The expedition's goal as stated by President Jefferson was "to explore the Missouri River, & such principal stream of it as, by its course & communication with the water of the Pacific Ocean may offer the most direct & practicable water communication across this continent, for the purposes of commerce." In addition, the expedition was to learn more about the Northwest's Natural Resources, inhabitants, and possibilities for settlement,
Jefferson's instruction to Lewis were:
"Beginning at the mouth of the Missouri, you will take observations of latitude and longitude at all remarkable points on the river, & especially at the mouths of rivers, at rapids, at islands & other places & objects distinguished by such natural marks & characters of a durable kind, as that they may with certainty be recognized hereafter....The variations of the compass too, in different places should be noticed."
(considering the Native Americans) "...You will therefore endeavor to make yourself acquainted, as far as diligent pursuit of your journey shall admit with the names of the nations & their numbers, the extent & limits of their possessions; their relations with other tribes or nations; their language, traditions, monuments, their ordinary occupations in agriculture, fishing, hunting, war, arts & the implements for these, their food, clothing, & domestic accommodations, the diseases prevalent among them, & the remedies they use, moral and physical circumstance which distinguish them from the tribes they know, particularities in their laws, customs & dispositions, and articles of commerce they may need or furnish & to what extent."
"Other objects worthy of notice will be the soil & face of the country, it's growth & vegetable productions, especially those not of the US; the animals of the country generally & especially those not known in the US; the remains & accounts of any which may be deemed rare or extinct; the mineral productions of every kind, but more particularly metals, limestone, pit coal & saltpetre, salines & mineral waters, noting the temperature of the last & such circumstances as may indicate their character; volcanic appearances; climate as characterized by the thermometer, by the proportion of rainy, cloudy & clear days, by lightening, hail, snow, ice, by the access & recess of frost, by the winds, prevailing at different seasons & the dates at which particular plants put forth or lose their flower or leaf, times of appearance of particular birds, reptiles or insects."
Lewis had been Jefferson's secretary, had achieved his confidence and trust and Clark was qualified: the combination was perfect.
Lewis was chosen by Thomas Jefferson because he was his trustworthy assistant. Clark was Lewis's friend and was picked by Lewis.
Because he was the personal secretary to President Thomas Jefferson, who was the main instigator of the expedition.
Because he was funny looking. Thomas liked that! Because he was funny looking. Thomas liked that! Because he was funny looking. Thomas liked that! Because he was funny looking. Thomas liked that! Because he was funny looking. Thomas liked that! Because he was funny looking. Thomas liked that! Because he was funny looking. Thomas liked that!
The state amphibian of Louisiana is the green tree frog. The amphibian was chosen as the state amphibian in 1993.
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1803
After finally purchasing the Louisiana Territory, and two weeks before inauguration day Jefferson asked Lewis, in January of 1803, to go on the journey. Lt. William Clark would offer to join Lewis on the expedition weeks later on October 13, 1803 at Camp Dubois (in present-day Indiana). They then named their team the "Corps of Discovery."
Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. They also took with them Clark's slave York and the Indian lady Sacajawea
your mom was chosen
Because he was funny looking. Thomas liked that! Because he was funny looking. Thomas liked that! Because he was funny looking. Thomas liked that! Because he was funny looking. Thomas liked that! Because he was funny looking. Thomas liked that! Because he was funny looking. Thomas liked that! Because he was funny looking. Thomas liked that!
The state amphibian of Louisiana is the green tree frog. The amphibian was chosen as the state amphibian in 1993.
Meriwether Lewis was first chosen to go on the Louisiana Purchase because he was President Jefferson's aide and Jefferson knew he could rely on him. Lewis would be promoted to Captain after he agreed to join. To prepare for the expedition, Lewis was sent to Philadelphia for intense training by physician Benjamin Rush, astronomer-surveyor Andrew Ellicott, botanist Benjamin Barton, anatomist Casper Wister, and mathematician Robert Patterson. For three months he was tutored in the spring of 1803. The skills that Lewis learned would be passed on to Clark as they traveled. Prior to the expedition, Clark was in fact Lewis' superior officer and was very experienced in handling boats. Lewis would ask Clark to serve mainly as the expedition "doctor" and co-writer of the Journals.
because it was the 1st city to come to Louisiana
Zebulon Pike
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1803
Electives
After finally purchasing the Louisiana Territory, and two weeks before inauguration day Jefferson asked Lewis, in January of 1803, to go on the journey. Lt. William Clark would offer to join Lewis on the expedition weeks later on October 13, 1803 at Camp Dubois (in present-day Indiana). They then named their team the "Corps of Discovery."
Merriwether Lewis and William Clark were chosen to explore west of the Missouri River. This expedition was commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson and lasted from May of 1804 to September of 1806.