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Lecture 3 was all about the Great American Desert. This term is used commonly when talking about exploration of th great plains. They call it a "desert" simply because many of the explores found it more or less desolate. The main reason that the explorers before Lewis and Clark did not appretiate the plains is because they were not looking for the resources that are found in the plains. Both the Spanish and the French were only interested in the plains because they wanted its resources for money. The Spanish were only looking for silver and gold which the plains lacks. Because the plains does not have any gold or silver it was desolate like a desert to them. The French like the Spanish were only interested in money but instead of gold or silver they were fur traders. The French had a better opinion of the plains than the Spanish was but they did not find what they wanted in the plains. To them it may as well have been a desert. These common ideas thoughout history are what probably make the "Great American Desert" phrase to be so widely accepted after it was coined. It wasn't until Lewis and Clark came to explore the plains that a positive view of the plains was found. Lewis and Clark were not looking for money they were solely looking for exploration and to promote the plains to new settlers.

Justin