Lewis and Clark Expedition: Difference between revisions

President [[Thomas Jefferson]] commissioned the expedition shortly after the [[Louisiana Purchase]] in 1803 to explore and to map the newly acquired territory, to find a practical route across the western half of the continent, and to establish an American presence in this territory before European powers attempted to establish claims in the region. The campaign's secondary objectives were scientific and economic: to study the area's plants, animal life, and geography, and to establish trade with local [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native American]] tribes. The expedition returned to [[St. Louis]] to report its findings to Jefferson, with maps, sketches, and journals in hand.<ref>[[#Woodger'09|Woodger, Toropov, 2009]] p. 150</ref><ref>[[#Ambrose|Ambrose, 1996]], Chap. VI</ref>

 

One of [[Thomas Jefferson]]'s goals was to find "the most direct and practicable water communication across this continent, for the purposes of commerce." He also placed special importance on declaring US sovereignty over the land occupied by the many different Native American tribes along the [[Missouri River]], and getting an accurate sense of the resources in the recently completed Louisiana Purchase.<ref>[[#Miller|Miller, 2006]] p. 108</ref><ref>[[#Fenelon|Fenelon & Wilson, 2006]] pp. 90–91</ref><ref name="Lavender32">[[#Lavender|Lavender, 2001]] pp.32, 90</ref><!-- defined by Template:Timeline of the Lewis and Clark Expedition --><ref>[[#Ronda|Ronda, 1984]] pp. 82, 192</ref> The expedition made notable contributions to science,<ref>[[#Fritz|Fritz, 2004]] p. 113</ref> but scientific research was not the main goal of the mission.<ref>[[#Ronda|Ronda, 1984]] p. 9</ref>

 

 

== Journey ==

=== Departure ===

[[File:Lewis and clark-expedition.jpg|thumb|300px|[[Corps of Discovery]] meet [[Chinook people|Chinooks]] on the [[Columbia River|Lower Columbia]], October 1805 (''Lewis and Clark on the Lower Columbia'' painted by [[Charles Marion Russel]], {{circa}} 1905)]]