Ellie356

In 1802, president Thomas Jefferson chose Meriwether Lewis to be the leader of an exploration group that would explore the land of the Louisiana Purchase, or as it is now known, the northeast United States. Months after the beginning of the exposition, William Clark joined them on this marvelous journey across the states. The expedition’s purpose, as stated by Jefferson, was “to explore the Missouri river and such principal stream of it as by its course and communication with the water of the Pacific Ocean may offer the direst and practicable water communication across this continent, for the purpose of commerce.”(author not listed) In other words, the expedition was to learn more about the northwest, its natural resources, inhabitants, and possibilities for settlement. In August of 1803, Lewis began the expedition. He later would meet up with William Clark in Pittsburg Pennsylvania. Clark offered to accompany Lewis on the expedition, in which Lewis agreed. Together they named their team the “corps of volunteers for north western discovery” and set out once again to complete their assignment.

In May of 1804, the corps sails up the Missouri river to St. Charles, later on after encountering their first Indian tribe, the kickapoos. They soon continue their journey, meeting up with the Mandan and Hadista tribes. After setting up their winter quarters at fort Mandan, they chose Touissaint Charbonneau as their interpreter, and his wife Sacagawea to accompany them as they continue the expedition almost freezing to death as they attempt to cross the Bitterroot Mountains. Later in July of 1806, the party spilt; Lewis heading northeast, Clark heading south, allowing them to cover more land in a littler amount of time.

Lewis and Clark were introduced to many new species (some that are extinct or on the brink of extinction today) of plants and animals on their expedition. In the Rockies they came upon the bison, black tailed prairie dog, black footed ferret, whooping crane, swift fox, the badgernd, and the burrowing owl. They also found the grizzly bear, white bark pine, elk, bull trout trumpeter swan, cougar, and the gray wolf. In the pacific northwest they found the western red cedar, woodland caribou, Oregon spotted frog, pacific yew, the wolverine, and the sea otter. They brought newfound knowledge of these new discoveries back with them after they finished their journey.

On November 7th 1805 they landed at the mouth of the Columbia River, in Astoria Oregon. It was foggy and rainy and they couldn’t see the Oregon side of the river or point Adams, but they reached their goal. They then returned home to St Louis on September 23rd, 1806. 

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corps of discovery." //[|www.nps.gov]//. Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, may 8, 2007. Web. 7 Apr 2011. [].

"sacagawea." //[|www.legendsofamerica.com]//. Legends of America, 2003-2011. Web. 5 Apr 2011. [].

"lewis and clark national forest." //[|www.fs.usda.gov]//. us forest sevice, august 2009. Web. 9Apr 2011. [].

"lewis and clark, plants and animals." //[|www.sierraclub.org]//. Sierra club, none listed. Web. 9Apr 2011. [].