Essential Question

Essential Question • What were the major effects of the exploration of the territories west of the Mississippi River?

The Lewis & Clark Expedition CH 10 Sec 2 PT II

TJ’s Plan • Since 1802, TJ had planned an expedition, or journey of discovery, to explore the LA territory • There were several objectives TJ wanted accomplished • 1. Establish peaceful trade relations w/ the Natives • 2. Detailed reports on the plant & animal life • 3. Maps of important geographical features • 4. Search for the possibility of a NW Passage • Now, TJ simply needed to find someone he trusted to lead the expedition

Summary/Quiz Question What was TJ’s plan on how to deal with the Natives in the LA Territory? a. treat them in a friendly & peaceful manner b. treat them as if they were American citizens c. treat them as enemies d. treat them as slaves

Lewis & Clark • To lead the mission, TJ chose Meriwether Lewis • Lewis was a young military officer, who had also served as TJ’s private secretary • Lewis chose William Clark as his 2nd in command • Clark had military experience, was a mapmaker, and was an accomplished outdoorsman • He was also the younger brother of Revolutionary War hero George Rogers Clark

The Corps of Discovery • L & C then gathered a group of volunteers to aid them in their journey • Known as the Corps of Discovery, this group of 50 men included an assortment of skilled individuals

Summary/Quiz Question • Why did TJ send the Corps of Discovery into the LA Territory? • To find out if there was an all-water route to the Pacific Ocean • To determine if the land was worth what France was asking for it • To convince the British to leave forts in the Pacific Northwest • All of the Above

The Journey Begins • L & C set out in the summer of 1803 • By winter, they had reached their first destination St. Louis, MO • St. Louis, located on the west bank of the Miss. R., became the gateway to “The West” • L & C spent the winter there, waiting for the official transfer of LA to the U.S. (March 1804) • In May 1804, the Corps began sailing up the Missouri R. • After reaching modern-day ND, L & C decided to winter w/ natives known as the Mandan

Fort Mandan • L & C were allowed by the Mandan to establish a fort on their lands • 2 very fortunate outcomes of this stay were: 1.While wintering, L & C established positive relations w/ the Natives 2. They also met a French Canadian & his Shoshone wife, both of whom spoke multiple languages, who agreed to join their party

Sacagawea • Sacagawea and her husband decided to go west w/ the Corps to see her brother • Their skill as interpreters and knowledge of the land was invaluable to L & C • L & C were eventually able to trade for horses w/ Sacagawea’s brother • This allowed L & C to travel through the Rockies and on to the last part of the journey to the Pacific

Summary/Quiz Question • What special contribution did Sacagawea make to the L & C expedition? • She cooked for the explorers during the first winter • She married one of the explorers • She guided the explorers and acted as a translator for them • She helped them escape from an unfriendly tribe

Essential Question