What are facts about Lewis and Clark Expedition?
Lewis and Clark Expedition | 10 Facts And Accomplishments #1 Its primary goals were to map Louisiana territory and to find a route to the Pacific. #2 The expedition gets its name from its leaders Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. #3 It included an African American slave named York. #4 The Floyd River is named after a member of the expedition.
What were Lewis and Clark known for?
- Sacagawea and the Native Americans. Lewis and Clark met many Native American tribes along the way. ...
- The Great Falls and the Rockies. As the expedition continued up the Missouri River into what is today the state of Montana, they ran into the Great Falls.
- Fun Facts about Lewis and Clark
Who were Lewis and Clark and what did they accomplish?
The members of the Lewis and Clark expedition were the first Americans to cross the Continental Divide; the first to see Yellowstone; to enter into Montana; and to produce an official description of these different regions. They gained an understanding of the geography of the Northwest and produced the first accurate maps of the area. Together, Lewis and Clark drew about 140 maps. The expedition is considered a resounding success.
What was the timeline of the Lewis and Clark Expedition?
- March 23: The expedition prepares to go home and hands over Fort Clatsop to the Clatsop Indian Tribe. ...
- May 9: They stay at Camp Chopunnish near the Nez Perce, waiting for the snow to melt in the Rockies.
- July 3: The crew splits into two parties: Lewis continues east along the Marias River while Clark follows the Yellowstone River down south.
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What was the purpose of the Lewis and Clark Expedition?
Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804–06) was a U.S. military expedition, led by Captain Meriwether Lewis and Lieutenant William Clark, to explore the L...
Which president sent Lewis and Clark on their expedition?
U.S. President Thomas Jefferson asked his personal secretary, Meriwether Lewis, to lead the expedition to explore the Louisiana Purchase and the Pa...
Who was Seaman in the Lewis and Clark expedition?
In the Lewis and Clark expedition, Seaman was the name of a Newfoundland dog, which Meriwether Lewis purchased for $20.
What plants and animals did Lewis discover?
Lewis identified 178 plants new to science, including bitterroot, prairie sagebrush, Douglas fir, and ponderosa pine, as well as 122 animals, such...
Who was the Native American woman who accompanied the expedition?
Sacagawea was a Shoshone woman who, as interpreter, traveled thousands of wilderness miles with the Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804–1806), from th...
Who led the Lewis and Clark Expedition?
Lewis and Clark Expedition, (1804–06), U.S. military expedition, led by Capt. Meriwether Lewis and Lieut. William Clark, to explore the Louisiana Purchase and the Pacific Northwest. The expedition was a major chapter in the history of American exploration. Map of Lewis and Clark Expedition by William Clark and Meriwether Lewis, 1804–06.
Why did Lewis and Clark address one another as a captain?
secretary of war denied Lewis’s request of a shared command, but Captain Lewis and Lieutenant Clark chose to address one another as “captain” to hide this fact from the other members of the expedition.
What river did Nez Percé sail down?
After leaving their horses with Chief Twisted Hair, the explorers hollowed out five cottonwood canoes and floated down the Clearwater and Snake rivers, reaching the Columbia River on October 16. Load Next Page.
How much alcohol did Lewis and Clark drink on July 4, 1805?
On July 4, 1805, the party finished the portage and, to celebrate Independence Day, consumed the last of their 120 gallons of alcohol and danced into the night. Headwaters of the Missouri River, detail from Lewis and Clark Expedition map by William Clark and Meriwether Lewis, 1804–06.
What was the name of the Newfoundland dog that Lewis and Clark purchased for $20?
In the Lewis and Clark expedition, Seaman was the name of a Newfoundland dog, which Meriwether Lewis purchased for $20.
Why did Lewis go to Philadelphia?
Lewis was dispatched to Philadelphia for instruction in botany, celestial navigation, medicine, and zoology. He also purchased supplies and spent $20 on a Newfoundland dog, Seaman. Lewis, Meriwether. Meriwether Lewis, portrait by Charles Willson Peale; in Independence National Historical Park, Philadelphia.
How many plants did Lewis identify?
Lewis identified 178 plants new to science, including bitterroot, prairie sagebrush, Douglas fir, and ponderosa pine, as well as 122 animals, such as grizzly bear, prairie dog, and pronghorn antelope.
Which river did Lewis and Clark explore?
Lewis’ group took a shortcut north to the Great Falls of the Missouri River and explored Marias River —a tributary of the Missouri in present-day Montana—while Clark’s group, including Sacagawea and her family, went south along the Yellowstone River.
Who Were Lewis and Clark?
Meriwether Lewis was born in Virginia in 1774 but spent his early childhood in Georgia. He returned to Virginia as a teenager to receive his education and graduated from college in 1793. He then joined the Virginia state militia—where he helped to put down the Whiskey Rebellion —and later became a captain in the U.S. Army. At age 27 he became personal secretary to President Thomas Jefferson.
How did Lewis and Clark rule the army?
To maintain discipline, Lewis and Clark ruled the Corps with an iron hand and doled out harsh punishments such as bareback lashing and hard labor for those who got out of line. On August 20, 22-year-old Corps member Sergeant Charles Floyd died of an abdominal infection, possibly from appendicitis.
What did William Clark do?
He then joined the Virginia state militia—where he helped to put down the Whiskey Rebellion —and later became a captain in the U.S. Army. At age 27 he became personal secretary to President Thomas Jefferson. William Clark was born in Virginia in 1770 but moved with his family to Kentucky at age 15.
How many souls did Lewis and Clark have?
He chose unmarried, healthy men who were good hunters and knew survival skills. The expedition party included 45 souls including Lewis, Clark, 27 unmarried soldiers, a French-Indian interpreter, a contracted boat crew and a slave owned by Clark named York.
What was the purpose of the Lewis and Clark Expedition?
The Lewis and Clark Expedition began in 1804, when President Thomas Jefferson tasked Meriwether Lewis with exploring lands west of the Mississippi River that comprised the Louisiana Purchase. Lewis chose William Clark as his co-leader for the mission. The excursion lasted over two years: Along the way they confronted harsh weather, unforgiving terrain, treacherous waters, injuries, starvation, disease and both friendly and hostile Native Americans. Nevertheless, the approximately 8,000-mile journey was deemed a huge success and provided new geographic, ecological and social information about previously uncharted areas of North America.
What did Lewis do to explore Louisiana?
Lewis knew that exploring the Louisiana Territory would be no small task and began preparations immediately. He studied medicine, botany, astronomy and zoology and scrutinized existing maps and journals of the region. He also asked his friend Clark to co-command the expedition.
What river did Lewis and Clark explore?
The Plains of the Missouri River, Described by Lewis and Clark as Having Much Tall Grass and an Abundance of Game. Tallgrass Prairie as Described in the Lewis and Clark Journals, on the Outskirts of Atchison, Kansas. Petroglyphs Mentioned in the Lewis and Clark Expedition Journal on a Limestone Cliff Near Troy, Kansas.
Where did Lewis and Clark go in 1805?
They traveled up the Missouri to present-day Three Forks, Montana, following the western-most tributary, the Jefferson River. This route delivered the explorers to the doorstep of the Shoshone tribe, who were skilled at traversing the great rock mountains with horses. Once over the Bitterroot Mountains, the Corps of Discovery shaped canoe-like vessels that transported them swiftly downriver to the mouth of the Columbia, where they wintered (1805-1806) at Fort Clatsop, on the present-day Oregon side of the river.
What did Jefferson hope for Lewis and Clark?
Jefferson hoped that Lewis and Clark would find a water route linking the Columbia and Missouri rivers. This water link would connect the Pacific Ocean with the Mississippi River system, thus giving the new western land access to port markets out of the Gulf of Mexico and to eastern cities along the Ohio River and its minor tributaries. At the time, American and European explorers had only penetrated what would become each end of the Lewis and Clark Trail up the Missouri several miles to the trapper headquarters at Fort Mandan and up the Columbia just a bit over a hundred miles to a point a little beyond present-day Portland, Oregon.
Why did Meriwether Lewis seek the help of William Clark?
Lewis solicited the help of William Clark due to Clark's abilities as a draftsman and frontiersman, which were even stronger than Lewis's. Lewis so respected Clark that he made him a co-commanding captain of the Expedition, even though Clark was never recognized as such by the government.
What did Lewis and Clark do to help Jefferson?
Along the way, they continued to trade what few goods they still had and set up diplomatic relations with Native American tribes. Additionally, they recorded their contact and described (and at times drew) the shape of the landscape and the creatures of this western world that were new to them. In doing so, they fulfilled many of Jefferson's wishes for the Expedition. Along the way, William Clark drew a series of maps that were remarkably detailed, noting and naming rivers and creeks, significant points in the landscape, the shape of river shore, and spots where the Corps spent each night or camped or portaged for longer periods of time. Later explorers used these maps to further probe the western portion of the continent.
Where did Lewis and Clark set up camp?
The Lewis and Clark Expedition paddled its way down the Ohio as it prepared the Expedition to be launched officially from Camp Wood, just outside St. Louis, in the summer of 1804. That summer and fall the company of explorers paddled and pulled themselves upstream, northwest on the Missouri River to Fort Mandan, a trading post, where Corps of Discovery set up camp, wintered, and prepared for the journey to the Pacific.
Who was the leader of the Louisiana Purchase?
After the Louisiana Purchase Treaty was made, Jefferson initiated an exploration of the newly purchased land and the territory beyond the "great rock mountains" in the West. He chose Meriwether Lewis to lead an expedition, who in turn solicited the help of William Clark. Together they formed a diverse military Corps of Discovery that would undertake a two-year journey to the great ocean. Read More...
The Expedition Begins
In December 1803, William Clark established “Camp Wood” at the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, north of St. Louis. While there he recruited and trained men, while Lewis spent time in St. Louis, conferring with traders about the Upper Missouri regions and obtaining maps made by earlier explorers.
Westward to the Pacific
On April 7, 1805, Lewis and Clark sent the keelboat back to St. Louis with an extensive collection of zoological, botanical, and ethnological specimens as well as letters, reports, dispatches, and maps, and resumed their westward journey in two pirogues and six dugout canoes.
The Return Journey
The return trip began on March 23, 1806. After a tough journey up the Columbia River against strong currents, the party retrieved their horses from the Nez Perce, and waited for the deep mountain snows to melt. After crossing the Bitteroots the party split at the Lolo Pass to add to the geographical knowledge they could gather.
The Importance of the Journey
The results and accomplishments of the Lewis and Clark Expedition were extensive. It altered the imperial struggle for control of North America, particularly in the Pacific Northwest, by strengthening the U.S. claim to the areas now including the states of Oregon and Washington.
Which river did Lewis and Clark decide to fork in?
In June 1805 they came to a fork in the Missouri the Mandans had not mentioned. The Missouri was the route into the mountains, but which river was the Missouri? It took more than a week and two separate reconnaissance expeditions for Lewis and Clark to make up their minds. The south fork was the true Missouri, they decided. Every one of their men disagreed with them, but cheerfully followed them anyway. Lewis and Clark were right. The south fork was the true Missouri .
Who was Lewis and Clark's slave?
One young member of the Corps of Discovery was offered four Mandan women in a single night. Clark's black slave, York , was even more magical to them. The Indians Lewis and Clark encountered had never seen a black man. York made out like a bandit.
Did you know that the Corps of Discovery frequently ate dogs?
Puppy chops haven't made it into any of the recent cookbooks offering recipes from the Lewis and Clark expedition, but the Indians ate dogs and so did the members of the expedition when nothing else was available.
Did you know that Sacagawea did not serve as an official expedition guide?
Did you also know that there are reportedly more statues of Sacagawea in the United States than of any other woman? Everybody on the expedition apparently liked and admired her. She was cool in a crisis and helpful in identifying edible greens and roots in the High Plains. They called her Janey, and Clark was so fond of her he offered to educate her little boy, and did.
Did you know that the lash was the common punishment on the expedition for infractions?
After the Corps had spent the winter in the Mandan villages discipline problems more or less disappeared, but on the way up the lower Missouri during the expedition's first summer three men had to be punished— one for "mutinous expression," another for attempted desertion, and a third for sleeping on guard duty.
Did you know that Lewis and Clark got lost?
But beyond the Mandan villages they had only information gleaned from Mandan informants who knew the country.
Did you know that by the end of the nineteenth century Lewis and Clark were almost forgotten?
It's true. Until the late 1800s the original journals lay unnoticed in the American Philosophical Society's library in Philadelphia. They had never been published in their original form.
Who was the interpreter for George Rogers Clark?
INTERPRETER, GEORGE DROUILLARD (DREWER; DREWYER). Probably born at Sandwich, Canada, son of Pierre Drouillard of Detroit, and a Shawnee mother. His father had served with Kenton and as interpreter for George Rogers Clark at Fort McIntosh and at the Great Miami.
Who was the most valuable man on the expedition?
John Shields enlisted in the expedition on October 19, 1803, in Kentucky, and is considered one of the "Nine young men from Kentucky.". He was one of the most valuable men on the expedition, as he was the head blacksmith, gunsmith, boat builder and general repair man for anything needed.
What did Drouillard shoot in the Missouri River?
Drouillard shot a large beaver swimming in the river. We arrived at the mouth of the Little Missouri River where we halted while the captains made observations. La Page tells us that this river is not navigable. We have ten hunters out. They killed a deer, a white eagle and found some wild onions. Capt. Clark killed a white rabbit which is now changing its color to grey. We remained here for the rest of the day to air our baggage. Several of the men have been cutting into the bags of corn and parched meal.
How many elk did Joseph Fields kill?
Lewis ' camp. They all confirm the report of scarcity of food above. This morning Joseph Fields, Drouillard and himself, killed four elk. As the party was weak, and some thirty-seven Indians were about, Capt. Lewis thought it best to send a few men to the other side of the river and dry the meat there. Sgt. Pryor and two men returned with Joseph Fields for that purpose. His hunters were ordered to continue the hunt, while the others are employed drying meat.
How many canoes did Yellept provide?
Yellept furnished us with two canoes and we began to transport our baggage across, and to take a party of men over to collect our horses. By 11 a.m. we had all our party and baggage across to the south side of the Columbia. We were detained several hours in collecting the horses. Our guide now informed us it was too late to find a place to camp further on, so we remained on the [Wallula] river. The Indians have traded us two more horses in return for medical aid as dispensed by Capt. Clark who helped them all he could.
What did Willard and Weiser bring to the salt works?
They had not been lost, but informed us that it was not until the 5th day, before they could find a suitable place to make salt. They brought some of the blubber from the whale that was stranded near the salt works. We found that it tasted something like beaver or dog, only somewhat more coarse. They also told us that Joseph Fields, William Bratton and George Gibson had erected a comfortable camp and had a good store of meat, and made three to four quarts of salt a day. They brought back about a gallon. We found it strong and white and a great treat, for we have not had any salt since December 20th. Capt. Clark seems indifferent about it, and he also does not care for dog meat. He can get along without either. John Collins came back from an unsuccessful hunt. Capt. Clark determined to set out with two canoes and twelve men in quest of the whale. He prepared a small assortment to trade for some whale meat and blubber.
How much did Lewis advance to Werner?
He was one of the salt makers and cooks of the party. After the expedition, on March 11, 1807, Governor Lewis advanced him $30.75, and a horse, saddle, etc., valued at $44.50, which Lewis directs Gen. Clark to deduct from the extra pay due Werner "if he has sold or given the horse away.
What was the name of the mammoth that Lewis and Clark discovered?
pinterest-pin-it. Woolly Mammoth. (Credit: Royal BC Museum, Victoria, British Columbia) Before Lewis and Clark completed their expedition, Americans could only speculate on what lurked in the uncharted territories beyond the Rocky Mountains.
How many members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition died?
8. Only one member of the expedition died during the trip. The Lewis and Clark expedition suffered its first fatality in August 1804, when Sergeant Charles Floyd died near modern day Sioux City, Iowa. Lewis diagnosed him as having “bilious colic,” but historians now believe he suffered from a burst appendix.
Why was Lewis and Clark court martialed?
(Credit: Jean-Erick PASQUIER/Getty Images) While serving as a frontier army officer in 1795, a young Meriwether Lewis was court-martialed for allegedly challenging a lieutenant to a duel during a drunken dispute. The 21-year-old was found not guilty of the charges, but his superiors decided to transfer him ...
What was the goal of Lewis and Clark?
Jefferson often described Lewis and Clark’s expedition as a scientific mission to study the lands acquired in the 1803 Louisiana Purchase, but the explorers’ central goal was to find a water route to the Pacific, which would increase trade opportunities and help solidify an American claim on the far Northwest.
What animals did Lewis describe?
The expedition failed to sight any of the long-extinct creatures, but Lewis did describe 178 previously unknown species of plants and 122 new animals including coyotes, mountain beavers and grizzly bears. 4. The Spanish sent soldiers to arrest the expedition.
What did Thomas Jefferson study in Philadelphia?
To help the young secretary prepare, Jefferson gave him a crash course in the natural sciences and sent him to Philadelphia to study medicine, botany and celestial navigation. 3. Thomas Jefferson believed the expedition might encounter wooly mammoths. pinterest-pin-it.
Who was convinced that the explorers might have run-ins with mountains of salt?
Even Thomas Jefferson, who’d amassed a small library of books on the frontier, was convinced the explorers might have run-ins with mountains of salt, a race of Welsh-speaking Indians and even herds of wooly mammoths and giant ground sloths.