Native American Autobiography

President Thomas Jefferson commissioned the Corps of Discovery to have the Lewis and Clark expedition find a waterway that could connect the United States for transportation because he had aspirations to expand to the Pacific and Northwest making the expedition important to his agenda for the United States. (The Corp of Discovery, 2016). Another reason for the important expedition was to create a relationship with the American Indians, and the American fur trade, while learning the North American topography and geography of the land which was also important to the exploration (Corps of Discover, 2016). Thomas Jefferson was important to the Lewis and Clark expedition because he organized the journey, sought funding and made Lewis and Clark head

To many people it is a strong belief the Lewis and Clark expedition was a threat against the american indians and wildlife and caused the start of their removal, but I believe that what happened to the american indians had to happen in order to expand our country. The Lewis and Clark expedition explored the Louisiana purchase bought from the French in 1803 after the French failed their dream of a new empire. Current president Thomas Jefferson was asked by the French to buy a considerable amount of land for a very cheap price when the french had entered a rough patch of financial issues. The land was bought by Thomas Jefferson who had no idea what or really even who was living there besides the american indians. Thomas Jefferson decided to send explorers

We have finished. We finished the journey. Today is the day that will go down in history books. Everyone will remember the Meriwether Lewis and William Clark expedition. They’ll call it “one of the greatest expeditions of all time.”

The Lewis and Clark expedition was the first American exploration across the western part of the United States. They were known as the “Corps”. While exploring Lewis and Clark encountered a with Native American tribe. The tribe exchanged knowledge, ideas, and items to help Lewis and Clark with their journey. Their exploration find a practical route across the Western half of the continent. Lewis and Clark encountered many obstacles like the Rocky Mountains, but found the Pacific ocean and a way across the United States. By the courageous exploration of Lewis and Clark, their encounters with Native Americans, and the exchange of foods, animals, and knowledge shaped the United States as it is today.

Wilson James. The Earth Shall Weep: A History of Native America. New York: Grove Press. 1998.

Throughout history, there have been many literary studies that focused on the culture and traditions of Native Americans. Native writers have worked painstakingly on tribal histories, and their works have made us realize that we have not learned the full story of the Native American tribes. Deborah Miranda has written a collective tribal memoir, “Bad Indians”, drawing on ancestral memory that revealed aspects of an indigenous worldview and contributed to update our understanding of the mission system, settler colonialism and histories of American Indians about how they underwent cruel violence and exploitation. Her memoir successfully addressed past grievances of colonialism and also recognized and honored indigenous knowledge and identity.

The Louisiana Purchase posed several significant moral dilemmas for President Thomas Jefferson, among these were that he did not plan on expanding the country, he wanted the country to be agrarian instead of industrial, and was a strict constructionist.

On the Lewis and Clark expedition, the two men had encountered Native American tribes. Nobody has been completely sure if they treated the Indians with respect. Meriwether Lewis, a skilled frontiersman, was chosen by President Thomas Jefferson to take the lead in an expedition where he would explore the land he had bought, which was known as the Louisiana Purchase. Lewis had chosen William Clark, a draftsman and frontiersman, to co-lead in the journey. The Lewis and Clark expedition began its long journey in May 1804. Throughout the expedition, Lewis and Clark had ran into Native Americans who lived on the land. Lewis and Clark were respectful towards the Native Americans. The explorers had gifted the Indian tribes to befriend them, treated the Native Americans’ health, and trusted the

In the November, of 1804 they met Toussaint Charbonneau, A French Canadian fur trapper with 2 wives. He had lived amongst the Mandan and Hidatsa for many years. One of his wives was pregnant, her name was Sacagawea. She was 16 years old, she was not originally Shoshone she was Hidatsa, she had been kidnapped when she was 12 and taken from the Hidatsa to the Shoshone, Where she now lived with her husband, Toussaint.

Life as a Native American sucks. I realized this when I was a little kid. I’ve come to accept that what other people label or describes us as are true. I’m not happy to admit this they are right. My people don’t do anything to prove these people’s claims, or better known as stereotypes, about Native Americans wrong. Instead they do the complete opposite and just give these people all the reasons why they are right about how Native Americans are. I realized how my people being called as alcoholic, poor, and uneducated are all sadly true. For example, on New Year’s eve, my family had a big party which was suppose to be fun. It was suppose to be a good get-together family party, but as expected it wasn’t like that at all. My two uncles, named Adolph and Arnold, got into a very bloody fistfight with each other due to all of the drinking that they had. As a

Lewis and Clark were known for an incredible journey that changed US history. The journey increased the size of the US dramatically. From May 14, 1804, to September 23, 1806, a dangerous but yet history changing exploration occurred. Through many dangerous situations and hardships, the expedition of Lewis and Clark turned out a success.

The Corps of Discovery was a group of the United States' army that was specifically opted for exploration. The leaders of this branch consisted

"Envisaging the West: Thomas Jefferson and the Roots of Lewis and Clark." Envisaging the West: Thomas Jefferson and the Roots of Lewis and Clark. Ed. Douglas Seefeldt. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2015.

There are far far better things ahead than anything we leave behind. In 1802 I was told to set off on a journey west. To find the Northwest Passage. You will now hear my encounters and just imagine my journey.

In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson managed to initiate the Lewis and Clark Expedition, which was also known as the Corps of Discovery Expedition, after the Purchase of Louisiana, which was considered one of his highlights during his political career, marking the first government-sponsored exploration. President Thomas appointed Meriwether Lewis, the private secretary of the president, to be the Commander of the Expedition. Lewis also asked his close friend William Clark, who Lewis had served with in the army, to help him with the expedition and he actually named Clark the co-commander of the expedition. Generally speaking, the expedition had a significant impact on American history.