlement.

The Frontier in American History primarily focuses on the settlement of the American Frontier, dating back to the pilgrims at Plymouth. It begins by exploring the frontier in New England, and gradually stretches west as the book progresses. Throughout the book, it maintains a theme that the American are always expanding their land grasp, and with this, the frontiers become settled, and ultimately disappear. The book quotes John Calhoun, when he says in 1817, “We are great, and rapidly-I was about to say fearfully-growing!”(Turner). This quotes puts into perspective how the growing American population leads to advanced settlement at almost fearful rates. This book speaks about trading posts as strategically placed locations that both control and empower groups of people. An example of this can be shown through the sale of firearms. Although selling firearms makes the inhabitant consumers dependent upon the post for these supplies, they also empower the people to feed and protect themselves by providing these goods to the citizens. This book does a nice and concise job of tracking American expansion, and clearly touches upon trading posts role as leading resources for this expansion.

The American Fur Trade of the Far West is an informative book about the background and implications of fur trading in the western territory. It works to give an overview of the reasons and importance of fur trading in the region. Also, this book thoroughly divulges into the roles that the different trading companies played in the trading culture. This book covers all aspects of western trade, from the original small-scale hunters/trappers to the booming industry. While discussing and analyzing the trade in this region, westward expansion is a reoccurring theme, and a clear picture is painted that the fur trade enterprise was the initial motivation for this migration westward, and that the trading routes and posts established made it possible for others to settle westward.

Undaunted Courage is a classic and well-known story of the Lewis and Clark expedition. This book gives background history on both Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, paying particular attention to Lewis’s longtime relationship with Thomas Jefferson. It goes through Jefferson’s ambitions to learn about the land gained from the Louisiana Purchase, and the prep work that went in to the expedition. While planning for the trip, all known trading posts were strategically located and worked into the plans for the expedition, and military forts were also important assets to the members of the expedition. These posts and forts provided the expedition with both material resources, as well as occasional labor. The only previous knowledge of the area came from traders, mainly French who had been in the area, so communication with them was key, yet sparse. The book goes on to track the progress of the expedition, and all encounters with Native American tribes. Trading with these tribes became an invaluable resource for Lewis and Clark, not only for material goods, but also for information about he new land and people. Whiskey, beads, and firearms were the most sought after items of the Native Americans. This book does an outstanding job of making a clear and vivid picture of the experiences of the expedition.

While all three of these books focus on westward expansion and trade throughout the region, they all do so in different ways and touch on different things. The Frontier in American History analyses expansion as almost a social movement that Americans always engage in. The American Fur Trade of the Far West is a much more detail oriented book that by far is the most specific when it comes to trade and trading companies, as there are a few instances where trade records are shown to highlight items. Undaunted Courage is more of a biography type of book gives a wide scope of information. Although it is specifically about expedition, many other items, such as trade are spoken about to large extends.

Some common themes throughout the three books were the necessity of trade to create expansion. Trade requires information, and the information gathered by traders was often the first information known about a specific area or group of people. Also, they speak of how trade was a means for life and power, as many resources that were essential to life were only obtainable through trade. Another common theme throughout the books were how trading posts were strategically located along waterways, near villages, or other places where they could be most efficient.

Although all three books successfully inform the readers about trading routes and posts as means of communication, a more specific, map oriented work would be most successful to properly demonstrate the role of trading posts and routes.

Work Cited

Ambrose, Stephen E. Undaunted Courage: Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson, and the Opening of the American West.

Chittenden, Hiram Martin. The American fur trade of the far West: a history of the pioneer trading posts and early fur companies of the Missouri valley and the Rocky mountains and the overland commerce with Santa Fe... Vol. 1. FP Harper, 1902.

Turner, Frederick Jackson. The Frontier in American history. Courier Corporation, 2010.