The Lewis and Clark Exploration Essay

looked for a leader who he could trust to lead the expedition. When he came to his conclusion

In 1800 Thomas Jefferson was elected president. With the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, Jefferson had the vision of the United States growing from sea to sea. However, it was unknown what was out there. Jefferson planned an exploratory expedition and called upon Meriwether Lewis to lead it. Jefferson was very interested in what was in the west lands. Much was involved in the carrying out of this expedition; the preparations for this trip, what happened during their long journey west, and the return home. This expedition was very important in the development of the United States.

In May of 1804, two men set out on an important journey that would take them across the country and discover new land, but none of it would have been possible without the aid of one woman. The Lewis and Clark Expedition was planned by Thomas Jefferson, in order to explore the unknown in the newly purchased Louisiana Territory, and also to find a water route across the continent. Along the way the group of men met a quiet native, named Sacagawea, whose impact would later have a large effect on the success of their important journey.

Meriwether Lewis was born on August 18th, 1774 near Ivy, Virginia. His mom was named Lucy Meriwether and his dad who was named William Lewis, who later died in 1779 serving in the Continental Army. Meriwether grew up where he was born most of his life. His family's farm was in Ivy Creek, Virginia. When he was just a little kid, he was always outside exploring the woods and got a passion of hunting. He attended a school and his two teachers were named William Parsons and Matthew Maury. Meriwether went to Washington and Lee university where

traveled,Clark spent most of his time on the ship journaling the course and making maps. Lewis wa s often on the shore, studying the rock formations, soil,animals, and plants along the way.

George was born as the eldest son of this father’s second marriage on February 22, 1732. And during his childhood, George moved with his family to another plantation on a place called Epsewasson, not very far from the Potomac.

Either way, Lewis was the man for the job. He had skill as a gentleman, politician and military officer as well as skill with the sciences and all the knowledge of Indians as could be found. With his friend William Clark as his equal for the journey, they spent the fall and winter in preparation. Jefferson had given Lewis a “blank check” with the understanding that he should buy what he needed and the U.S. government would pay the bill, despite the fact that only $2500 had originally been approved by congress before the formal purchase of the Louisiana Territory. (Jefferson)

George Rogers Clark was born in Albermale County, Virginia on November 19, 1752 to John and Ann Rogers Clark. The Clark family

Armistead was born February 18, 1817 in New Bern, North Carolina. Lewis came from a high-ranking military family. His father, George Armistead was the commander of Fort McHenry during the War of 1812, and his grandfather, John Stanly was a United Stated Congressman, and uncle Edward Stanly was a military governor of Eastern North Carolina during the Civil War. Due to his family connection to the United States military and government, Lewis attended the West Point in 1834.

Our Savage Neighbors: How Indian War Transformed Early America. Author: Peter Silver. Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company New York (2008)

When Jefferson was a child two of his siblings died. By the time he was 14 years old his father past away, so his fathers slaves, land, and inherited that was his fathers’. So later on in his life he made his own family with his wife Martha Jefferson. They

Jefferson Finis Davis was born on June 3, 1808. His parents were Samuel Davis and Jane Cook Davis. Davis’s father fought in the American Revolution, which led our country to freedom. Besides Jefferson his parents had nine other children. Not wanting anymore children after Jefferson they gave him the middle name Finis which means last in Latin. Davis was born in Kentucky but moved to Mississippi when he was a young child. He considered Mississippi his home state because he spent the majority of his life there. (“Jefferson Davis”)

Revolutionary War. He led his forces to victory over the British. which made him a national hero.

He was born on January 11th, 1757. He grew up from a troubled family and became the greatest man of his time. He had to watch his mother, Rachel Faucette Buck, die. Then their father left them (Alexander and his brother, James Hamilton) with no money or food. Their older cousin (Peter James Hamilton Jr.) ended up taking them in and caring for them.

By that time the expedition that was led by Meriwether Lewis was going through where I lived. Lewis decided