Thomas Jefferson persuaded Meriwether Lewis to lead an expedition to explore the newly acquired Louisiana Territory. He appointed Lewis as the commander of the Corps of Discovery and also selected William Clark as his second-in-command. The expedition, known as the Lewis and Clark Expedition, aimed to map the territory, establish trade with Native American tribes, and find a practical route to the Pacific Ocean.
President Jefferson needed Lewis and Clark to map the Louisiana Territory and to explore it.
President Thomas Jefferson set several key goals for the Lewis and Clark expedition, primarily to explore and map the newly acquired Louisiana Territory. He aimed to identify a practical route to the Pacific Ocean, establish trade relations with Native American tribes, and gather scientific information about the region's geography, flora, and fauna. Additionally, Jefferson sought to assert American presence and sovereignty in the West, promoting westward expansion and settlement.
Thomas Jefferson had dreamed of exploring the West for at least 20 years before he even became President. In 1783 he had even asked William Clark's brother, George, to take on the challenge. The Louisiana Purchase would later alter the character of the planned expedition from an exploration of French territory to a first glimpse of lands that, in the view of many contemporaries, were essential to maintaining the agrarian, republican character of the nation. The Louisiana Territory had been a land purchase transaction by the United States of America of 828,800 square miles of the French territory "Louisiane" in 1803. The U.S. paid 60 million francs ($11,250,000) plus cancellation of debts worth 18 million francs ($3,750,000), a total cost of $15,000,000 for the Louisiana Territory. After finally purchasing the Louisiana Territory, and two weeks before inauguration day Jefferson asked Lewis, in January of 1803, to go on the journey. Jefferson then requested $2500 from Congress to pay for the costs of the trip.
Thomas Jefferson sent Lewis and Clark into the newly acquired territory as part of the Louisiana Purchase to explore and map the region, establish trade relationships with Native American tribes, and assess the land's resources. The expedition aimed to find a practical route to the Pacific Ocean and further expand American knowledge of the geography and biodiversity of the continent. Additionally, Jefferson sought to promote westward expansion and American settlement in the newly acquired lands.
The Louisiana Purchase*(:
Lewis and Clark were went out by Jefferson to explore the newly purchased Louisiana Territory.
President Thomas Jefferson
President Jefferson needed Lewis and Clark to map the Louisiana Territory and to explore it.
The Lewis and Clark expedition was sent west by Thomas Jefferson to explore the recently purchased Louisiana Territory.
To Increase trade with Native Americans that was living on the territory.
To conquer all Native Americans living on the land
the Lewis and Clark expedition was the first overland expedition undertaken by the united state to the pacific coast and back
President Thomas Jefferson wanted to see what lay beyond the more he talked to Lewis about it the more curious became.
They were tasked to undergo the expedition by President Jefferson, shortly after the Louisiana Purchase. The land deal with France doubled the territory now owned by the US, and someone needed to go see what was out there.
to explore the Louisiana Territory
They explored the Louisiana Territory
to explore the vast Louisiana Territory