THE LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITIONMeghan Lock

ETE 100 02

November 23, 2009

Lewis and Clark

The Beginning

In June 1803, President Thomas Jefferson wrote to Meriwether Lewis instructing the expedition to explore the Missouri basin by crossing over the rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean.

Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson’s instructions left for Lewis.

http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/lewisandclark/transcript57.html

Louisiana Purchase

The Louisiana Purchase sparked interest in the expansion to the west coast. This led to Thomas Jefferson putting the exploration together.

Louisiana Purchase

Timeline of the Louisiana Purchase

Lewis and Clark

On April 7, 1805, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark left Fort Mandan for points west, beginning the process of "filling in the canvas" of America.

Lewis and Clark Map

The map used by Lewis and Clark in their 1804 expedition.

Youtube video of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

Lewis and Clark Expedition

Native Americans

There was another view of the West: that of the native inhabitants of the land. Their understandings of landscapes, peoples, and resources formed both a contrast and counterpoint to those of Jefferson's travelers.

Sacajawea

During the expedition they had assistance from a local Native American, Sacajawea. She helped guide them through the land and helped translate the Native American language for them

References

http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/lewisandclark/lewisandclark.html

http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/trr001.html

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/amlaw/louisianapurchase.html