This paper will explain why Lewis and Clark are two of the greatest explorers in American history. Some of the distinguishing factors of these explorers and the three main points in this paper are their exploration of the uncharted west by way of the Missouri river, the many discoveries made along the way, and the effect they had on the westward expansion of the United States. In January 1803, Thomas Jefferson sent a confidential message to Congress asking for approval and funding of the exploration of the Westward part of the continent and was granted 2500-dollar budget for the expedition. Captain Meriwether Lewis was chosen as the expeditions’ leader because of his previous experience with the west and because he was an experienced Army officer. William Clark another Army officer was chosen as Lewis’s co-captain in the expedition. On May 21, 1804 Lewis, Clark, and the 33 other men making up the Corps of discovery set off leaving their camp in St. Louis, Missouri. Just two days along their journey, Lewis nearly lost his life when he and his dog were walking along the river studying the land and he almost fell off a cliff on the edge of the river. In September 1804, the Corps ran into the Teton Sioux and were demanded by the chief to surrender their boat before they could pass. After the Corps refused to give up their boat, the Sioux began threatening them with violence. Incredibly, the chief ended up calling off his men and the Corps continued the expedition. On November 4, 1804 Lewis and Clark hire Toussaint Charbonneau a fur-trader and his Shoshone wife, Sacagawea, to act as interpreters on the journey ahead. The Corps continued up the Missouri River until winter hit and they stopped in the villages of the Mandan tribe... ... middle of paper ... ...issouri river, their many great discoveries, and the effect they had on the westward expansion of the United States. Works Cited • "Flora." Lewis and Clark Discoveries. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Jan. 2014. • "Lewis and Clark." About.com Geography. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Jan. 2014. . • "National Geographic: Lewis & Clark—Expedition—Time Line." National Geographic: Lewis & Clark—Expedition—Time Line. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Jan. 2014. • National Geographic: Lewis & Clark. Dir. Bruce Neibaur. Perf. Jeff Bridges. National Geographic Video, 2003. DVD. • "How Lewis and Clark Worked." HowStuffWorks. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Jan. 2014. .
American history is joined by a not insignificant rundown of adventurers who initially found and who investigated the gigantic landmass. The majority of the wayfarers affected the advancement of America. The Lewis and Clark campaign, otherwise called the Corps of Discovery, stands conspicuously at the top some portion of this rundown. The Lewis and Clark Expedition has had a huge political, social, and monetary impact on America. They were the first to guide out the west and set off westbound development. Without the accomplishment of the undertaking development of America would have taken five times as long, as anticipated by Thomas Jefferson.
Manifested in the mind of the 3rd President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson came the first American expedition to head west towards the Missouri River all the way to the Pacific Ocean, in the year 1804. The Lewis and Clark Expedition formed just one year after the Louisiana Purchase, the purchase of territory from imperial France in 1803 by Thomas Jefferson. 1 The Louisiana Purchase provoked President Jefferson to look to navigate the territory that his empire now encompassed, and out of this grew the expedition led by Meriwether Lewis and Lewis Clark. 2 Lewis and Clark and their unit of volunteers from the United States Army specially selected by Thomas Jefferson that accompanied them soon became known as the Corps of Discovery, a group of men destined to “compile what amounted to the first chapters in an American encyclopedia of Native American peoples and cultures”. 3
Lewis and Clark Expedition, also known as the Corps of Discovery Expedition, was the first American overland exploration of the American West and Pacific Northwest, departing in May, 1804 from St. Louis on the Mississippi River, making their way westward through the continental divide to the Pacific coast and ending in September 1806. The expedition was commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson and guided byf Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. The exploration covered a total of about about 8000 miles round trip, from St. Louis to the Pacific Ocean. Jefferson trusted in the existence of a Northwest Passage, a water way between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The main goal of the expedition was to locate this Northwest Passage and plan its potential as a waterway for American westward expansion and commerce. Although Lewis and Clark did not find this route, the expedition succeeded in making peaceful contact with Native Americans and uncovering a wealth of knowledge about the peoples, geography, plants, and animals of the western United States. This expedition was an overwhelming amount of work in both preparations and the expedition itself and given the aftermath and achievements was not all for nothing.
The year of 1803 significantly changed our nation eternally. It stunned many people. In no way, shape or form, did we ever believe that our nation would expand so rapidly. What started with the small purchase of New Orleans led into the substantial purchase of the Louisiana Territory. This was a purchase that will make Thomas Jefferson a man to be remembered. Although, he wasn’t the only man who impacted the United States during this time period. Meriwether Lewis and William Clark are the two men that are greatly known for their expedition across the Louisiana Territory. These two subjects, the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark Expedition, altered our nation immeasurably.
... as set out by President Jefferson there were many. Not only did they alter the face of this rapidly changing country and its imperial struggle for control over North America, more specifically the Pacific Northwest and the Louisiana Territory. It greatly strengthened the United States claims in these areas through numerous peaceful encounters with the indigenous peoples and tribes, which allowed for increased interest in the American commercial front, which was the fur trade. Their expedition also led to an increase in various explorations and exploitations in the direction of the West. The duo also made incredible advancements in the geographic and topographical knowledge of the Upper Missouri, producing various maps as well as notes on the areas they traversed. Which would kick start the net centuries great migration of American people in to the west.
Captain Meriwether Lewis and William Clark took the risk of life, limb, and liberty to bring back the precious and valuable information of the Pacific Northwest of the United States territory. Their accomplishments of surviving the trek and delivering the data to the U.S. government, have altered the course of history, but have some Historian’s and author’s stating, “It produced nothing useful.”, and having “added little to the stock of science and wealth. Lewis and Clark’s expedition is one of the most famous and most unknown adventures of America’s frontier.
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.
When Meriwether Lewis and William Clark first explored Montana in the early 1800s, they were awestruck by the open plains and delighted by the wide range of animals that roamed the land. After reaching the Great Falls, which is on the Missouri River in what is now Montana (Av2 books).
The Lewis and Clark Expedition is one of the great benefits for the U.S nation. The participants of this expedition left a legacy for younger generations of the skills needed for their discoveries and contributions. Species of animal and plants would have not be discover as well and the knowledge about them. It has been known as one the most important evolution for the growth in the land of U.S grounds and if not for the expedition, the land and vast geographic western area of the United States would never been recorded until later years when the nation is more advance loosing needed information for the expansion of the people and trading, which makes this expedition an important part of history that helped the nation grow.
American history is accompanied by a long list of explorers who first discovered and who explored the massive continent. All of the explorers had an impact on the development of America. The Lewis and Clark expedition, also known as the Corps of Discovery, stands prominently at the top part of this list. The Lewis and Clark Expedition has had a significant political, social, and economic effect on America. They were the first to map out the west and set off westward expansion. Without the success of the expedition growth of America would have taken five times as long, as predicted by Thomas Jefferson.
After being issued by President Thomas Jefferson to map, explore, and compile information on the land just bought through the Louisiana Purchase, Captain Meriwether Lewis and 2nd Lieutenant William Clark set off on one of the greatest expeditions of all time. This paper will explore what adversities were faced on the Corp of Discoveries. From militant Indians to diseases like dysentery, they faced it all. And as Captain Lewis documented, “We went as close to hell as you can go in this lifetime.” (11.Perry)
There were many people responsible for the westward expansion of the US. Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were one of the first Americans to precisely explore and map the western Territories. During their expeditions they were aided by a Shoshone woman named Sacagawea and her French-Canadian husband Toussaint Charbonneau, during which they served as translators. Their expedition helped path a way for thousands of settlers to move west.
John Wesley Powell was one of the foremost explorers in American history, and his first descent down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon is one of America’s greatest adventure stories. Although he is not as well known as other explorers, his travels and his contributions to American history are significant because they represent a spirit of discovery motivated not by self-glory or the acquisition of gold or land, but by a curiosity about and appreciation for both the natural world and the native peoples of the West.
Lewis and Clark were very successful people however their greatest success was only achievable with the help of Native Americans. April 1803 President Thomas Jefferson purchased uncharted territory from france. Jefferson always had liked the idea of western expansion so when he got the chance he took it. Jefferson pushed for approval to head an exploration of the Louisiana Purchase, and in 1803 it was approved. Jefferson had named Meriwether Lewis the leader and William Clark as his associate it wouldn't be until their first winter during the exploration that sacajawea would come into the picture . However Jefferson did not announce publicly that the U.S. had purchased eight hundred and sixty eight thousand square miles of land for fifteen million dollars until July .Lewis and Clark’s journey began near St.Louis, Missouri May 1804. Most days of the exploration had harsh conditions or at least one challenging obstacle to get around.For example during the exploration the hundred and forty six days spent in North Dakota, they experienced harsh temperatures below zero. This vast amount of uncharted land would become thirteen of the the states we know today. This expedition would discover a hundred and twenty two new animals, and a hundred and seventy eight plants, the expedition took eight hundred and sixty three days over a length of seven thousand six hundred and eighty nine miles, and at the cost of thirty eight thousand seven hundred and seventy two dollars and twenty five cents. Lewis and Clark’s Expedition would not have been as successful as it was without the help of George Drouillard, Sacajawea, and the Native American tribes they encountered. These Native Americans helped provide shelter, food, knowledge, and artifacts ...
Were it not for Jefferson’s daring purchase of the Louisiana Territory, the United States of America would have never become the most blessed and powerful nation on the face of the earth. Jefferson’s vision of an expanding America resulted in one the most influential events in American history. Lewis and Clark’s expedition played a crucial role in the opening of this new and vast western frontier. The Louisiana Purchase and the events that followed were truly monumental, although not many knew it at the time. As Fisher Ames wrote after the Louisiana Purchase, “Now by adding this unmeasured world beyond [the Mississippi], we rush like a comet into infinite space!”