Lewis and Clark: The Corps of Discovery

Pacific Northwest HistoryApril 11, 2011

Mr. Rice

Circa 1803• The United States at this time has a

population of 5,308,483 people.• The nation is only 18 years old.• Boundaries went from the Atlantic Ocean,

then west to the Mississippi and from the Great Lakes in the north down to the Gulf of Mexico.

• 2/3 of the population lived within 50 miles of the Atlantic coast.

Circa 1803 continued…• At the time of the Lewis and Clark expedition,

there were two very distinct levels of culture, especially in Virginia and the southern plantations. – Gentlemen were expected to be proper and

friendly and were very much focused on philosophy, science and human rights.

– Despite this, the south, and the nation for that matter, was born upon the backs of slaves and lower class workers.

Navigating Towards Commerce

• In 1803, only four roads crossed the Appalachian Mountains.

• To become a seriously powerful nation, the United States needed to add the area of the Mississippi region, especially New Orleans.

• The 1 Million people west of the Appalachians felt they were their own country and could build a strong commerce with the use of the Mississippi and Ohio river systems.

Navigating Towards Commerce

• Jefferson was keenly aware of the possibility of secession from this group of people.

• Jefferson was very interested in acquiring lands to the west and a large portion of his books at his Monticello home were based on the ideas of the west.

Myths of the West

• Mammoths roamed the west…along with 7 foot tall beavers and slim-waist, friendly buffalo.

• People believed the area to be hospitable and the Rocky Mountains were believed to be small and easy to traverse.

• Maps often referred to California as an island off in the distance.

Thomas Jefferson• Third President of the United

States.• Brought about the largest

expansion of territory in United States History.

• Believed strongly in the natural rights of man to be free and to have certain rights.

• Author of the Declaration of Independence.

• Father of the University of Virginia.

Jefferson’s Philosophy

• Jefferson believed that development of the west was crucial to the commercial and social growth of the young United States.

• Not only would this push other countries off of the U.S. borders, but the region was wide open for development.

• This in turn had the possibility of developing strong trade routes down the Mississippi and strengthen the economy of the young country.

Origins of the Corps

• In January of 1803, Jefferson was planning a secret mission through French, Spanish and English western territories.

• Jefferson wanted to know the flora, fauna, rivers, mountains and people west of the Mandan settlement in South Dakota.

• More importantly, observations of the commercial and agricultural possibilities of the region were equally crucial.

The Louisiana PurchaseThis was a very large piece of land, 820,000-square miles to be exact, and it was sold to the United States by France for the measly price of $15 million.

The Louisiana Purchase• This territory was sold by

French leader Napoleon Bonaparte.

• It was an effort by NB to fund another war with the English.

• It was beneficial to the United States because they were already trying to purchase French owned New Orleans.

• 820,000 square miles = 15 million dollars.

The Louisiana Purchase cont.• Bonaparte believed that

eventually the Americans would over run the territory anyway.

• Also, NB knew he would empower the young nation and strengthen the alliance between France and the U.S. and thus encouraging animosity towards a common British enemy.

After all the wheeling and dealing was done…

• Soon after the purchase of Louisiana, the group of Meriwether Lewis, William Clark and 31 other men would begin their trek from St Louis, Missouri Territory all the way to the Pacific Coast.

• They received a letter from Jefferson, which gave them full faith and credit of the United States to purchase whatever they needed.

Captain Meriwether Lewis• Grew up on a 1,000-acre

plantation about 10 miles away from Jefferson.

• 1801, he is appointed personal secretary to the President.

• Superb condition, over six feet tall, and a lean frame.

• He was fiercely loyal, disciplined, yet relatively flexible in nature.

• A strong outdoorsman.• In 1809, it is believed that he

shot himself once in the forehead and another time in the chest. We will see what you think next week…

Captain William Clark• All his older brothers served in

the Revolutionary War.• He was a very good outdoorsman

and could easily survive on the land.

• Began his military life at the age of 19.

• Was a good fort builder, an okay map maker and a superb fighter.

• He would eventually become the Superintendent of Indian Affairs in the Upper Louisiana Territory in 1807.

• He would die of natural causes on September 1, 1838.

The Corps of Discovery• In addition to Lewis and

Clark, the expedition had 31 men who were superb outdoorsmen and all had specific skills that would help them complete this adventure.

• 29 of the men would last the entirety of the trip, while 2 would be sent home for insubordination.

Other Notable people• Sacagawea– Native woman who helped with interpreting

native languages along the route.• Toussaint Charbonneau– French-Canadian trapper who helped the Corps

make it over the Rocky Mountains and decipher the land in the west.

• York– Clark’s black manservant. He had relatively equal

rights among the men and was allowed to vote and participate in the majority of activities with the crew.

Lewis’ Preparation

• He is trained in many different skills in the early part of 1803 that will help him do all that is asked of him throughout the long journey.

• He is taught by the master cartographers, botanists and scientists of the time to give him the much needed knowledge to survive and complete his task.

Where did the Corps trek? (1 of 3)

• May 14, 1804The Corps of Discovery leaves Camp Wood and begins their journey up the Missouri River "under a gentle breeze.“

• Early September 1804The Corps enters the Great Plains and sees animals unknown in the eastern United States.

• October 24 -December 24, 1804 - The men finish building Fort Mandan, their winter quarters in present-day North Dakota.

• May 31, 1805The Corps reaches the White Cliffs region of the Missouri River.

Where did the Corps trek? (2 of 3)• June 13, 1805

Lewis reaches the Great Falls of the Missouri—five massive cascades around which the men must carry all of their gear, including the canoes.

• August 12, 1805Jefferson receives the shipment from Fort Mandan; Lewis finds the headwaters of the Missouri River, then crosses the Continental Divide and Lemhi Pass to discover that there is no Northwest Passage.

• September 11, 1805The Corps begins the steep ascent into the Bitterroot Range of the Rocky Mountains; the crossing will cover more than 160 miles (260 kilometers).

• September 23, 1805Starving, the men emerge from the mountains near present-day Weippe, Idaho, at the villages of the Nez Perce Indians.

Where did the Corps trek? (3 of 3)• November 24, 1805

Having reached the Pacific, the entire expedition—including Sacagawea and Clark's slave, York—take a vote on where to build their winter quarters. They chose the Clatsop Indian side of the Columbia, and the encampment came to be called Fort Clatsop.

• March 23, 1806After a winter of only 12 days without rain, the men present their fort to the Clatsop Indians and set out for home.

• September 23, 1806Having found an easier route across the country, the men reach St. Louis nearly two and a half years after their journey began and are acclaimed as national heroes.

A map of their Route

And then there was…………..

Nothing more to teach you right

now about Lewis and Clark!!!