The Lewis and Clark Expedition Cir. 1804-1806
12N40 EN SLC
SSG Derick Coleman
MSG Benoit Fregiste
24 February 2017
Abstract
The Lewis and Clark expedition took place in reaction to the Louisiana Purchase. Thomas Jefferson made a deal with France for the purchase of nearly 827,000 square miles of land that is currently home to numerous states west of the Mississippi river system. The newly purchased land needed to be explored in order to find a water route to connect the eastern portion of the United States to the Pacific Ocean. This route would secure timely trade with Eastern European and Asian countries. Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, along with many volunteers would embark on an adventure to last nearly three years. The
…show more content…
(Jefferson to Du Pont 1802) outlines the importance of this deal. “This little event, of France possessing herself of Louisiana, is the embryo of a tornado which will burst on the countries on both shores of the Atlantic and involve in its effects their highest destinies”. The effects of the purchase deal would open a world of trade and link what was currently known as the small country of America to the rest of the world. But first, a route must be found. That is where Thomas Jefferson enlists the help of Meriwether Louis and William Clark to find a path …show more content…
Louis Missouri. That summer the team explored a vast portion of the Missouri river which lead northwest toward the Dakotas. The summer was spent pushing and pulling through unfamiliar terrain. The boats that were used proved to be unfit for traversing the waters that would lay ahead. The decision was made in late fall to set up a camp for the winter months ahead. The camp was built by Lewis and Clark and later became a well-known trapper’s camp named Fort Manden. The name of the fort came from the local Indian tribe called the Manden Indians. The Corps would winter at Fort Manden and spend time exploring and detailed maps of the area and river were drawn by William Clark. This is where they would meet the famed Sacagawea. The team realized the value of Sacagawea and her language skills as an interpreter. They knew that she would be needed in the event that they came across other Native American tribes. Her knowledge of the harsh terrain would be crucial to the success of the mission. (History.com). Sacagawea would bring new life to the team. She taught them how to build boats more suitable for the trip. The newly acquired skill would allow the discovery team to build what is known as the
Westward Expansion The Louis and Clark expedition best represents the start to Westward expansion following the end of the American Revolution in 1783. The Westward expansion began when Thomas Jefferson strived for expansion in order to form trade routes from the Atlantic to Pacific. The expedition of Louis and Clark took a total of 2 years and 4 months, covering 8,000 miles. They traveled the Missouri and Columbia river until they reached their destination. The long time period of travel had a tremendous effect on American history and society.
Trading was, and still is, especially important to the United States. A treaty with the Spanish government with the U.S. ended when the Spanish government no longer allowed America to store goods in New Orleans. Jefferson originally
“Sacagawea and her husband Charbonneau lived with the Hidatsa and Mandan Indians in the Missouri River area Where North Dakota is now. Lewis and Clark met Charbonneau and quickly hired him to serve as interpreter on their expedition. Even though she was pregnant with her first child, Sacagawea was chosen to come them on their mission. Even with her traveling with Jean Baptiste during the expedition Sacagawea proved to be helpful. She was skilled at finding edible plants.
Along the way, Lewis and Clark had to travel against the current of the rivers, and this was very challenging. In August, Lewis and Clark built a fort that was near the Mandan Tribe. They called it Fort
And when the boat flipped due to strong winds it was Sacagawea who collected everything important. Another tribe gave Lewis and Clark food, warmth and they helped them make new
As main author of the website, Lewis and Clark, Drake Allen wrote that on May 14, 1804 the caravan of approximately 45 men left St. Louis headed up the river. As time passed, twelve men headed back home to bring back samples of animals and plants to Thomas Jefferson. The twelve men would also report how the expedition was carrying out. Shortly into the trip, Lewis and his crew began to encounter conflicts that would greatly lower the moral of the journey. Roughly five months into the trip, the caravan of boats crossed into Teton Sioux land and the indians quickly
Their mission was full of danger which included many meetings with native american tribes. Not all treaties and meetings were peaceful, there were many times the team were at risk of wars with a few factions of warring tribes. They were lucky enough to meet a French-Canadian fur trapper named Toussaint Charbonneau and his wife Shoshone Sacagawea. They served as the expedition’s translators and guides. Their travels with sacajawea were cited in coin replicas and currency.
The expedition began in May, 1804 in St. Louis Missouri. The expedition, best known as Corps of Discovery Expedition, explored across the region and faced many complications. They traveled through dangerous water, harsh weather, violent tribes, illness, injuries, and made many discoveries. During
The expedition set by Lewis and Clark on 1804-1806 to the explore the newly purchased Louisiana territory was a crucial moment in American history. The idea for the exploration was brought by President Thomas Jefferson on January 18, 1803. After purchasing the Louisiana territory from the French, he wanted someone to explore it before people can relocate. He asked Lewis to go on this journey and to find out everything. Lewis agreed and selected William Clark for an expedition that would make history.
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.
She was in her mid teens and decided that The Corps of Discovery could use her help. Sacagawea was born in 1788 at Lemhi River Valley. She was born into an Agaidika Indian tribe, but at age twelve she was kidnapped by a Hidatsa tribe. Before she helped, she was pregnant for the first time. She was married to Charbonneau, who according to History Net, stated, “Charbonneau was hired because of his wife who spoke Shoshone because Lewis and Clark knew they would need help from these tribes” (History Net).
After studying astronomy, map-making, and other survival skills Meriwether made for the perfect explorer candidate. Lewis asked William Clark, a friend he made in army, to co-captain this journey with him. In mid-October Lewis and Clark made the final preparations in Clarksville, Indiana territory. It is here that they assembled the team that would accompany them on this trip. This team that was composed of Native American experts and men who were familiar with upper Missouri.
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
The Louisiana Purchase The Louisiana purchase was one of the biggest land purchases in history. In 1803, the United States paid around $15 million dollars for around 800,000 square miles of land. This was arguably the greatest achievement of thomas jefferson’s presidency. The louisiana territory was a wild card in the european game of imperialism.
Who is Sacagawea, Sacagawea is a born in Lemhi County, Idaho and helped Lewis and Clark with the Expedition the Pacific Coast. What did Sacagawea do? Sacagawea was a Shoshone interpreter for Lewis and Clark. When did she join the Expedition? Sacagawea joined the expedition when she was around the age of 12. Where did Sacagawea grow up? Sacagawea grew up around the Rocky Mountains and her father was the chief of the Shoshone tribe. Why Sacagawea is important?