The book is primarily the history of the discovery, exploration, and competition for navigation rights and accesses to the Mississippi River prior to the War of 1812.

Content: The importance of the Mississippi Valley -- The Spanish discovery of the Mississippi -- The search of the French for the Mississsippi -- La Salle and the opening of the great west -- The exploration of the Upper Mississippi -- The beginning of Louisiana -- The struggle of the English and French for position -- English and Spanish neighbors after 1763 -- The navigation of the Mississippi, 1783-1795 -- Napoleon and the Louisiana country -- The Louisiana Purchase -- Congress and the problems of national expansion -- Establishing the American regime -- The Territory of Orleans and the New Louisiana.