1828 Vereninigte Staaten von Nord America
DESCRIPTION
This finely detailed map of the United States, published in Weimar in 1824 by Carl Berghaus for Reise durch Nord-Amerika, is based on John Melish’s groundbreaking 1822 map that defined the early geographic imagination of the expanding republic. The map presents the United States stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Rocky Mountains, illustrating a nation in the midst of rapid transformation following the Louisiana Purchase and the admission of Missouri as the newest state.
Geography and Exploration
In the east, the map provides extensive topographical and civic detail, with towns, rivers, postal routes, and political boundaries clearly delineated. Beyond the Mississippi, the map captures the recently acquired western territories: the Missouri and Arkansas Territories, as well as the “Northwest Terr.” corresponding to present-day Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota. The Great Plains are labeled the “Great American Desert,” reflecting the limited exploration and prevailing misconceptions of the region’s aridity before large-scale settlement.
Cartographic attention is particularly strong along the Missouri and Columbia River systems, which are shown with remarkable precision due to the influence of Lewis and Clark’s expedition maps. Farther southwest, present-day Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona remain under Mexican control, with sparse geographic information reflecting the limited European and American knowledge of the region at the time.
German Interest in America
The publication of this map coincided with a period of growing German fascination with the United States, just as transatlantic migration was beginning to surge. In the decades following 1820, hundreds of thousands of Germans sought new opportunities in America, driven by political unrest, population pressure, and the promise of land and freedom. Maps such as this one played a vital role in shaping public understanding of the American landscape, offering an informed and romanticized view of the young republic’s geography, industry, and potential for settlement.
Issued for a German audience eager to learn about and, increasingly, to experience the New World firsthand, this map stands as both a scientific and cultural document. It captures the geographic knowledge of the early nineteenth century while illustrating the growing connection between Europe and a rapidly expanding United States.
CONDITION
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