Thomas Jefferson commissioned Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to lead an expedition to explore the newly acquired Louisiana Territory in 1803. Lewis and Clark assembled a group of 30 men to travel up the Missouri River to map the territory and establish trade relations with Native American tribes. After two years of exploration, they reached the Pacific Ocean and successfully returned, having mapped over 8,000 miles of territory and making contact with dozens of tribes. Their expedition doubled the size of the United States and established the nation's presence in the West.

1. Lewis & Clark By: Heather Jo Reynolds

2. A big job to do! At the start of Thomas Jefferson’s presidency, the United States of America was still a baby of a country. He was, in fact, only the third president after the first president George Washington and second president John Adams. Which had enough on their plate with stabilizing the country after the war. Much of America’s land was still undiscovered and paths were unknown. To unmask these territories President Jefferson chose a group qualified men to embark on what was still a mystery to many. Among these men were the president’s sectary, Meriwether Lewis ,and Lewis’s friend, William Clark. At the beginning of this adventure Lewis and Clark most likely had no idea the impact they would have on “America the Beautiful.” For their discoveries will be in the history of our country forever.

3. What would you be thinking at this point? As Lewis was first appointed leader to the “Corps of Discovery” I am almost pretty sure that he had millions of thoughts running through his head. “ What supplies will I need?” “ How I am I going to lead men into a land that not many have ventured to go?” “ Who and what kind of people will we come across on our journey?” “ Will there be many dangers ahead?” But all of these questions had to be pushed aside and a clear and certain path had to be very well planned out. To prepare himself as leader Lewis had to educate himself on many topics such as astronomy, medicine, and navigation. (Why would he need those things) The $2,500 given by the government had to be budgeted. Supplies like handsaws, compasses, and thermometers all had to be acquired. With a team of 20 men, necessities for survival, and government backing, Lewis and Clark were prepared for their journey. But would they be prepared for their destined future as explores and discoveries?

4. As mentioned before, most of the United States was great unknown. This unknown area that doubled the size of the original 13 colonies was called the Louisiana Purchase , which was acquired from France in 1803. This land includes much of what are now the 15 states of Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana.

5. The Trail

6. What I did not know was that they had hoped to find a water route across the North American continent for commerce with the East Indies. In fact, it was the central purpose of the expedition, in the words of Jefferson, they were, "to explore the Missouri river, and such principal streams of it, as, by its course and communication with the waters of the Pacific ocean, whether the Columbia, Oregon, Colorado, or any other river, may offer the most direct and practicable water- communication across the continent, for the purposes of commerce.“ Although Lewis and Clark -- and Thomas Jefferson -- were disappointed at not finding the fabled Passage to India, the expedition resulted in a much more accurate map of the American Northwest.

7. Along the way… Most of the tribes Lewis and Clark encountered were little known in the United States. Many of these tribes, in fact, had become friends with France, Spain, and England before the United States had become a country. It was very important to gain the loyalty and friendship of these tribes for economic as well as military and political reasons. Therefore, President Jefferson instructed Lewis and Clark to make friends and develop trade relations with these Indians as well as collect scientific and military information about them. Lewis and Clark fulfilled their roles as ambassadors of good will to perfection. The most important of the presents were certificates, American flags, and Jefferson medals, known as peace medals from the clasped hands of friendship on the obverse.

8. One reason the various tribes were so helpful to Lewis and Clark may have been their Indian companion, Sacagawea, and her infant son. This Shoshone woman, married to the French trader Toussaint Charbonneau, accompanied the Corps of Discovery from the Mandan villages to the Pacific Ocean and then came back with them. Indians who might have suspected the explorers were on a warlike mission would have been reassured by seeing Sacagawea and her child with the soldiers. According to William Clark, "The Wife of Shabano our interpreter We find reconciles all the Indians, as to our friendly intentions. A woman with a party of men is a token of peace.” Can anyone tell me what this is?

9. The expedition voted to winter on the south side of the Columbia River near what is now Astoria, Oregon. After presenting their winter fort as a gift to the Clatsop, a neighboring tribe, they set out for home on March 23, 1806. Lewis and Clark led the Corps into St. Louis on September 23, 1806. Having given them up for dead, the American public welcomed them back as national heroes. One U.S. senator exclaimed to Lewis that it was as if he had come back from the moon. THE OCEAN!!!!

10. Some things you would have encountered.

11. Resources http://jradaker.wordpress.com/2009/01/26/lewis-and-clark/ http://www.edgate.com/lewisandclark/ http://www.nationalgeographic.com/lewisandclark/ http://lewis-clark.org/ http://www.pbs.org/lewisandclark/