“My response; they do matter!”
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.
What makes Lewis and Clark truly significant historical figures, or not? It depends on your perspective. To the Native Americans, it was the beginning of an end. Their lives will be changed forever by their contact with the fur traders, soldiers, and missionaries that followed in the wake of the Lewis and Clark expedition. Certainly the changes will be gradual, but changes none the less.
The changes will be no less profound for European Americans. President Jefferson's orders were far-reaching. While Lewis and Clark did not discover a Northwest Passage or start the western fur trade or overland immigration, they certainly influenced the latter two movements. They provided valuable information about the topography, the biological sciences, the ecology, and ethnic and linguistic studies of the American Indian. The mysteries of the vast area known as the Louisiana Purchase quickly disappeared after Lewis and Clark.
Geographic discovery was an essential goal that Jefferson set for the expedition. Lewis and Clark recorded a wealth of scientific knowledge as they noted significant geographic features, made detailed route maps, and recorded their observations of longitude and latitude. Lewis performed most the astronomical duties and Clark charted the course and drafted expedition maps.
Jefferson was especially concerned that Lewis and Clark establish good connections with the Indians and carry out linguistic and ethnological studies. Consequently, they held several meetings with the Indian tribes they met on their journey. The Americans wanted to open the door to diplomatic relations and gain access to trading rights with the Indians too. They were instructed to notify the Indians of the new sovereignty of the United States under the terms of the Louisiana Purchase. In making these contacts, they hoped to shift trade away from the Spanish, French, English, and Russian competitors and toward American interests.
Lewis and Clark were viewing trade as a long-term venture, while the Indians wanted an immediate exchange or merchandise.
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.
The Lewis and Clark Expedition, also known as the Corps of Discovery Expedition, was the crowning achievement of Thomas Jefferson’s Presidency. Without the Lewis and Clark Expedition, the United States may never have expanded west. The expedition set out from outside St. Louis in May of 1804. During that summer and into the fall, the explorers paddled upstream, northwest on the Missouri River to Fort Mandan where the Corps of Discovery set up camp, wintered, and prepared for the journey to the Pacific. This expedition was extremely important for the new nation because on their journey, the Corps of Discovery did find a water route to the Pacific Ocean. They documented and cataloged the geography, as well as new flora and fauna they encountered, resulting in an extensive journal of new scientific information. They also established diplomatic and trade relations with the Native American Tribes they encountered along the way.
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.
Voltaire is commonly known for his philosophical writing and as a “crusader against injustice, intolerance, cruelty, and war” (“Voltaire”). He was the most outspoken writer that supported political and social reform. Voltaire was constantly in fear of being jailed, as most of his work criticized both the King and the Church. In 1717, he was arrested and sent to the Bastille for “insults to the regent” (“Voltaire.”1). While imprisoned, however, he did not stay quiet; he wrote his first play, Oedipe, and this won him significant attention. Voltaire was freed after 11 months when it was found that he was wrongly accused, but challenged a young nobleman, and was sentenced to exile or death (“Voltaire”2). He chose exile and continued his writing career in England.
Although Lewis and Clark did not find a direct waterway from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean, their expedition brought a wealth of knowledge about the newly purchased lands in the west. For example, the expedition provided extensive facts on the Northwest's natural resources. Lewis and Clark were able to document over 100 animal species and over 170 plants. They also brought back information on the size, minerals and the geology of the area.
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)
Lewis and Clark, and Pike did explorations to the Louisiana Purchase and to the south and west. They both were sent by the president Jefferson but the difference is that Lewis and Clark went on a secret expedition and Pike didn’t. Pike’s expedition started the same year that Lewis and Clark were coming back home and it only lasted 1 year. Lewis and clark’s expedition lasted about 3 years. in both of the expeditions, Native Americans were contacted. Pike did make a big mistake which was that he accidentally ended up in Spanish territory and they even built up a fort there. Lewis and Clark’s expedition is considered more valuable because they got to hold councils with some native american tribes, they found an easy ways to get to the Louisiana
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 ...
...ark’s expedition helped chart the Louisiana Purchase and helped provide valuable information which led to the later acquisition of the Oregon Territory. In short, Lewis and Clark helped open the West.
The true definition of success is the accomplishment of an aim or purpose. Although, many people have different perceptions of success. Success is judged by the individuals themselves. Success can be defined in many ways including: wealth, happiness, fame, etc. Success can be anything from material goods to concepts. It all depends on your concept and how you achieve your goals. You have to have persistence within yourself. Varying on your profession, you will need a certain skill level. Your definition of success can be suitable best for you, but not for others. It is about truly not giving up, reaching your full potential, and self-fulfillment.