Click to edit Master subtitle style

11/6/09

1804-1806

Lewis and Clark Expedition

11/6/09

• The Lewis and Clark expedition was the first attempt by the United States to explore western lands.

• It was the third official transcontinental crossing in history.

What was it?

11/6/09

• The Louisiana Purchase sparked

interest into what the United States

was actually gaining by way of land

• Thomas Jefferson was interested in the geography of the area and its resources

• Jefferson secretly received a grant from congress for $2,500 to fund the voyage

The Reasoning

11/6/09

• Explore new area under the Louisiana Purchase

• Find a water route to the Pacific Ocean

• Record new plants and animals found

• Meet and establish good relations with Indians

• Study western terrain and geography

• Chart map of the land

• Evaluate potential interference from foreign hunters

Main Goals

11/6/09

Who led the Expedition?• William Clark • Meriwether Lewis

• Joined the expedition from the recommendation of Lewis

• Was referred to as “Captain”, but never held a high military position

• Even tempered and extroverted

• Personal friend and assistant to Jefferson

• US Army Captain

• Well educated and quiet

11/6/09

The adventure began in the summer of 1804 when Lewis, Clark, and their crew, collectively known as the Corps of Discovery, left Camp Wood and headed northwest up the Missouri River. After traveling

along slowly going upstream, the lone death in the journey occurred when Sergeant Charles Floyd died due to infection. The group set up

camp at Fort Mandan, where they met and kept friendly relations with the local Mandan Indian tribe.

The Journey…

11/6/09

Charbonneau and SacaguweaDuring the winter at Fort Mandan, Lewis and Clark employed a French fur trapper named Toussaint Charbonneau and his young wife Sacagawea to translate meetings with Indian tribes and help guide the journey. She had just given birth and carried the new born throughout the journey.

11/6/09

…The Journey ContinuedThe group continued down the Missouri River and over the Continental

Divide. The travelled in canoes to what is now Portland, Oregon. The voyagers set up camp south of the Columbia River for the winter and

prepared for the long journey home. On March 23, 1806, the team left for home where the eventually split into two groups to explore more land. Along the way, both had troublesome altercations with Indian tribes, but reunited

and quickly finished the trip home down the Missouri River where they arrived on September 23, 1806.

11/6/09

A Success?

Overall, the Lewis and Clark Expedition accomplished many of the goals that were set. Lewis and Clark were able to produce accurate maps, discover and catalog over a hundred species of previously unknown

plants and animals, establish relations with some Indian tribes, and produced the

first real idea about what the American West was like.