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.
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What was the weather like on the Lewis and Clark Expedition?
According to the journals Lewis, Clark, and Gass kept, it was a northern plains winter of near mythic proportions. During 146 days in North Dakota, the Corps witnessed brutal air temperatures frequently well below zero, sometimes as brutal as - 40° F or more. In a climate like that, ink would freeze and make journal-keeping a frustrating task.
What did Lewis and Clark do in 1804?
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. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. See all videos for this article
How many miles did Lewis and Clark travel in a day?
The expedition was covering 70 to 80 miles (110 to 130 km) a day and Vial's attempt to intercept them was unsuccessful. The Lewis and Clark Expedition gained an understanding of the geography of the Northwest and produced the first accurate maps of the area. During the journey, Lewis and Clark drew about 140 maps.
What did Lewis and Clark use to find the Pacific Ocean?
Lewis and Clark used William Robert Broughton's 1792 notes and maps to orient themselves once they reached the lower Columbia River. The sighting of Mount Hood and other stratovolcanos confirmed that the expedition had almost reached the Pacific Ocean.
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What terrain did Lewis and Clark explore?
Lewis and Clark's team mapped uncharted land, rivers, and mountains. They brought back journals filled with details about Native American tribes and scientific notes about plants and animals they'd never seen before. They also brought back stories—tales that made other Americans dream about heading west.
What landforms did Lewis and Clark see?
Lewis and Clark recorded their direct observations of the plains, hills, and mountains through which they passed.
What land did Lewis and Clark encounter on their expedition?
The Lewis and Clark Expedition began in 1804, when President Thomas Jefferson tasked Meriwether Lewis with exploring the lands west of the Mississippi River that comprised the Louisiana Purchase.
What was the weather like during the Lewis and Clark Expedition?
Weather was a major influence for the Lewis and Clark Expedition. During their trip they experienced sweltering summer heat in Missouri and Nebraska and extreme cold and dangerous wind chills at Fort Mandan in the Dakotas.
What physical feature did Lewis and Clark see at the Great Falls of the Missouri River?
Lewis was thrilled to see the enormous waterfall, the Great Falls of the Missouri. It was 900 feet wide and 80 feet high with a "beautiful rainbow" just above the spray. Lewis called it "the grandest sight" he "ever beheld." More importantly, it meant that he and Clark had chosen the right fork in the Missouri River.
What mountains did Lewis and Clark find?
Lewis and Clark Pass is a mountain pass on the continental divide in Montana, United States, at an elevation of 6,424 feet (1,958 m) above sea level....Lewis and Clark PassCoordinates47°08′34″N 112°25′44″W4 more rows
How long did the expedition take?
How long did the whole expedition last? From May 14, 1804 to September 23, 1806. Two years, four months, ten days - from their departure from Camp Wood to their return to St. Louis at journey's end.
Where did Lewis and Clark walk?
In May of 1804, Lewis and Clark and a team of about 40 set out from St. Louis, then the capital of the Orleans Terriotory. This so-called Corps of Discovery traveled for about 18 months before reaching the Pacific Ocean in November of 1805. Much of their journey followed the Missouri and Columbia Rivers.
How many miles did Lewis and Clark travel?
8,000 milesThe Lewis & Clark Expedition Their voyage covered more than 8,000 miles in less than two-and-a-half years. It had resounding effects throughout American science and history, and disrupted the lives of countless Native Americans throughout North America.
What was the coldest temperature on the Lewis and Clark Expedition?
The winter's coldest recorded day was 17 December 1804, when Clark made a sunrise entry of 45 below zero in his tabular weather diary and in his journal commenting that it was a “verry Cold morning. ” That date's low also caught the eye of Jefferson.
Where did Lewis and Clark spend the winter of 1805?
Fort ClatsopBuilt in 1805 near present-day Astoria, Fort Clatsop was the winter quarters for the Corps of Volunteers for Northwest Discovery, more commonly known as the Corps of Discovery or the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
Where did Lewis and Clark spend the winter of 1804?
Fort MandanFort Mandan is a High Potential Historic Site on the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. On November 2, 1804, the expedition came to the place where they built their winter quarters.
What are 5 facts about the Lewis and Clark Expedition?
10 Little-Known Facts About the Lewis and Clark ExpeditionLewis first met Clark after being court-martialed by the Army. ... Lewis had served as Thomas Jefferson's secretary. ... Thomas Jefferson believed the expedition might encounter wooly mammoths. ... The Spanish sent soldiers to arrest the expedition.More items...•
What mountain ranges did the Corps of Discovery Travel over?
The Lewis and Clark Expedition left from St. Louis, Missouri in late May 1804, proceeded up the Missouri River until its tributaries ended in the Rocky Mountains, crossed the Rockies and down the Columbia River to the Pacific Ocean.
What were Lewis and Clark looking for?
The Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804–1806) was a federally funded venture to explore the North American West. The expedition's principal objective was to survey the Missouri and Columbia rivers, locating routes that would connect the continental interior to the Pacific Ocean.
What plants did Lewis and Clark discover?
Lewis and Clark's Scientific Discoveries: PlantsOsage orange. Scientific name: Maclura pomifera - Lewis first described this on March 3, 1804. ... Broad-leaved gum-plant. ... Lance-leaved psoralea. ... Large-flowered clammyweed. ... Missouri milk vetch. ... Few-flowered psoralea; scurfy pea. ... Aromatic aster. ... Silver-leaf psoralea; silvery scurfpea.More items...
What was the purpose of the Lewis and Clark Expedition?
The Lewis & Clark expedition was a cartographic expedition with three objectives: Find a Northwest Passage via the Missouri River; Map the territory; and Determine the nature and extent of the Missouri River Basin. The best maps of Western North America available at the time were distinguished by a large blank area between the Yellowstone River and the Columbia River on the Pacific Coast. On one map, carried by Lewis and Clark, the area was labeled "conjectural."
Who were the artists who painted the river in the West?
The images are drawn from the works of 19th century artists George Catlin, Karl Bodmer, Alfred Edward Mathews, John Mix Stanley and Gustave Sohon.
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.
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 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 diseases did the Lewis and Clark Expedition experience?
They named geographic locations after expedition members, peers, loved ones, and even their dog (Seaman’s Creek). They experienced dysentery, venereal disease, boils, tick bites, and injuries from prickly pear, yet only one man perished over the course of the journey. Route of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, 1804–06.
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.
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.
What was the purpose of the Lewis and Clark Expedition?
The Lewis and Clark Expedition from August 31, 1803, to September 25, 1806, also known as the Corps of Discovery Expedition, was the United States expedition to cross the newly acquired western portion of the country after the Louisiana Purchase. The Corps of Discovery was a select group of U.S. Army and civilian volunteers under the command of Captain Meriwether Lewis and his close friend Second Lieutenant William Clark. The expedition made its way westward, and crossed the Continental Divide of the Americas before reaching the Pacific Coast .
How many maps did Lewis and Clark draw?
During the journey, Lewis and Clark drew about 140 maps. Stephen Ambrose says the expedition "filled in the main outlines" of the area.
What was the purpose of the Louisiana Purchase?
President Thomas Jefferson commissioned the expedition shortly after the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 to explore and to map the newly acquired territory, to find a practical route across the western half of the continent, and to establish an American presence in this territory before European powers attempted to establish claims in the region. The campaign's secondary objectives were scientific and economic: to study the area's plants, animal life, and geography, and to establish trade with local Native American tribes. The expedition returned to St. Louis to report its findings to Jefferson, with maps, sketches, and journals in hand.
How far did Lewis and Clark flee?
Lewis, George Drouillard, and the Field brothers fled over 100 miles (160 kilometres) in a day before they camped again. Meanwhile, Clark had entered the Crow tribe's territory. In the night, half of Clark's horses disappeared, but not a single Crow had been seen.
Why did Jefferson declare sovereignty?
Jefferson had the expedition declare "sovereignty" and demonstrate their military strength to ensure native tribes would be subordinate to the U.S., as European colonizers did elsewhere. After the expedition, the maps that were produced allowed the further discovery and settlement of this vast territory in the years that followed.
How many members were in the Clark Expedition?
The expedition set out the next afternoon, May 21. While accounts vary, it is believed the Corps had as many as 45 members, including the officers, enlisted military personnel, civilian volunteers, and Clark's African-American slave York.
What was the name of the expedition that crossed the western border of the United States?
For other uses, see Lewis and Clark (disambiguation). Route of the expedition on a map with modern borders. The Lewis and Clark Expedition from August 31, 1803, to September 25, 1806, also known as the Corps of Discovery Expedition, was the United States expedition to cross the newly acquired western portion of the country after ...
How long is the Lewis and Clark Trail?
Lewis and Clark Trail. Today, the Lewis and Clark Trail is a 5,955-kilometer (3,700-mile) long historical trail in the United States National Park Service system. It passes through 11 states and follows the path Meriwether Lewis and William Clark took as they explored the lands acquired through the Louisiana Purchase.
What did Lewis and Clark document?
Additionally, he asked Lewis and Clark to document the climate, animals, plants, and minerals they encountered along the way. In May of 1804, Lewis and Clark and a team of about 40 set out from St. Louis, then the capital of the Orleans Terriotory. This so-called Corps of Discovery traveled for about 18 months before reaching ...
How many languages did Lewis and Clark bring back?
Clark drew detailed maps of the territory. They also brought back knowledge of nine Native American languages. The United States deemed the Lewis and Clark expedition so successful that Congress paid the Corps of Discovery double the expected pay and gave each member hundreds of acres of land.
How many animals did Lewis and Clark document?
Lewis and Clark (along with others in the Corps) kept detailed journals throughout their expedition. They documented 120 animals and 182 plants, many of which were previously unknown to the Americans, and they returned with specimens of some. Clark drew detailed maps of the territory.
How long did the Corps of Discovery travel?
This so-called Corps of Discovery traveled for about 18 months before reaching the Pacific Ocean in November of 1805. Much of their journey followed the Missouri and Columbia Rivers. The return journey took just under a year, ending in September of 1806.
Who led the expedition to survey the newly purchased territory acquired from the French, known as the Louisiana Purchase?
Meriwether Lewis and William Clark led an expedition to survey the newly purchased territory acquired from the French, known as the Louisiana Purchase. The trek sent the party of about 40 from St. Louis to the Pacific Ocean. Image by the United States National Park Service. expansion.
Who was the only woman in the group that Lewis and Clark were able to help?
Along the way, Lewis and Clark received valuable guidance from the only woman in the group, a Shoshone named Sacagawea. Sacagawea was married to a French fur trader who had joined the Corps of Discovery, and she had just given birth to an infant son. Sacagawea shared her knowledge of the land. Historians also speculate her presence helped ease the fear of the Native American people the company encountered on the excursion.
Summary
The Lewis and Clark Expedition, also known as the Corps of Discovery Expedition, was the United States expedition to cross the newly acquired western portion of the country after the Louisiana Purchase. The Corps of Discovery was a select group of U.S. Army and civilian volunteers under the command of Captain Meriwether Lewis and his close friend Second Lieutenant William …
Overview
One of Thomas Jefferson's goals was to find "the most direct and practicable water communication across this continent, for the purposes of commerce." He also placed special importance on declaring US sovereignty over the land occupied by the many different Native American tribes along the Missouri River, and getting an accurate sense of the resources in the recently completed Louisiana Purchase. The expedition made notable contributions to science, …
Preparations
For years, Thomas Jefferson read accounts about the ventures of various explorers in the western frontier, and consequently had a long-held interest in further exploring this mostly unknown region of the continent. In the 1780s, while Minister to France, Jefferson met John Ledyard in Paris and they discussed a possible trip to the Pacific Northwest. Jefferson had also read Captain Jame…
Journey
The Corps of Discovery departed from Camp Dubois (Camp Wood) at 4 pm on May 14, 1804. Under Clark's command, they traveled up the Missouri River in their keelboat and two pirogues to St. Charles, Missouri where Lewis joined them six days later. The expedition set out the next afternoon, May 21. While accounts vary, it is believed the Corps had as many as 45 members, including …
Geography and science
The Lewis and Clark Expedition gained an understanding of the geography of the Northwest and produced the first accurate maps of the area. During the journey, Lewis and Clark drew about 140 maps. Stephen Ambrose says the expedition "filled in the main outlines" of the area.
The expedition documented natural resources and plants that had been previously unknown to Euro-Americans, though not to the indigenous peoples. Lewis and Clark were the first American…
Encounters with Native Americans
One of the expedition's primary objectives as directed by President Jefferson was to be a surveillance mission that would report back the whereabouts, military strength, lives, activities, and cultures of the various Native American tribes that inhabited the territory newly acquired by the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase and the northwest in general. The expedition was to ma…
York
An enslaved black man known only as York took part in the expedition as personal servant to William Clark, his owner. York did much to help the expedition succeed. He proved popular with the Native Americans, who had never seen a black man. He also helped with hunting and the heavy labor of pulling boats upstream. Expecting his freedom after the expedition, he was disappointed when Clark refused repeatedly. While all the other explorers enjoyed rewards of do…
Accomplishments
The Corps met their objective of reaching the Pacific, mapping and establishing their presence for a legal claim to the land. They established diplomatic relations and trade with at least two dozen indigenous nations. They did not find a continuous waterway to the Pacific Ocean but located an Indian trail that led from the upper end of the Missouri River to the Columbia River which ran to the Pacific Ocean. They gained information about the natural habitat, flora and fauna, bringing back …