The Lewis and Clark Expedition

Introduction

In 1803, two men led an expedition across the United States. Your mission is to follow this exciting journey. During your travels you will:

  • get some background on the journey
  • follow the events of the expedition
  • research more information about the trip
  • write a newspaper article - OR - create a timeline about the journey

 

Process

 
 


Are you ready to get started on your mission? Then start at the beginning.

Background

Imagine that one morning you woke up and discovered your house had grown twice as big. How would you feel and what would you do? Well, in 1803, Americans faced a very similar situation on a much larger scale. President Thomas Jefferson had purchased 820,000 square miles from France (known as the Louisiana Purchase) and suddenly doubled the size of the United States. Americans were very excited about this new territory but it was also a mystery. What did the land look like? How could you cross it? What kinds of animals and plants lived there? Would the Native Americans who lived there be welcoming? Very few white people had traveled to this western part of the country and the few maps that existed were patchy and unreliable. So President Jefferson decided to hire a group of men to explore this new America.

Jefferson's first choice to lead the expedition was his trusted secretary, Meriwether Lewis, who then asked his friend William Clark to share the command. First, Jefferson asked Lewis and Clark to explore and map the unexplored territory, especially the Missouri River and its tributaries, streams that flow into a larger river. Jefferson had dreamed for a long time that there might be a river that ran from the Missouri all the way to the Pacific Ocean, which would make travel there much easier. Secondly, Jefferson asked Lewis and Clark to observe, record, and collect specimens of the local plant and animal life. The President wanted to know what natural resources existed for future American pioneers to live on. Finally, Jefferson asked Lewis and Clark to seek out the Native American tribes, study their languages and customs, and make friends with them if possible. Ultimately, this expedition would require Lewis and Clark to act as explorers, mapmakers, scientists, and diplomats. It was a lot of responsibility but they were excited to try.

Today you can fly across the entire United States in about six hours, but in 1803, Lewis and Clark had to make their journey without planes, cars, motorized boats, or even roads. It was hard to prepare because Lewis and Clark had no idea what they would find or how long they would be gone. Since this was an important government mission, the expedition needed an important name and so they called themselves the "Corps of Volunteers on an Expedition of North Western Discovery," but that name became tiring to say and they shortened it to the "Corps of Discovery." When the Corps of Discovery paddled away from Camp Wood Missouri, they did not know that they would be gone for two and a half years, that they would travel almost eight thousand miles, and that they would be participating in one of the greatest adventures in American history

Evaluation

Captain Meriwether Lewis was asked by his old friend President Thomas Jefferson to lead the important expedition West. Lewis had a lot of military training, so he was strong and hardworking and used to leading other people. Lewis was especially good at noticing the details of plants and animals and using the limited tools available to navigate through this unfamiliar country. However, Lewis was often moody or depressed and sometimes he did things without thinking carefully.
 

Captain William Clark was invited by his friend Meriwether Lewis to be co-captain of the expedition. Clark was very tall, enthusiastic, and friendly towards new people. He drew careful maps of the fields, mountains, and rivers, and wrote in his journal about where they were and what they had discovered. However, he made lots of spelling and grammar errors because he had very little schooling.
 

Sacagawea was a young Shoshone Native American girl who was married to Toussaint Charbonneau. She helped the expedition a great deal by helping translate between Lewis and Clark and the Native American tribes they met along their journey. Even when she didn't speak the same language, her presence made other Native Americans more trusting of this group of white strangers. Sacagawea also pointed out edible plants when the expedition was hungry and occasionally guided Lewis and Clark when they were lost.

 

May 14

The expedition departs from Camp Wood, Missouri, traveling in a keelboat and two smaller boats. To read excerpts of Lewis and Clark's journals, click on "Setting Forth."

August 2

The first official meeting takes place between the expedition and a group of Oto Native Americans in the territory that is now Nebraska.

September 7

The expedition unsuccessfully attempts to capture a prairie dog by pouring water down its hole.

September 25

Fighting almost breaks out when a group of Teton Sioux Native Americans demands one of the expedition's boats as payment for traveling upriver. Chief Black Buffalo helps resolve the argument.

October 24-25

They reach the Mandan Villages in North Dakota and are welcomed by the Mandan Native Americans. They decide to build their winter camp there and name it "Fort Mandan."

November 4

Charbonneau and Sacagawea join the expedition as interpreters and guides. Sacagawea became one of the most famous members of the Corps.

 

February 11

Sacagawea gives birth to a baby boy, Jean Baptiste, nicknamed "Pompy."

April 7

The "permanent party" consisting of Lewis and Clark and thirty-one others leave Fort Mandan and continue west. The remaining people return to St. Louis with letters to their families and discoveries for President Jefferson.

May 14

Charbonneau lets go of the boat rudder and almost overturns the boat. Sacagawea rescues most of the items washed overboard and impresses Lewis and Clark with her calmness.

July 27

The expedition reaches the Three Forks of the Missouri.

August 17

The expedition meets a group of Shoshone Native Americans, including Chief Cameahwait, Sacagawea's brother. Sacagawea helps the expedition trade for horses.

August 30-September 22

They cross the snowy Bitterroot Mountains. Several horses fall and are injured and the expedition almost runs out of food.

October 6

The expedition builds dugout canoes and paddles down the rapids of the Clearwater and Snake Rivers. One boat hits a rock and sinks, along with most of their food.

November 18

The expedition reaches the Pacific Ocean.

December 7

They settle down for winter at Fort Clatsop.

1806

The explorers return home to St. Louis, Missouri. Explore the dates below for big events in 1806.

March 23

The expedition leaves Fort Clatsop and heads home.

September 20

The Corps of Discovery arrive at a frontier village, the first white settlement they have seen since 1804.

September 23

The explorers arrive back in St. Louis.

Conclusion

Using this information and the materials provided by the teacher you may either write a newspaper article summarizing the events of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, or create a timeline showing the major struggles and successes of the Expedition.

Credits

http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/lewis_clark/1805.htm