What was one of the greatest expeditions in American history one would ask? Well that would happen to be the Lewis and Clark expedition in which they made a great numbers of discoveries. The Lewis and Clark expedition lasted from May 1804 until September 1806. Even though they did not succeed in finding a way from Mississippi to pacific they did something even more remarkable. Lewis and Clark found “more than 100 new animals and 178 plants, as well as providing 140 maps of the region.” Obtaining information about the indigenous culture, establish trade along with affirm the sovereignty of the united states in the region was the mission behind the expedition. Although Lewis and Clark wasn’t the first to go on such an adventure they sure were the one that opened many doors for the United States. …show more content…
The things Jefferson wanted from Lewis and Clark was to “obtain information about their language, traditions and occupations.” Even though the gathering of intelligence would soon be proven invaluable in future attempts to become allies with these people it showed the interest Jefferson had with the Indian culture. But how would Lewis and Clark do such a thing when every foreign would see them as a threat? Having Sacagawea and her child accompany them on the trip they were not perceived as a warrior. Therefore by the help of her they avoided conflict. As Clark would say “a woman with a party of men is a token peace sign.” If Jefferson could have the Indians on their side eventually the United States would have more land available to help sustained the ideal of a yeoman republic which in the end would ensure Jefferson view of the political view of
Louis and Clark were sent out to explore the new land, to see what it was like out in the unexplored land. The Corps of Discovery left in May 1804 and didn’t come back until September 1806. Within those two years Louis, Clark and their men, had encountered with Native Americans. This is a really important deal because the natives had helped Louis and Clark on their journey. Sacajawea helped them with paths, directions, and interacting with other Indians. If Louis and Clark never had encounters with the natives than they would have never found their way back home. If they didn’t return home on one would know if it was safe land to live on, or bad land to live on. Ever since they explored the land that Jefferson bought, more people went out and explored, there were fur trapper’s mountain men and many different types of people that had went out and explored after Louis and Clark returned. So the point on why it was a turning point, is because they made interactions with the Native Americans, and the natives helped explore the new
In two years, Lewis, Clark, and all of the men that traveled with them did the impossible. They mapped the territory, collected ample samples of flora and fauna, and made peace with the various Indian tribes, all while keeping more than thirty men alive in the wilderness. If they hadn’t been efficient packers and effective diplomats, none of this would have been possible. Their journey was a huge success, and all of the men made it back alive, despite risking themselves several times by splitting up. The journey of Lewis and Clark will be remembered for centuries to come, and rightfully so.
Jefferson had secured agreement form the ambassadors of England, France, and Spain that their counties would not try to interfere with Lewis and Clark expedition. The explorers met with Osage Indians on their way of expedition but the Indians were peaceful. For unknown to Leis and Clark, the Spanish had reneged on the promise of safe conduct given to Jefferson by the Spanish ambassadors. Yrujo had warned his Spanish men that American were taking toward the South Sea and he urged commandant Salcedo general of Viceroyalty of New Spain to arrest Lewis and his followers and to seize all the documents that may be found on them. Then Salcedo encouraged his Indian allied to attack Lewis and Clark, but Comanches Indians never found them. The Lakotas was invited to the council by a French-Canadian interpreter who had lived among them and the first meeting with the Lakota was done well. I think Lewis and Clark could have exacted amicable relations if they were acting on their own because they both worked under the order of Jefferson to explore.
This report is on Lewis and Clark's adventure through the United States. On May 14,1803 William Clark and nearly four dozen other men met up with Meriwether Lewis on May 20. The Lewis and Clark
The Lewis and Clark expedition was a truth that was to become the crowning accomplishment in the lifetime of the brilliant thinker, inventor, and founding father, Thomas Jefferson . It has become a profounding turning point throughout America’s history. Investigating the recently obtained Louisiana Territory, which nearly doubled the size of the country, arranged Jefferson the opportunity to widen the boundaries of the United States to include both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The threat of the unknown lay ahead for Lewis and Clark’s team. The explorers had no idea what they would e be confronted with on their journey, but still they advanced into the unknown area that could officially be called part of America. Thanks to the addition of Lewis, Clark, their essential guide Sacajawea, and the many men that traveled with them America was able to expose land as well as providing important information about the topography, the biological studies, the ecology, and the studies of the American Indian as they discovered the mysteries of the Louisiana Purchase. Although it was a treacherous and costly journey, the Lewis and Clark expedition was the most important exploration in American history.
On May 14, 1804 in the eastern city of Saint Louis, William Clark and Merry-weather Lewis set of on the westward adventure that would change America as we know it today. Their journey began on the Mississippi River, those rapids would propel Lewis and Clark into the "Corps of Discovery". Across the vast land that these men would soon travel lived the many native-american tribes. The Native people hunted freely across their western lands, lived their life as one with the ground they so carefully treaded on. Soon, the great American adventurers and the native people would meet, but one brought with them the foreshadowing of a new era. An era when American life would be greatly improved with new natural resources and plentiful free land, but only at the cost of ruining the native american people of their way of life. The Lewis and Clark Expedition expanded the knowledge and lifestyle of America but began the elimination of the original American natives way of life and culture.
Captain Meriwether Lewis and William Clark put their lives on the line only to return with information regarding the Pacific Northwest of the United States territory. Their reasons behind this journey, being to expand the United States to the West, involved the entire nation but debatably, their accomplishments and the reaction of others became a major part of today’s history.
On February 28, 1803, President Thomas Jefferson, with the approval of congress, created the Corps of Discovery. Their mission was to map the newly acquired western lands of the Louisianna Purchase, almost 1803—828,000 square miles of unexplored territory, as well as find a route to the Pacific Ocean. This expedition was led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. During their adventure, the group encountered many hostile Native American groups, and if not for Sacagawea, these tribes would have surely jeopardized their operation. Due to her role as a helpful guide, Sacagawea was crucial in the encounter between the Corps of Discovery and the Native Americans because she negotiated and traded between the groups, functioned as a peace token, and served as an interpreter.
America doubled in size in 1803 when President Thomas Jefferson bought the Louisiana Territory from France for 15 million dollars. Jefferson wanted to discover this land and hoped to find a water route that would link the pacific ocean with the mississippi river. Jefferson decided to enlist the help of his personal secretary and soldier, Meriwether Lewis. Lewis knew he couldn’t go on this journey alone and he knew just the man to join him on the journey. William Clark was a draftsman who possessed knowledge of the outdoors. Among Lewis and Clark, young american soldiers and french canadian river men were hand picked to tag along with them on their journey. York, Clark’s personal slave and companion since childhood, tagged along. Another person
Exploration has always been a central theme in the development of the United States. The Louisiana Purchase, in 1803, made the government more eager to expand west. The newly acquired lands were in need of exploration. A team needed to be established to survey and document the new territory. The Lewis and Clark expedition would answer the unknown questions of the west. The expedition would not have been successful without the leadership, determination, discipline of the Corps of Discovery, and the cooperation of the Native Americans. President Jefferson wanted the leader to have the same passion and intensity toward the discovery of the west as he possessed. Jefferson hand-
The Expedition: In 1803 Meriwether Lewis and William Clark began their journey to explore the unknown west. Since it was America’s first time exploring the west, and never seeing the new land. There were many new plants, animals, Indian tribes, and new land. The expedition helped the Americans settle and move westward with the new land that was ours. The Lewis and Clark expedition finally ended
President Thomas Jefferson wrote to the Senate and the House of Representatives asking them for $2,500 “for the purpose of extending the external commerce of the United States”1 under the lead of his trusted secretary, Meriwether Lewis. In his letter President Jefferson told congress of the western Indian Tribes’ uneasiness as their lands shrunk, and the urgent need to make contact with the tribes to expand the American Trading system while both parties were still on good terms. However, the main goal for the U.S from this expedition would be a continuation of U.S. territory westward. President Jefferson also planned for Lewis to explore the West to locate the hypothetical Northwest Passage, or a sea route through the Northern American continent. (Jefferson,
As such, in 1804, President Thomas Jefferson hired Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to explore the vast territory. Before the expedition started, President Jefferson instructed Lewis and Clark to interact with the Native Americans they encountered on their journey friendly and treat them nicely for it will help to acquire their knowledge and to know everything about their way of life such as religion, occupations, food, clothing, language, relations to other nations, traditions, animals, and how they are killed. This will guide and assist the Americans in taking over the Louisiana territory because they know their weaknesses and strengths. In addition, before they left for the expedition, they bought well known Indian gifts such as glass beads, mirrors, scissors, thimbles, needles, tobacco, knives, peace medals, etc, as an important sign of friendship and allegiance. Lewis and Clark were accompanied by some recruited soldiers, Clark's African-American slave York, Toussaint Charbonneau as an interpreter in the expedition, Toussaint pregnant wife, and the only female in the expedition named Sacagawea, John Ordway, and many
The indians fed them, clothed them, and gave them maps of the surrounding areas to aid in their quest. Lewis and Clark went on their way and began the journey home. When they returned they home, Lewis and Clark spoke of very charitable and compassionate Indians who saved their lives. Many did not buy it since they believed the Indians to be but simple savages who wished to kill all whites. Many would not budge their opinion on the matter due to the Indians role in the war with Britian. Although the trip was a critical success in mapping the lands west the of the Mississippi river, it did not save the Indians from the destruction coming their way.
“After every matter arranged, we left the banks of St. Charles with cheers from the crowd…into unknown civilization.” (Lewis and Clark) The United States of America was considered to be all of the land east of the Mississippi river. All the land west of the river was, as they thought, a remote and uncivilized part of the world. Sent by President Thomas Jefferson to find the fabled Northwest Passage, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark led a very important, but dangerous expedition to explore this land and find a passage to the Pacific Ocean. These men led an agonizingly long and difficult journey through obstacles inexplicable to anyone who has not been through them, and risked their lives for the good of their country, achieving the goal of discovery in the end.