Lewis and Clark Expedition

Study Notes

The Northwest Passage and the Louisiana Territory

For centuries, Europeans believed in the existence of an all-water route across North America, known as the "Northwest Passage", which would grant the controlling country access to the interior of North America and a quick route to the Pacific Ocean and trade with Asia.
Many Americans, including President Thomas Jefferson, dreamed of finding a Northwest Passage and opening the Pacific to American commerce and influence.

Jefferson's Corps of Discovery

In April 1803, Jefferson purchased the Louisiana Territory from France, effectively doubling the size of the United States.
Jefferson appointed Meriwether Lewis to lead an expedition into the Louisiana Territory, with multifaceted objectives, including establishing a trade route to China, securing American claims to the territory, and documenting the region's geography and resources.
Lewis was accompanied by William Clark, and they embarked on this mission in May 1804.

Challenges and Encounters

Lewis and Clark faced various challenges, including harsh weather, encounters with wildlife, and interactions with native tribes.
They documented their findings in journals, including encounters with animals such as elk, buffalo, and grizzly bears.

Sacagawea and Native Tribes

The Corps of Discovery enlisted the guidance of Toussaint Charbonneau, a French fur trapper, and his wife, Sacagawea, who proved invaluable as interpreters and diplomats.
Sacagawea's presence helped dispel notions of hostility, facilitating diplomatic exchanges with tribes along the route.
Despite misconceptions about Sacagawea's role as a guide, she did not actually guide the party, but her presence was instrumental in convincing many groups that the expedition was not a war party.

Expedition's Approach and Outcomes

The expedition's approach included distributing gifts and tokens of goodwill, yet tensions with some tribes, like the Blackfeet, arose due to misunderstandings.
Despite facing adversity, including near-starvation in the Bitterroot Mountains, the Corps of Discovery achieved significant milestones, including reaching the Pacific Ocean in 1805.
Their journey laid the groundwork for future exploration and trade, and their documentation of flora, fauna, and interactions with native tribes expanded knowledge of the region and strengthened American claims.
The territory was now more accurately mapped and legally claimed by the United States, but much of the vast territory remained unexplored.

Description

Explore the historic expedition of Lewis and Clark, who searched for the Northwest Passage, a hypothetical all-water route across North America. Learn about the significance of this route and its impact on American commerce and influence.