Waterways of the Midwest

Waterways of the Midwest

The Northwest Ordinance provided a method of organizing the lands known as the Northwest Territory. As settlers moved to and developed this area, they formed the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Located near large lakes, this area came to be known as the Great Lakes region.

Multiple Choice

Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin became known as the Great Lakes Region. Why?

• There are many lakes in these states.

• They are located near large lakes.

• These states are surrounded by lakes.

• These states are named after lakes.

There are five Great Lakes. Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario. These five lakes represent the largest surface area of freshwater in the world. Eight states in the United States border the Great Lakes. Canada borders the Great Lakes to the north.

Multiple Choice

How many Great Lakes are there?

• 3

• 5

• 8

• 10

The Great Lakes provide access to the oceans for many inland cities. They were first connected to the Atlantic Ocean by the Erie Canal. Now the St. Lawrence Seaway connects the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean.

Canals and rivers connect the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico. Because of this water access, cities along the Great Lakes can trade with other parts of the world. Cities located on the Great Lakes rapidly grew as trade and industry helped bring people and jobs to the region.

Multiple Choice

Why did cities located on the Great Lakes grow rapidly?

• People were able to get plenty of fish.

• People had enough water to drink.

• People were able to trade with people all over the world.

• People were tired of farming.

From Forts to Industry

Some cities in the Midwest started as fur trading posts. As these posts grew, the United States wanted to protect these areas. The government began building forts to protect these growing towns and cities. In the early 1800s, Fort Dearborn was built to protect the trading post that would become the city of Chicago. In Ohio, the government built Fort Industry to protect the area that would become the city of Toledo.

Multiple Choice

Some cities in the Midwest started as

• lakes

• waterways

• forts

• fur trading posts

If you are ever in downtown Chicago, look for markers like these on the sidewalk. They show were Fort Dearborn was.

In the mid-1800s, the cities located on the Great Lakes grew, thanks to the access to resources and water. Farmers shipped their crops. Loggers shipped lumber. Miners shipped iron ore.

Multiple Choice

In the mid-1800s, the cities located on the Great Lakes grew because

• the cities had access to water.

• the cities were forts.

• the farmers were farming there.

• iron ore was discovered.

People wanted faster, more direct ways to ship goods. As a result, canals were built to connect major waterways. In 1848, the Illinois and Michigan Canal was completed in Illinois. This canal helped to directly link Lake Michigan with the Mississippi River. This also shifted the center of trade in the Midwest from St. Louis to Chicago.

Multiple Choice

Where were canals built?

• to give people opportunities

• to connect the Great Lakes

• to connect forts

• to connect major waterways

As trade along the waterways increased, cities on the Great Lakes and connecting rivers began to boom. People moved to these cities because of the jobs that were available there. For example, Chicago became one of the world's busiest lumber ports in the 1870s.

Multiple Choice

As trade along the waterways increased, cities on the Great Lakes and connecting rivers began to boom. What does boom mean in this sentence?

• a loud sound

• really cool things happen

• rapid growth

• part of a ship, where a sail is attached.

In 1870, most of the buildings in Chicago were built of wood. There were even wooden sidewalks. On October 8, 1871, a fire broke out on the the southwest side of the city. Because so much of the city was made of wood, the fire spread quickly. The Great Chicago Fire burned for more than 24 hours and ruined a section of the city that was about four miles long and one mile wide. The fire killed hundreds of people.

Multiple Choice

Why did the Great Chicago Fire spread quickly?

• people were in the way

• there was limited water

• much of the city was made of wood

• it burned for more than 24 hours

The rebuilding of the city was called the Great Rebuilding. Chicago's builders rebuilt many structures using steel rather than wood. Steel is made from iron ore. This change helped protect the city against huge fires. The demand for steel also helped the iron ore industry to grow.

Multiple Choice

What was the Great Rebuilding?

• The rebuilding of Chicago after the fire

• The Great Chicago Fire

• The rebuilding of Fort Dearborn

• The rebuilding of Toledo