Compare And Contrast Lewis And Clark

Lewis and Clark

Some might know about the Louisiana Purchase and Lewis and Clark's expedition but do you know how it benefited the U.S. besides just doubling our size? Well, Lewis and Clark traveled to the United States that achieved mapping out new uncharted territory and advancing the U.S. medical prowess.

Officially starting such a journey for Lewis and Clark, the French sold all the land west of the Mississippi river in 1803 totaling around 15 million dollars and 530 million acres of land, this purchase doubled the size of the U.S. at the time. Such a purchase included 15 states (Louisiana, Missouri, Arkansas, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, and Minnesota.) The French sold Louisiana

President Jefferson wanted to acquire the New Orleans part which at the time was blemishing with sea trade, and would now be the state of Louisiana. This purchase would later be considered the greatest real estate deal of all history. Thomas Jefferson sent both Lewis and Clark as co-leaders for this journey, calling the group the “ corps of discovery”. Lewis, a personal secretary, and Clark, a retired officer, were ready for the journey. In 1804, Lewis, Clark, and many other men left St. Louis, Missouri by boat. Traveling westward they met a young Shoshone Native American woman named “Sacagawea” and her husband “Toussaint” who joined the expedition as interpreters for the corps. Sacagawea was a huge help during the expedition because she was native to the land and could help gather supplies like herbs, plants, and Horses; She also helped with peace negations with the native tribes, and she did all this while carrying her newborn baby on her back. After picking these 2 people up the CORPS traveled west, the CORPS traveled 15-20 miles by foot and boat a day toward the mountains. The CORPS wouldn’t see the Pacific Ocean until November 1805, over a year of traveling. After making it to the Pacific they started making their way back, March 1806 after waiting out the bad weather, the

like mapping uncharted lands. “Lewis and Clark and their team mapped uncharted land, rivers, mountains, it made Americans dream about going west” quoted from National Geographic Kids. The CORPS made great maps that were used until 1840, having such maps I think promoting the idea of the Westward expansion. “telling stories and tales about the Midwest, enticing the people to dream of moving there” said National Geographic Kids. The Lewis and Clark expedition promised people nice fertile land for farming which was the main reason for the westward expansion I feel. This discovery of multiple plants and animals and new land achieved things like new agricultural advanced means, which later in history they’ll deal with harder things like the dust bowl. Uncharted lands being mapped advanced the U.S. more than you might