Meriwether Lewis and William Clark are well-known for their exploration westward in an effort to expand the United States territory. Lewis and Clark were charged with exploring the Louisiana territory, mapping the territory and water routes, recording land resources, establishing trade with the Native American people, and claiming the land in the West for the United States. During the expedition, Lewis and Clark had encounters with over 50 different Native American tribes, and in order to expand in the West, Thomas Jefferson encouraged Lewis and Clark to treat the Native American Indians in a friendly and non-hostile manner. Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were respectful to the Native Americans because they learned about each tribe’s culture, …show more content…
At one point in their journey, Lewis and Clark were accompanied by a Shoshone couple and their child who helped Lewis and Clark with interpreting. Clark demonstrated respect to Shabono and Sacagawea by offering to allow them travel to Illinois with Lewis and Clark which they declined. In the diary entry written by Clark, he stated, “I offered to take his son, a beautiful promising child, who is 19 months old, to which they both, himself, and wife were willing” (Document D). Clark offering to take the child showed he respected their decision as Native Americans and parents, but he was willing to provide a better way of life for the child. Clark did not demonstrate that he was forceful in offering to take the child which also shows that he respected their choice. By demonstrating respect, Clark was given permission to take their child and raise their child however Clark felt was most proper and appropriate. While Lewis and Clark clearly demonstrated respect to the Native American Indians, opponents would argue that Lewis and Clark were disrespectful because an Indian was murdered. In an article by Times Magazine, the text quoted Lewis as saying the Blackfeet were, “a vicious, lawless and rather an abandoned bunch of wretches” (Document C). Lewis may or may not have said this during a discussion, but this does not mean that if Lewis did say this that he disregarded or disrespected Indian life. In an account in his diary, Lewis stated,
Befriending the Indians Lewis & Clark’s Greatest Achievement the Indians helped Lewis and Clark all throughout their expedition. How? Here are the reasons why Lewis and Clark’s greatest achievement was befriending the Indians. Lewis and Clark’s most important contribution was supported by the Indians trading with them, sketching maps for them and by Lewis and Clark giving gifts to the Indians.
On May 14, 1804 William Clark and his four dozen men left their St. Louis camp to meet with Meriwether Lewis. The men met going upstream the Missouri river on May 20, 1804 starting the Lewis and Clark expedition. Clark would stay aboard the keelboat to chart the course and make maps when Lewis went to study the different rock formations, soil, animals, and plants on land. They tried to make camp along the river when they could and used night guards in case they encountered any Indians. Lewis and Clark, along with their men, traveled more than 600 miles up the Missouri by the end of July.
Lewis and Clark traveled to the northern parts of the area. They met with different native tribes the Mandan tribe, Hirata, Teton Sioux, and Oto. They met French trappers, they also met a French trapper whose wife named Sacagawea, was of the Shoshone tribe. She was great with speaking to different tribes. During their journey, they wrote in a journal.
On May 2, 1803, President Thomas Jefferson doubled the size of the United States through a treaty with Napoleon Bonaparte that negotiated the possession of the territory west of the Mississippi River, alias the Louisiana Purchase. Adamant on finding a viable waterway that connected the Missouri River to the Pacific in hopes of strengthening commerce, Jefferson appointed Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to venture into the uncharted region. Although the desired water route proved to be nonexistent, the Corps of Discovery Expedition managed to redeem itself by bringing insight into the economic potential and characteristics of the land as well as endless encounters with the land's flora, fauna, and natives. Preliminary Preparations Jefferson's resolution when it came to the unearthing of the unprecedented secrets held by the western part of North America was implacable.
Despite what many might think, "Undaunted Courage" by Steven Ambrose is an excellent non-fiction adventure about the journey of Lewis and Clark. This book rekindled my interest in the Lewis and Clark Exhibition and I would recommend it to all. An excellent book that forces one to appreciate not just Lewis and Clark, but all Americans who took great risks to allow us to live as we do. In many standard books, it is said that Lewis death was an accident or a murder, while in "Undaunted Courage" his death has ruled a suicide. I had also learned that the only people on this journey were Meriwether Lewis, William Clark, and a young Indian named Sacagawea, a young Indian who had been captured by Lewis and Clark to serve as a guide.
With many people in mind to select, Jefferson appointed his former secretary Meriwether Lewis due to his conglomerate amount of skills. With Lewis in place, he chose William Clark because of his abilities as a draftsman and frontiersman. Lewis and Clark’s exploration of
The Indians knew the land and Americans also had power over the Indians. Lewis and Clark needed the help of the Indians after discussing what The corps of discovery could do for the Indians they agreed to help. “The expedition held councils with Indians, in which the corps had military parades, handed out peace medals, flags, and gifts, delivered speeches, promised trade, and requested intertribal peace”. (Buckley 1) Lewis also took matter in his own hands by “purchasing a large stock of supplies, including guns and ammunition, food, clothing, navigational instruments, and large numbers of goods to be used as gifts and barter for Indians”. (Bredenberg 1)
the Lewis & Clark expedition, or the Corps of Discovery, began in 1804 and was given permission by President Thomas Jefferson to venture into the newly purchased western territories of Louisiana. France sold the United States the entire territory of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. This enormous tract of land “doubled the size of the United States” empire and was sold to us for “less than three cents per acre” (First Americans, pp. 251). The expedition was headed by two men named Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. Their goals included exploring, mapping, and documenting every aspect of discovery along the Missouri River all the way to the Pacific Ocean.
These new animals opened up more scientific opportunities when they brought the specimens back to the east coast. Furthermore, while the men were traveling to the Pacific, they uncovered lots of land new to them. They mapped this land and brought the maps back to the east. I believe it was very courageous of Lewis and Clark to take the risk of dying to expand our country. This is something I definitely admire.
Search for Discovery and Civilization e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e “Amazing the things you find when you bother to search for them”, said Sacagawea, a Native American who helped Lewis and Clark on their journey of the Louisiana Purchase. Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were asked by the President at the time, Thomas Jefferson, to take an expedition to find a route across the continent. Lewis and Clark went on with the expedition down the Mississippi River with a few helpers. They were given many goals from Thomas Jefferson, such as finding a water route to the Pacific Ocean, studying plants and animals on the way, and to find and make peace with Native Americans.
The reason why Lewis and Clark regretted jumping in was because of the same reasons. In conclusion, our group 's decision can be compared to Lewis’ and Clark’s
Because of Clark's experience with indians he was promoted to the superintendent of indian affairs. When Julia died, in 1820, she left along 5 children and Sacagawea's child “Pomp.” Clark remarried Julia's cousin ,Harriet Kennerly Radford,in 1821 and took in two more children. when Harriet died in 1831 Clark Decided to move to St. Louis to live with his son Meriwether Lewis Clark, and ended up dying on September 1st, 1838 by what is known as a “brief illness” (lewisclark.net). William was not only great on “Corps of Discovery” but had a great effect on America even after the
Lewis and Clark Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were on an expedition lead by Lewis on the orders of Thomas Jefferson the president at the time. The expedition began in 1804 and it lasted two years because of the length and harsh travel. On there way they met an Indian named Sacajawea she helped take Lewis and Clark to their destination. Sacajawea was part of the Mandan tribe with her husband a fur trapper. There expedition became very famous and now I will tell you about it.
Thomas Jefferson’s Instructions to Meriwether Lewis discussed the appointment of Lewis as commander of the expedition, gave specific details of the purpose of the exploration, and provided directions for Lewis to follow when carrying out the trip. Thomas Jefferson carefully selected his personal secretary, Meriwether Lewis, to be the commander of the Expedition and trusted that he would be able to perform the tasks assigned to him. Jefferson requested that an abundant amount of precise notes be taken and that they be protected at all costs. He was interested in learning about the people occupying the land, their culture, the ecosystems, and the land. In addition to note taking, treating the Native Americans with respect and peace was important
Therefore, Lewis and Clark were respectful because they gave them gifts. Additionally, they spoke respectfully. A letter from Thomas Jefferson to Lewis says, “...our wish to be neighborly, friendly, and useful to them, and to trade with them.” If they had any plans to harm them that would have been disrespectful, but they wanted to be friendly.