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Lewis and Clark

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President Thomas Jefferson

  • In 1803, Jefferson purchased the Louisiana Territory for roughly 4 cents an acre.
  • Jefferson’s dream was to have one united nation that extended from ocean to ocean.

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Jefferson Needs A Team

  • Jefferson chose Captain Meriwether Lewis to lead an exploration into the Louisiana territory.
  • Lewis in turn recruited his friend Lieutenant William Clark to oversee a volunteer force called the Corps of Discovery.
  • The Corps of Discovery came to be known as the Lewis and Clark expedition.

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William Clark

  • He was an experienced geographer, mapmaker, nature artist and riverboat man.
  • He was excellent at hunting, fishing, and trapping, tracking, camping and land navigation.

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Corps of Discovery

  • 21 soldiers,
  • 18 river men,
  • an interpreter, Clark’s slave
  • A Newfoundland dog named Seaman

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Goals for the Expedition

  • To follow the Missouri River to it’s source
  • To find a water route to the Pacific
  • To learn about the Native Americans customs and culture.
  • To write and draw new discovered animals and plants.
  • To learn about the climate, soil, and terrain of the land.

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The Expedition

  • The expedition encountered many native American tribes
  • Gifts were given like blankets, beads and peace medals which signified that the “Great Father” (Thomas Jefferson) was now their new leader.
  • The Corps discovered many strange animals along the journey.
  • They collected samples of plants and animals to send back to President Jefferson.

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The Expedition

  • The Corps of Discovery built a Fort and spent 5 months in present day North Dakota.
  • The Native Americans were friendly and helpful to the Corps during a very long and cold winter.
  • Lewis and Clark met and hired Toussaint Charbonneau, a fur trapper and interpreter.
  • He brought along his pregnant wife, Sacagawea.
  • Sacagawea is Heavily responsible for the success of the trip

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Sacagawea

  • She recognized geography along the journey and explained it to Lewis and Clark
  • She acted as a guide, translator, and peace symbol
  • Her presence (a woman with an infant in her arms, along with a party of men) is a token of peace and stopped any Indians from fighting the explorers.
  • Result- the Corps of Discovery did not face any battles on their journey

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Sacagawea Saves History

  • When the explorers were traveling on boats, one boat tipped over.
  • Lewis and Clark lost all of their journals and many of their supplies.
  • Sacagawea dove into the water and saved all the journals and supplies.

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Her Legacy

  • Sacagawea proved to be an surprising asset to the Corps of Discovery
  • Today, Sacagawea is on our dollar coin.
  • This is the government’s way of thanking her, and showing her importance to America.

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Ocean In View and the Journey Home

  • In November 1805, The Corps of Discovery finally reached the Pacific Ocean.
  • After 4 wet months the Corps headed home on March 23, 1806.
  • Lewis was shot accidently by one of his own men who was trying to shoot an Elk….this slowed the trip home significantly.
  • They finally arrive back home to St. Louis on September 23, 1806.

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Home

  • Lewis and Clark gathered information on:
    • 178 new kinds of plants
    • 122 new kinds of animals,
    • and more than 40 Indian tribes.
  • Early in 1807, Meriwether Lewis became Governor of the Louisiana Territory.
  • William Clark was appointed Superintendent of Indian Affairs.

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