In “Troubled Passages: The Uncertain Journeys of Lewis and Clark,” James P. Ronda offers an immense analysis of a phenomenon that he believes is misconstrued by popular belief. He succeeds in providing a comprehensive description of the assumption that the Lewis and Clark journey was an easy straight journey to the Pacific Ocean. His study of the “accedents” and paroles along the journey contains a high level of empirical data from first-hand accounts written by Lewis and Clark, as well as other explorers accompanying them. By combining strong primary documents with a clear, professional tone, Ronda is able to present the uncertainties along the expedition contrary to popular belief.
The foundation of this article is primary sources pf multiple persons relating to the perals and troublesome time of the expedition during 1804 and 1805. Was the Lewis and Clark Expedition Manifest Destiny? Was the Expedition a predetermined path? If so, then why were Lewis and Clark plagued with accidents and chance instead of certainty? These questions Ronda sought after to answer (525-527) . Based on Rondas’ research Thomas Jefferson proposed a straight route with no risk involved because it was to be primarily based on the route of the Missouri River. By the time Lewis and Clark reached the Pacific Ocean it was clear that the journey was anything but straight and extremely ambiguous (527). These conclusions are firmly substantiated by the subsequent sources he presents, and in that alone, the article stands as an informative, contradicting, to popular belief, piece of work.
The first uncertainty Lewis and Clark faced was entitled “the Devils Race Ground” eleven days after the expedition began (529). Lewis and Clark, along with their thirty-three...
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...s and accidents that formulate the future (539).
Aside from quality research and clear insight, the greatest strength contained in Rondas’ article, ‘Troubled Passages: The Uncertain Journeys of Lewis and Clark,” is the professionalism and obscurity he brings to the realization of the reader. His arguments and statements are given great credibility by his working ability to provide valid points without stretching the authenticity to provide a clear view of the uncertainties Lewis and Clark faced. He ultimately succeeds by creating a highly informative article that cannot only be valued by historians, but to teachers and students to provide a true view that the Lewis and Clark exploration was one of uncertainty that had many obstacles to overcome, but by overcoming those obstacles, Lewis, Clark and the thirty-three explorers ignited the western expansion of a nation.
The Mayflower is the story about 102 religious rebels who travel across the Atlantic ocean on a voyage that would change the course of history as we know it. This book is named after the ship that brought these settlers to America. This review attempts to answer the following questions: Is the author objective or biased about the evidence presented? Does the author contribute anything new about the life of the pilgrims? What are some of the limitations of the Author. This review is necessary to be able to understand what the Author is trying to communicate how this story impacts the creation of what would become the United States of America.
This transaction would come to be known as the Louisiana Purchase and nearly doubled the size of the new nation. While George Washington and John Adams made efforts at westward expansion, Thomas Jefferson secured the Louisiana Purchase and initiated the Lewis and Clark expedition. According to Wulf, “maybe Lewis would find the huge mastodon roaming across the plains; discover profitable crops, flowers in exotic shapes and sizes, and trees that would soar even higher than those already encountered. Jefferson planned this expedition in the name of science, but it would also be the beginning of a distinctly American glorification of the wilderness” (Wulf, 157). The Lewis and Clark expedition and the Louisiana Purchase had such a significant impact on America’s identity.
Washington Irving, Voyages and Discoveries of the Companions of Columbus (New York: Frederick Unger Publishing Company,) 323.
One of the central pillars of American history and idealism is the concept of manifest destiny. Which according to the Random House Dictionary is the nineteenth century belief and doctrine of the United States, that it was their God given destiny to expand its territory over North America, thereby enhancing their sovereignty and increasing their political, economic and social influence on the world stage. This term was not created until later in the century, post Lewis and Clark expedition. However it was most certainly one of the main goals of the expedition. Lewis and Clark were not the first group of white men to explore areas of the west, though none were quite as influential or as important to supporting manifest destiny. However these two explorers, Lewis and Clark not only supported manifest density, they also made significant contributions to scientific and cartographical knowledge of the western frontier. Their voyage across the United States stands out from other explorations of the west, due to the numerous journals that Lewis and Clark as well as their expedition team wrote in, almost every day. These journals represent first hand records of everything they encountered, thus preserving their journey for hundreds of years to come and allowing for their additions to the scientific community of the United States to be preserved.
The discovery of America to the rest of the world, otherwise known as “Columbian Encounter”, was one of the majestic period in the European history. But nonetheless it was a starting to a tragic end for the Native Americans. Axtell calls attention to how the term, encounter, is largely a misfit in this situation because the
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.
...owing in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark had experienced their hopes, fears, joys, and disappointments. In searching to rediscover the land that they had know, they developed a new and deeper understanding of the nation that Lewis and Clark helped build.
Many people think that Christopher Columbus was the first European to set foot in America, but this conventional belief is wrong; Leif Erikson, a Norse explorer set foot in Newfoundland almost 500 years before Columbus was even born. This paper will cover everything about Leif Erikson’s life including his grandfather’s banishment from Norway, and Leif’s father’s exile from Iceland. Leif Erikson’s early life, his family, and his visit to Norway to serve under the king. The first recorded European to see North America, Bjarni Herjólfsson, and Leif Erikson’s voyage to America. This paper is also going to talk about Leif Erikson’s brother, Thorvald Erikson’s voyage to Vinland because his tale is interesting. Near the end of this research paper, it will have a paragraph on Leif Erikson’s later life. Finally at the end of this paper it is going to talk about the unknown reason why no other Europeans sailed to Vinland, and Leif’s impact on modern day North America.
11. Perry, Douglas. "Lewis & Clark expedition." National Archives Gig Harbor High School. 23 January 2014. .
The Donner Party encountered one of the most paramount hardships a set of travelers could possibly fathom. This historical catastrophe involves eighty-one inexperienced emigrants who traveled in hopes of reaching the land that’s come to be known as California. Forty-seven of said travelers have met series unfortunate events from many contributing factor (PBS). The most horrible and misleading factor of all was the human mind and its insistent need to discover and subjugate everything, whether within reach or not in the shortest and fastest way possible (A&E). The aspect of taking the shortest route that led to one’s inevitable downfall, and in some cases, to death, of the Donner Party. The amount of tragedies about travelers who’ve ran out of food, experienced bad weather, or even getting raided by Native American Indian were endless, but this is a story like no other. It's one of the greatest calamities of all time, however few of us know the unabridged story. Their determination to outlive the odds is ultimately greater than the social taboos that took place during this time period (Bell).
The Lewis and Clark expedition across the present day United States began May 14, 1804. With the approval of President Jefferson and the U.S. Congress, Lewis and Clark gathered an exploration party of about four dozen men. These men headed off to discover Western America. On September 1, 1805, they arrived at the Bitterroot Mountains, near present day Idaho. This began a nightmare that would not end until they reached modern-day Weippe. September 1, 1805, the explorers set out traveling west, heading into rough, seldom traveled, mountainous country. They stopped at today’s North Fork of the Salmon River, known as Fish Creek to Lewis and Clark, where they caught five fish, and were able to kill a deer (MacGregor 125). Some of the men’s feet and horse’s hooves were injured due to the rough, rocky terrain. The next day, they were entering mountains far more difficult to pass than any American had ever attempted (Ambros 284). Clark describes the route: "Throu’ thickets in which we were obliged to cut a road, over rocky hillsides where horses were in perpetual danger of slipping to their certain distruction and up and down steep hills…" (De Voto 232). Traveling along the steep hills, several horses fell. One was crippled, and two gave out. Patrick Gass described the trip that day as, "…the worst road (If road it can be called) that was ever traveled" (MacGregor 125). To make conditions even worse, it rained that afternoon, which made the trail even more treacherous. The party was only able to travel five miles that day. On September 3, snow fell and the team’s last thermometer broke. Several more horsed slipped and injured themselves. Later that day, the snow turned into sleet. The expedition family consumed the last of their salt pork and fish and began their descent into the Bitterroot Valley. That night, was the coldest yet. The next day, the party went down a very steep descent to a river that Lewis named, Clark’s River, (Today known as The Bitterroot River.) There, they encountered a band of Salish Indians, whom the captains called Flatheads. They stayed there with the Indians the next couple of days to trade. They acquired thirteen new Appaloosa Horses, including three colts, for seven worn out horses. The Salish Indians shared berries and roots with the men for their meals. On September 6, they set off traveling northward along the Bitterroot River for about ten miles.
Slaughter, Thomas P. Exploring Lewis And Clark Reflections on Men And Wilderness . New York: First Vintage Books Edition, 2003.
“Paradise Found and Lost” from Daniel J. Boorstin’s The Discoverers, embodies Columbus’ emotions, ideas, and hopes. Boorstin, a former Librarian of Congress, leads the reader through one man’s struggles as he tries to find a Western Passage to the wealth of the East. After reading “Paradise Found and Lost,” I was enlightened about Columbus’ tenacious spirit as he repeatedly fails to find the passage to Asia. Boorstin title of this essay is quite apropos because Columbus discovers a paradise but is unable to see what is before him for his vision is too jaded by his ambition.
To start with, McCandless was not someone who gave up. Despite others trying to scare him out of continuing with his journey into the Alaskan wilderness, nothing deterred McCandless. He anxiously awaited to experience life off the land. The people McCandless encountered on his way to Alaska often commented on his determination. Jim Gallien, a man who drove McCandless into the Alaska interior, described McCandless as “real gung-ho”. McCandless's attempt to undertake such a risky endeavour is something to admire in itself. To travel two years, mostly on foot, is certainly not an easy task. However, McCandless still persevered through the hardships he faced throughout his journey. McCandles...
In Thomas King’s novel, The Inconvenient Indian, the story of North America’s history is discussed from his original viewpoint and perspective. In his first chapter, “Forgetting Columbus,” he voices his opinion about how he feel towards the way white people have told America’s history and portraying it as an adventurous tale of triumph, strength and freedom. King hunts down the evidence needed to reveal more facts on the controversial relationship between the whites and natives and how it has affected the culture of Americans. Mainly untangling the confusion between the idea of Native Americans being savages and whites constantly reigning in glory. He exposes the truth about how Native Americans were treated and how their actual stories were