407. Eastern Terminus, Stops 407-432

Since 1542 the Spanish had claimed most of North

and South America. Many of these new lands were rich in gold and silver, which the Spanish mined and sent back to Spain. The Spanish kept tight control over all trade, refusing to let non-Spanish traders sell to the villagers.

The Spanish brought trade caravans to these far away villages once every two or three years. A few Americans did attempt to sell items in Santa Fe, only to end up in a Spanish jail.

Missouri was the furthest west territory of the United

States. Most of its population was located in and around St. Louis. However, more and more people had been moving up the Missouri River. The largest settlement was Franklin, Missouri, two hundred miles west of St. Louis.

In 1817, the first steamboat made its way up the Missouri River as far as Franklin. Life in this area of Missouri was not easy because a great depression affected the whole nation. Farmers and merchants alike were deeply in debt.

The year 1821 brought great changes. Missouri became part of the United States. Mexico achieved its freedom from Spain. William Becknell, one of these Missourians who was in debt, recognized the opportunity for trade and struck it rich selling goods to the villagers of Santa Fe. He found routes to Santa Fe that others soon followed. Because of his courage and his independent spirit, William Becknell became known as “The Father of the Santa Fe Trail,” a trail that would change the way of life not only for the citizens of Santa Fe, but also for the people of United States and for the peoples of many tribes of American Indians.