The Lewis and Clark Expedition by Brynn and Jamie
After president Thomas Jefferson made a very famous purchase,
the Louisiana Purchase from Napoleon, the current ruler of France
in the 1800's, Jefferson sent two men which were Meriwether Lewis and William Clark
to explore the newly bought Louisiana Territory.
The two men had many goals on this Expedition. They were, to find Roots through the Louisiana Territory, to make peace with the Native Americans, and lastly to find a Waterway through the U.S. to the Pacific Ocean.
Lewis and Clark prepared for the journey by packing camp supplies such as 150 yards of
cloth for tents and sheets, 30 steels of striking to make fire, 12 pounds of soap,
15 caliber rifles, and 45 flannel shirts.
The men also needed other supplies, as anybody would for this journey, so they took supplies like
a hand compass, thermometers, writing paper and ink, dictionaries
and botany books, and medicine.
They also brought presents for the Native Americans such as 4,600 sewing needles,
10 pounds of sewing thread, ivory combs, handkerchiefs, and 130 rolls of tobacco.
The members of the expedition who accompanied Lewis and Clark were 31 other people, including Sergeant Charles Floyd,
one of the soldiers, Private William Bratton, one of the intelligent men, Sacagawea, a young Native American who helped
them navigate through the Louisiana Territory, and finally, Lewis's loyal Newfoundland dog, Seaman.
As the Expedition began to move up the Missouri River, Lewis focused on the details. How fast was the current? How high were the cliffs?
Was that bird or plant different than one in the East? Lewis went on to describe some of the animals.
They continued to document their observations in the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Northwest. While Lewis and Clark were the First Americans to see what would become of the Western United States,
the land that they journeyed was occupied by Native Americans. The tribes listed in Native Americans represent the Indians who had the most important interactions with Lewis and Clark.
The Great Plains Indians and the Northwest Indians are two different groups that Lewis and Clark discovered on their journey.
The history of the Great Plains Indians can be traced back at least 13,000 years and possibly even a millennia.
Not much is known of the early history of the Northwest Coast Indians, though anthropologists believe these groups represent the most incredible nonagricultural culture in the world.
Although the men of the expedition did not know what to expect on their trek, they were prepared to meet the various Indian tribal groups and curious about what they would be like.
The talented Shoshone woman Sacagawea accompanied the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery expedition from the northern plains, through the Rocky Mountains, to the Pacific Ocean, and back.
Her skills as a translator were valuable, as was her intimate knowledge of some difficult terrain. Some tribes greeted and were eager to trade with Lewis and Clark, but others were a bit afraid.
Lewis and Clark spent quite a while with Sacagawea and her tribe.
Lewis and Clark also discovered 178 plant species. These included the Pink Elephant Plant, an edible evergreen shrub
that blooms pink and white flowers, Mountain Death Camas, a poisonous plant used by
Native Americans to keep out evil spirits, and the Mariposa Lily, which was commonly consumed by Native Americans and grows white, pink, purple, yellow and blue flowers.
122 species of animals were also discovered, such as the Pronghorn Antelope,
the American Buffalo,
and the Grizzly Bear.
Lewis and Clark did not find a direct waterway from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean, but their expedition brought a wealth of knowledge
about the newly purchased lands in the West. In late March 1806, the return trip began. After crossing the Bitterroots, Lewis and Clark decided to split their party at Lolo Pass so they could gather more knowledge.
When people in the settled portions of the United States heard that Lewis and Clark had returned from the West, they could barely believe it. Most people had thought they were dead.
If wild animals, hunger, harsh weather or Indians hadn't killed them, perhaps they had gotten lost, they thought.
After the 2-year journey, both Lewis and Clark were rewarded for their success.
Clark was promoted Indian agent at St. Louis after his marriage in 1808 and Lewis was promoted to the governorship of the Louisiana Territory.
