it may have legally been underr spanish control after 1763, but not before. it was french territory before 1763. the french had a string of trading posts and forts right down to louisianna and across the plains through manitoba canada and up the sasketchewan rivers and up the missouri river.
even after 1763 there were no spanish authorities in the davenport area, the fur traders were from montreal. the old "northwest company", and it probably took twenty years for the french in the hinterland to switch allegiances of quit the country.
best survey history book by eccles:"france in america". the french were at the rockies by 1685, and to the pacific by 1710. waaaay before louis and clark. they had an extensive trade network and alliances with the natives.
vive les voyageurs!!
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