Rare, Remarkable Maps Trace America's Path to Independence - Wired

Published in a children’s geography book in 1833, this map uses a majestic eagle as a symbol of the young nation. The text, however, hints at the discord that would lead to the Civil War, likening any future secession of states to tearing the eagle apart. Image: Library of Congress

Published in a children’s geography book in 1833, this map uses a majestic eagle as a symbol of the young nation. The text, however, hints at the discord that would lead to the Civil War, likening any future secession of states to tearing the eagle apart. Image: Library of Congress

This 1755 map of North America depicts British colonial ambitions for the continent, with claims reaching west to the Mississippi River and beyond. It conveniently ignores French claims in the Ohio and Mississippi Valleys. Image: Library of Congress

This 1755 map of North America depicts British colonial ambitions for the continent, with claims reaching west to the Mississippi River and beyond. It conveniently ignores French claims in the Ohio and Mississippi Valleys. Image: Library of Congress

As Deputy Postmaster General for the American colonies, Benjamin Franklin wondered why mail ships sailing west from London to New York took longer to arrive than ships sailing in the opposite direction. He published this map, the first to show the Gulf Stream current, around 1768. Image: Library of Congress

As Deputy Postmaster General for the American colonies, Benjamin Franklin wondered why mail ships sailing west from London to New York took longer to arrive than ships sailing in the opposite direction. He published this map, the first to show the Gulf Stream current, around 1768. Image: Library of Congress

A close up of Franklin’s Gulf Stream map. The Library’s copy is one of three known surviving copies. Image: Library of Congress

A close up of Franklin’s Gulf Stream map. The Library’s copy is one of three known surviving copies. Image: Library of Congress

This 1774 map depicts the legitimate colonial boundaries decreed by the 1763 Treaty of Paris, which marked the official end of the French and Indian War. Image: Library of Congress

This 1774 map depicts the legitimate colonial boundaries decreed by the 1763 Treaty of Paris, which marked the official end of the French and Indian War. Image: Library of Congress

The battle of Bunker Hill, just west of Boston, on June 17, 1775 was the first significant engagement between British and Colonial forces. The British won the battle but sustained heavy losses and withdrew their forces from Boston nine months later. Image: Library of Congress

The battle of Bunker Hill, just west of Boston, on June 17, 1775 was the first significant engagement between British and Colonial forces. The British won the battle but sustained heavy losses and withdrew their forces from Boston nine months later. Image: Library of Congress

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This map, printed in London, depicts colonial militias (the little dark spots along some roads) rushing to defend Boston in June, 1775. Image: Library of Congress

This map, printed in London, depicts colonial militias (the little dark spots along some roads) rushing to defend Boston in June, 1775. Image: Library of Congress

In this close up of the previous map, British and English forces face off at Bunker Hill (top). Image: Library of Congress

In this close up of the previous map, British and English forces face off at Bunker Hill (top). Image: Library of Congress

This map, produced by a Hessian military engineer (the Hessians, remember, were in cahoots with the British), depicts Washington’s crossing of the Delaware River and his successful attack on Trenton on December 26, 1776, an early turning point in the war. Image: Library of Congress

This map, produced by a Hessian military engineer (the Hessians, remember, were in cahoots with the British), depicts Washington’s crossing of the Delaware River and his successful attack on Trenton on December 26, 1776, an early turning point in the war. Image: Library of Congress

This map of Princeton, New Jersey was drawn by a spy for the Continental Army. Washington used this map, which depicts British troop positions and fortifications, in planning his successful attack on January 3, 1777&emdash;just four days after the map was delivered to him. Image: Library of Congress

This map of Princeton, New Jersey was drawn by a spy for the Continental Army. Washington used this map, which depicts British troop positions and fortifications, in planning his successful attack on January 3, 1777&emdash;just four days after the map was delivered to him. Image: Library of Congress

A close up of the spy map of Princeton. The dark lines in the middle of the large road running top to bottom are cannons; the dots show which direction they fired. Image: Library of Congress

A close up of the spy map of Princeton. The dark lines in the middle of the large road running top to bottom are cannons; the dots show which direction they fired. Image: Library of Congress

This map of the battles at Trenton and Princeton was published in London nearly four months later, in April 1777. It depicts eight days of fighting, and it would have been sold as a newssheet. Image: Library of Congress

This map of the battles at Trenton and Princeton was published in London nearly four months later, in April 1777. It depicts eight days of fighting, and it would have been sold as a newssheet. Image: Library of Congress

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This pictorial map shows the French naval blockade of the Chesapeake Bay and the naval battle off and the coast of Virginia that led to the British surrender at Yorktown on October 19, 1781. Image: Library of Congress

This pictorial map shows the French naval blockade of the Chesapeake Bay and the naval battle off and the coast of Virginia that led to the British surrender at Yorktown on October 19, 1781. Image: Library of Congress

The first map of the newly independent United States printed in America by an American. Abel Buell, a Connecticut engraver, produced this map in March 1784, just six months after the official end of the Revolutionary War. Image: Library of Congress

The first map of the newly independent United States printed in America by an American. Abel Buell, a Connecticut engraver, produced this map in March 1784, just six months after the official end of the Revolutionary War. Image: Library of Congress

A Philadelphia mapmaker, William McMurray, began raising money for this map in 1783, but it was slow going and Abel Buell (previous map) beat him to it. In addition to the 13 states, it shows 10 unnamed states northwest of the Ohio River. Image: Library of Congress

A Philadelphia mapmaker, William McMurray, began raising money for this map in 1783, but it was slow going and Abel Buell (previous map) beat him to it. In addition to the 13 states, it shows 10 unnamed states northwest of the Ohio River. Image: Library of Congress

The only map ever published by Thomas Jefferson, this map appears as a fold-out illustration in a 1787 edition of his book, Notes on the State of Virginia. Image: Library of Congress

The only map ever published by Thomas Jefferson, this map appears as a fold-out illustration in a 1787 edition of his book, Notes on the State of Virginia. Image: Library of Congress

Published in 1875 to commemorate the country’s centennial anniversary, this map incorporates illustrations of George Washington, the U.S. Capitol, and the Declaration of Independence. Image: Library of Congress

Published in 1875 to commemorate the country’s centennial anniversary, this map incorporates illustrations of George Washington, the U.S. Capitol, and the Declaration of Independence. Image: Library of Congress

The cartouche, or title block, of the previous 1876 map depicts the American Republic rolling westward by train, an optimistic vision for the nation just a decade past its bloody Civil War. Image: Library of Congress

The cartouche, or title block, of the previous 1876 map depicts the American Republic rolling westward by train, an optimistic vision for the nation just a decade past its bloody Civil War. Image: Library of Congress

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If you’re lucky enough to get off work for Independence Day, you’ll probably be spending some time by the grill, perhaps with a few cold beers nearby. It’s practically your duty as an American citizen.

But don’t forget that our independence from those imperialistic, tax-happy Brits was hard won, and the Declaration of Independence, signed 238 years ago today, was just the beginning. Actually, it was more like a dramatic middle act in a decades long struggle to break free of colonial rule and set a fledgling nation on the path to prosperity. The maps in this gallery tell that story.

They were selected by Ed Redmond, a map curator at the Library of Congress who specializes in early American history. They include the first map ever made of the Gulf Stream current in the Atlantic Ocean, drawn by Benjamin Franklin when he was in charge of getting mail to and from the colonies. There are maps depicting key battles in the Revolutionary War, and a hand-drawn spy map used by George Washington to plan a successful attack on Princeton, New Jersey in January 1777.

One of the most remarkable maps here is a wall map made by Abel Buell, a Connecticut engraver, in 1784. The best-preserved of the seven known surviving copies is currently on display at the Library as part of its Mapping a New Nation exhibit. Buell’s map is the first map of the United States published in America by an American (also the first to be copyrighted here).

Buell’s map reveals the ambitions of the new nation, Redmond says. The 1783 Treaty of Paris, which officially ended the war and established American independence, set the new nation’s western border along the Mississippi, but most of the new state borders stopped well short. Nevertheless, Buell extended those borders all the way to the Mississippi. “That’s the first real expression of American imperialism by an American author,” Redmond said.

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