today we're looking at zebulon pike
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resources that go with many of these bellringer videos zebulon pike was an american military
officer and explorer who was responsible for exploring much of the area acquired
in the louisiana purchase pike was born on january 5th 1779 in lamington new jersey to
isabella and zebulon pike senior his father was a soldier in the continental army fighting in
the american revolution at the time when zebulin was born after the revolution was over his father
continued serving in the u.s military and moved his family to different outposts in ohio and
illinois territories zebulon would follow in his father's footsteps joining the army in 1794 at
the age of 15. in 1801 when he was about 22 years old he married clarissa harlow brown and together
they would have five children however only one of their children would live to adulthood in 1803 the
united states purchased the louisiana territory from the french for a price of 15 million dollars
the only thing was the united states purchased this 530 million acres of land but really had
no idea what all was out there that they had just purchased so then president thomas jefferson began
sending expeditions into the territory such as the lewis and clark's expedition setting out in 1804
to reach the pacific ocean over land in 1805 pike was stationed near st louis missouri and was given
the task of exploring the upper reaches of the mississippi river and try to find its source
on august 9 1805 pike's expedition set out heading north following the mississippi river by september
21 1805 pike's expedition had reached the point where the mississippi river and minnesota rivers
come together near present-day minneapolis minnesota from there they continued north
until they reached leech lake on february 1st 1806. pike then traveled a little further north
to cass lake which pike announced was the source of the mississippi river however in 1832 other
explorers identified lake itasca not far away as the source of the mississippi river but even to
this day there are some arguments about what the true source of the mississippi river is
pike and his expedition spent the remainder of that winter in the area and then began their
journey back on april 7th of 1806. they reached st louis on april 30th their return was much
much faster now because they were traveling with the current of the mississippi river
almost immediately upon returning pike was given orders to lead another expedition
to explore the southwestern part of the louisiana territory on this expedition he was supposed to
map the area and find the headwaters of the source of the arkansas and red rivers additionally pike
was to evaluate the resources in the area and make contact with native american groups in the region
on july 15 1806 pike along with 18 men began their journey west across missouri and into
present day kansas they continued west crossing over into what today is colorado
by november of 1806 they came within sight of the rocky mountains and pike spotted one
peak that he and the expedition attempted to climb near present-day colorado springs they
were unsuccessful in climbing the mountain but the mountain would be named pike's peak
from there they headed south and without realizing it crossed over into new mexico which was under
the control of the spanish at the time pike and the expedition were captured by the spanish on
february 27 1807 and taken to santa fe then taken further south into present-day mexico pike and
his men were held there for several months before the spanish escorted them to the louisiana border
and released them on july 1 1807. pike and his men then followed the mississippi river back up to st
louis pike had been able to map a large area of the louisiana purchase as well as areas of
texas and new mexico in 1810 pike published a book detailing his expeditions and what he had
seen it became a very popular book throughout the united states and even overseas in europe
in 1811 pike joined william henry harrison and led troops at the battle of tippecanoe
on november 7th of 1811 in central indiana barely a year after this the united states
declared war on britain and the war of 1812 began one of the early objectives of the united states
was to march north into british-held canada and capture strategic targets pike was promoted to
general and led troops north into canada and attacked york which is present-day toronto
on april 27 1813 as the americans began to push the british back the british troops ignited their
ammunition storage the blast was massive killing dozens of american troops including zebulon pike
pike was only 34 years old although pike never received the same recognition as lewis and clark
his exploration of the north and the west would set the stage in america for further
expansion of the nation so with that hopefully you learned something and thanks for watching
you