Captain Meriwether Lewis and Lieutenant William Clark, better known as Lewis and Clark, led one of the most famous expeditions in American history. Commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson, the Corps of Discovery
Corps of Discovery
The Corps of Discovery was a specially-established unit of the United States Army which formed the nucleus of the Lewis and Clark Expedition that took place between May 1804 and September 1806. The Corps, which was a select group of volunteers, were led jointly by Captain M…
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 are facts about Lewis and Clark?
Interesting Facts about Lewis and Clark
- The Lewis and Clark expedition happened because of Thomas Jefferson. In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson bought a large amount of American land from France. ...
- There were over 40 men on the expedition. It was not just Lewis and Clark who took part in the expedition to explore the western lands. ...
- Lewis served as secretary for Thomas Jefferson. ...
What tribe was Lewis and Clark?
What native tribes did Lewis and Clark meet? Among the Plains tribes Lewis and Clark met were the Osage, Sioux, Cheyenne, Crow, and Mandan. Upon reaching the Rocky Mountains, Lewis and Clark entered the country of the Plateau Indians. Living here were the Blackfeet, Flathead, Shoshone, Nez Perce, Spokane, and Yakima Indians.
What supplies did Lewis and Clark use?
The Lewis and Clark Expedition. List of Supplies (In their original text) Follow the related link to the actual documents from the National Archives. Mathematical Instruments. Hadley's Quadrant Mariner's Compass & 2 pole chain Set of plotting instruments Thermometers Cheap portable microscope Pocket compass Brass scale (1ft in length)
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Why are Lewis and Clark so famous?
Meriwether Lewis and William Clark are best known for their expedition from the Mississippi River to the West Coast and back. The expedition, called the Corps of Discovery, was President Thomas Jefferson's visionary project to explore the American West. It began in May of 1804 and ended in September 1806.
What was Lewis and Clark's most important discovery?
The Lewis and Clark Expedition Discoveries Along the Way One of the most important accomplishments of the Corps of Discovery was the mapping of the territory and creating a presence within the newly purchased area known as the Louisiana Purchase or Louisiana Territory.
How did Lewis and Clark impact the world?
The expedition aided the expansion of the fur trade. The expedition also strengthened U.S. claims to the Pacific. Another of the expedition's objectives—diplomacy with Native Americans—was accomplished. The expedition held numerous councils with American Indians and promised trade with them.
What was Lewis and Clark's biggest accomplishment?
Lewis and Clark added to geographic knowledge by determining the true course of the Upper Missouri and its major tributaries, and producing important maps of these areas. They forever destroyed the dream of a Northwest Passage, but proved the success of overland travel to the Pacific.
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...•
Who was Lewis and Clark and what did they do?
Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804–06) was a U.S. military expedition, led by Captain Meriwether Lewis and Lieutenant William Clark, to explore the Louisiana Purchase and the Pacific Northwest. The expedition was a major chapter in the history of American exploration.
How did Lewis and Clark treat the natives?
They also told the Indians that America owned their land and offered military protection in exchange for peace. Some Indians had met “white men” before and were friendly and open to trade. Others were wary of Lewis and Clark and their intentions and were openly hostile, though seldom violent.
Are Lewis and Clark good?
Lewis & Clark College's 2022-2023 Rankings Lewis & Clark College is ranked #94 out of 210 National Liberal Arts Colleges. Schools are ranked according to their performance across a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence.
What were the 4 goals of the Lewis and Clark expedition?
The expedition, called the "Corps (kor) of Discovery,”Official name of the Lewis and Clark Expedition had four goals as assigned by President Jefferson: (1) to explore Louisiana; (2) to persuade the Indian tribes to become trading partners with the United States; (3) to find a trade route to the Pacific Ocean; and (4) ...
What impressed you the most about the Lewis and Clark expedition?
In my opinion, the most impressing part of the Lewis and Clark expedition is they didn't give up on what they were trying to do. I think the members were afraid sometimes on the journey, but still made hard decisions that led to their return home. For example, when out of food, they ate their travel animals.
What was the legacy of the Lewis and Clark expedition?
The information legacy of the Lewis and Clark expedition was profound. They charted vast areas of the Great Plains, Rocky Mountains and Columbia River watershed. Their ethnography, zoology and botany contributed greatly to the scientific literature.
Did Lewis and Clark succeed?
In less than 2 1/2 years, at a total cost to the taxpayer of $40,000, The Corps of Discovery traveled over 8,000 miles. The Lewis and Clark Expedition was phenomenally successful in terms of accomplishing its stated goals, expanding America's knowledge, and tantalizing curiosity and wonder about the vast American West.
What did Lewis and Clark discover?
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 discoveries did Lewis and Clark make on their expedition?
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 did Lewis and Clark explore?
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 were two main goals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition?
Their mission was to explore the unknown territory, establish trade with the Natives and affirm the sovereignty of the United States in the region.
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...
How does Lewis and Clark inspire us?
When honestly told, the Lewis and Clark story inspires without leading us into simpleminded platitudes. History humanizes us by giving names, faces and texture to our physical and mental landscapes. Not only do the Lewis and Clark stories entertain us, they serve as a map and guide for life on the American road.
Why do Lewis and Clark matter today?
Lewis and Clark matter today because they act as a benchmark by which we can measure change and continuity in everything from the environment to relations between peoples.
Why did Lewis and Clark resonate?
Second, the Lewis and Clark expedition resonates because it’s not just a white man’s army, but rather a group of people from many different racial, ethnic, cultural and social backgrounds—a human community as diverse as any in America today.
Who were the writingest explorers in the world?
Historian Donald Jackson once observed that Lewis and Clark were the "writingest" explorers in American history. The expedition diarists—all seven if we count the still-missing Robert Frazer journal—wrote about everything from bison, thunderstorms and tribal politics to river currents, mountain ranges and prairie plants. Some of it is dull, recording miles traveled and campsites set up. But there are also passages of the most marvelous, flashing prose, which brings the West alive, leaps the abyss of time and dances for us across the page. And all of it, whether dull or delightful, is written in a way we can understand.
Who was William Clark's slave?
Consider York, William Clark’s slave and fellow adventurer, or Pierre Cruzatte, the one-eyed fiddle player, who was part French and part Omaha Indian. There was German-born Pvt. John Potts, a miller by trade and a soldier most likely by necessity.
Who gave us the first great national road story?
From Jack Kerouac to Willie Nelson, the lure of the road and the promise of the journey still hold us. And it was Lewis and Clark who gave us our first great national road story.
Did Lewis and Clark cross the Atlantic?
Lewis and Clark were not the first white men to cross the continent from the Atlantic to the Pacific north of Mexico. (Scottish fur trader Alexander Mackenzie crossed Canada a decade earlier.) Nor did they visit places not already seen and mapped by generations of native people.
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 ...
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.
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.
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.
What was Jefferson's mission?
In a letter to Lewis, Jefferson explained the journey’s primary mission was to explore the area from the Missouri River to the Pacific Ocean. Jefferson hoped to find a water route to the Pacific Ocean—the long-sought-after Northwest Passage.
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.
What did Lewis and Clark do?
Lewis and Clark, along with five of their comrades, documented their interactions with numerous Native American tribes; collected scientific specimens; and recorded valuable observations about plants, animals, astronomy, Native American culture, and the climate.
What did Meriwether Lewis and William Clark do?
Although Lewis suffered an untimely death, Clark went on to influence the relationship between Native Americans and the federal government during his time as Indian agent. He helped lay the groundwork for settlers to move westward into lands previously owned by Native Americans, shaping the future of generations to come.
What did Clark do for the Osage?
Clark spent much of his time tending to Indian affairs and countering British influence in the region. During his time as Indian agent, Clark negotiated numerous treaties between Native Americans and the federal government. He persuaded the Osage to sign a treaty that ceded tribal land in Missouri and Arkansas to the government, making way for an eventual new wave of settlers. Clark became one of the founding members of the St. Louis Fur Trading Company along with prominent St. Louis businessmen such as Manuel Lisa and Auguste and Pierre Chouteau.
What did Jefferson do to the Louisiana Territory?
In 1803 U.S. President Thomas Jefferson oversaw the United States’ purchase of the Louisiana Territory from France for $15 million. The acquisition doubled the size of the country—it now stretched west of the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains. Eager to learn more about the region, Jefferson placed Captain Meriwether Lewis in charge of a military expedition tasked with gathering scientific information about the flora, fauna, geography, and Native Americans in the newly acquired territory. Jefferson also hoped the expedition would locate a waterway linking the Missouri River to the Pacific Ocean.
How many children did Lewis and Clark have?
Together the couple had five children. After Judith’s death in 1820, Clark married Harriet Kennerly Radford on November 28, 1821, and had two additional children before her death in 1831. Unlike Clark, Lewis’s time in St. Louis was not as fruitful. While he was a capable military leader, Lewis was not a gifted politician.
What happened to Lewis and Clark's journals?
When one of the group’s boats almost capsized, Lewis and Clark’s journals, maps, and scientific instruments fell into the river, putting the information gathered by the expedition at great risk of being lost. Sacagawea quickly saved the expedition’s papers and instruments from ruin.
What did Lewis and Clark's journal tell us about the early American exploration?
Lewis and Clark’s journals remain one of the most vivid accounts of early American exploration, with detailed descriptions of the people, places, and wildlife they encountered during the expedition.
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.
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 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.
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 .
Who compiled the journals of Lewis and Clark?
In 2004, a complete and reliable set of the expedition's journals was compiled by Gary E. Moulton. In the 2000s, the bicentennial of the expedition further elevated popular interest in Lewis and Clark. As of 1984, no US exploration party was more famous, and no American expedition leaders are more recognizable by name.
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.
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 ...
What did Lewis and Clark eat?
By the end of the journey, Lewis, Clark and the men of the expedition had eaten a wide variety of meat, fish, berries, vegetables, fruits and roots. These simple native foods ultimately fueled the most famous expedition in U.S. history.
Where did Lewis and Clark train for the trek?
The trek began with training at Camp Dubois near Hartford, Illinois and ended at Fort Clatsop near what is now Astoria, Oregon. Traveling across this massive distance required a lot of preparations. Lewis and Clark had to think ahead and plan for times when wild game would be unavailable or in short supply.
What did Sacagawea do for the men?
The men took turns cooking meals. Oftentimes the available ingredients were new and unfamiliar, forcing the men to get creative.
What was Sacagawea's husband's dish?
At one point on the trail, Sacagaweas husband, Toussaint Charbonneau, made a dish called boudin blanc. This sausage made from stuffed buffalo intestine impressed the hungry travelers. Periodically, Lewis rewarded his men with suet dumplings made from boiled buffalo meat.
What was Lewis' favorite fish?
Fish was eaten in abundance, a favorite being the eulachon, or candlefish, which Lewis claimed to be superior to any fish he had ever tasted. At Fort Clatsop, elk was in large supply. It was served boiled, dried and roasted for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
What was the purpose of the expedition?
Though its primary purpose was to find a direct water route to the Pacific Ocean, President Jefferson also wanted the journey to focus on the economic usefulness of different regions, particularly in terms of plant and animal life. On May 14, 1804, along with 31 other men, Lewis and Clark set out to do exactly that.
What was the purpose of the Corps of Discovery?
Though its primary purpose was to find a direct water route to the Pacific Ocean, President Jefferson also wanted the journey to focus on the economic usefulness of different regions, particularly in terms of plant and animal life. On May 14, 1804, along with 31 other men, Lewis and Clark set out to do exactly that. It was a long, treacherous trip by water and on foot across a vast unknown wilderness. Keeping the expedition members healthy and well-fed was obviously a pressing concern. This epic mission had a wild, strange and often surprising menu.
Why did Sacagawea join the Expedition?
Historians generally believe that Sacagawea joined the Expedition because her husband had been hired as a translator. Still, Sacagawea contributed significantly to the success of the journey.
What was Sacagawea's success?
The success of the journey hinged on finding the tribe: without horses the explorers would be unable to get their supplies over the mountains. Recognizing landmarks in her old neighborhood, Sacagawea reassured the explorers that the Shoshone - and their horses - would soon be found.
What did Sacagawea do when the Expedition did meet the Shoshone?
When the Expedition did meet the Shoshone, Sacagawea helped the Corps communicate, translating along with her husband. As the Corps traveled eastward in 1806, returning to St. Louis, they stopped again at the Mandan and Hidatsa villages.
Who was the woman who reconciled all the Indians?
William Clark explained that “the Wife of Shabono [Charbonneau]…reconciles all the Indians, as to our friendly intentions. A woman with a party of men is a token of peace.”. Once the Corps reached Idaho, Sacagawea’s knowledge of the landscape and the Shoshone language proved valuable.
Where did Sacagawea live?
In 1804, Sacagawea was living among the Mandan and Hidatsa, near present day Bismarck, North Dakota. Approximately four years earlier, a Hidatsa raiding party had taken Sacagawea from her home in Idaho and from her people, the Lemhi Shoshone. Living among the Mandan and Hidatsa, Sacagawea married French trader Toussaint Charbonneau. In February of 1805, she gave birth to a baby boy, her first child. Captain Lewis recorded the event in his journal: “about five o’clock this evening one of the wives of Charbono was delivered of a fine boy.”
Who was the interpreter for Lewis and Clark?
Sacagawea served as an interpreter and guide for Lewis and Clark, who were tasked with exploring the western part of the US by then President Thomas Jefferson, according to the National Women's History Museum.
When was the Lewis and Clark statue removed?
The statue of Meriwether Lewis, William Clark and Sacagawea was removed from Charlottesville, Virginia on July 10, 2021.
Why was Sacagawea important to the expedition?
"Sacagawea was valuable to the expedition because her presence signified peace and trustworthiness ," the museum said.
When was the Lewis-Clark-Sacagawea statue created?
Read More. The idea to create the Lewis-Clark-Sacagawea statue began in 1912 , when "pleas from prominent citizens" led University of Virginia donor Paul Goodloe McIntire to fund the creation of the statue.
Who was the white man in the Sacagawea statue?
The statue was of two White men -- Meriwether Lewis and William Clark -- and Sacagawea, who was depicted tracking, according to historians. Those against the statue have said Sacagawea appears to be cowering, according tot The Daily Progress newspaper.
Who is the most depicted Native American woman in history?
The National Park Service said Sacagawea is "one of the most depicted Native American women in history" who has "more statutes than any other American woman."