I feel ignorant: What can you tell me about the Northwest Passage Treaty?

[Jenny in Florida]

I had a student during my online tutoring shift today who asked how the Northwest Passage Treaty affected American expansion. I looked and looked for any information about a treaty by that or any similar name, but could not find a thing.

 

So, now I feel dumb.

 

Can anyone educate me about this? (Or confirm that there isn't such a thing?)

[RootAnn]

No idea on the original question, but I found a few references to a fairly recent battle over the Northwest Passage - Who Owns the Artic? and International Law & International Security in the Northwest Passage. So, does it have to do with the Law of the Sea Convention?

[Jenny in Florida]

No idea on the original question, but I found a few references to a fairly recent battle over the Northwest Passage - Who Owns the Artic? and International Law & International Security in the Northwest Passage. So, does it have to do with the Law of the Sea Convention?

 

I found those, too, but since the question asked about American expansion, I an inclined to think we're not talking about anything very recent.

 

Thanks, though!

[kbutton]

Lewis and Clark were commissioned to find a Northwest Passage, but it didn't actually exist. I believe they made treaties or at least made contact with many Native American tribes throughout their trip on behalf of the US. Perhaps that is what your student is asking about.

[Jenny in Florida]

Lewis and Clark were commissioned to find a Northwest Passage, but it didn't actually exist. I believe they made treaties or at least made contact with many Native American tribes throughout their trip on behalf of the US. Perhaps that is what your student is asking about.

 

It's certainly possible, but neither Google nor Wikipedia could find anything that sounded at all like that title.

 

My guess was that the question was supposed to be about the Northwest Ordinance, but that was not, of course, a treaty.

[WishboneDawn]

You want the Treaty of 1818. :)

 

But because you mentioned the Northwest Passage

about the arctic route. It's a goosebump inducing song that references Franklin's doomed expedition. 

 

The chorus:

Ah, for just one time I would take the Northwest Passage

To find the hand of Franklin reaching for the Beaufort Sea;
Tracing one warm line through a land so wide and savage
And make a Northwest Passage to the sea.

 

The stories of the British who first tried to travel the NW passage are heady reading. Tragedy, horror...Stuff you don't want to read in a dark bedroom and empty house.

Anyhow, an amazing song by an amazing songwriter.

 

 

[WishboneDawn]

Lewis and Clark were commissioned to find a Northwest Passage, but it didn't actually exist. I believe they made treaties or at least made contact with many Native American tribes throughout their trip on behalf of the US. Perhaps that is what your student is asking about.

 

Bah. You want the Northwest passage of the Canadian Arctic for some real, stomach churning history. Ross, Kane, Parry, another Ross and then Franklin with his brilliantly named HMS Erebus and HMS Terror. Men stranded in the dark ice with limited rations for years with John Ross. Two ships and almost a hundred and fifty men disappearing into the ice with Franklin. 

 

Spooky. 

 

I inhaled this stuff for awhile. :D

[Jenny in Florida]

You want the Treaty of 1818. :)

 

 

I suggested that one to my student, too, but he was adamant that the name wasn't right.

[Elfknitter.#]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northwest_Passage

[EndOfOrdinary]

The Tordesillas Line designated by the Pope to settle the disputes between Spain and Portugal had a significant factor in Western expansion of European nations. This left the English without a water route to Asia. Many of the discoveries along the coast of North America were directly because the British were searching for the route to Asia. They called the route The North West passage (with a space) and some places still refer to the treaty and it's affect on the Northwest.

 

Maybe because the kick off for looking for the Northwest Passage was the Treaty of Tordesillas he is getting it all confused?

[WishboneDawn]

I suggested that one to my student, too, but he was adamant that the name wasn't right.

Then I think he needs to provide you with more info. It sounds like he may have a few wires crossed regarding the treaty.

[Jenny in Florida]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northwest_Passage

 

Yes, I read that, too. But I don't see anything about a treaty?

 

[Jenny in Florida]

Maybe because the kick off for looking for the Northwest Passage was the Treaty of Tordesillas he is getting it all confused?

 

I assumed he must be confused, too. However, I asked him to go back and look at the original wording of the question. He did and then came back to tell me the question read exactly as he had posted it: Describe how the Northwest Passage Treaty affected American expansion.

[Jenny in Florida]

Then I think he needs to provide you with more info. It sounds like he may have a few wires crossed regarding the treaty.

 

(For some reason, I can't multi-quote at the moment.)

 

I asked him to go back and check the original wording of the question. He did and said it read exactly as he had given it to me.

 

Thanks, though. It's nice to know I didn't forget or just miss anything.

 

[WishboneDawn]

(For some reason, I can't multi-quote at the moment.)

 

I asked him to go back and check the original wording of the question. He did and said it read exactly as he had given it to me.

 

Thanks, though. It's nice to know I didn't forget or just miss anything.

 

 

I'm thinking it must be a bad question then. The only references I could find linking Northwest passage and treaty were related to the 1818 treaty. The question makes sense in that context. Is there a specific time period he's studying?

 

this must be frustrating for you both!