Thomas Jefferson appointed Meriwether Lewis to lead an expedition to explore the Louisiana Purchase and establish an all-water route from the Northwest. William Clark, who had experience with Indian relations, joined Lewis. In 1804, the Corps of Discovery departed on their mission to document new species, improve relations with Indian tribes who they met along the way such as the Shoshone, and discover what land had been purchased from France.

2. The Louisiana Purchase

3. Thomas Jefferson
GOALS
 All-water route from the
Northwest
 Wean Indian tribes from
British/French dependence
 Discover what had been
purchased

4. Meriwether Lewis
 Jefferson appointed Lewis to
lead expedition
 Responsibilities included
documenting new species
 “…with all these qualifications as if
selected and implanted by nature in
one body, for this express purpose, I
could have no hesitation in confiding
the enterprise to him.”- Jefferson

5. William Clark
 Born in Virginia-1770
 William Clark served
with Lewis in 1795
 He had a passion for
Indian relations

6. The Expedition
 Main Goals- Waterway, improve
Charles Marion Russell
Indian relations
 “Corps of Discovery”
 Departed in 1804

8. Natives
 Natives supplied food, military
protection, and valuable
information
 Would meet over 50 tribes
 There was a meeting ceremony
the men would conduct
 Greatest help came from Indians

9. Sacagawea
 Shoshone
guide/interpreter
 Touissant Charbonneau-
husband
 Proved to be valuable in
Shoshone trade