500
53. Identify reasons for and findings of the Lewis and Clark expedition
What is Long before the Louisiana Purchase Thomas Jefferson was fascinated with the lands in the west; Could the Missouri River possible lead water route to the Pacific Ocean; Jefferson wanted the answers; Jefferson sent an expedition to the newly acquired land Louisiana territory; Mary Wether Lewis – army captain led the expedition; Chose his friend –fellow army captain William Clark to share command; Jefferson told 2 captains they had 3 goals 1 – search for water route to Pacific Ocean, 2 – Establish relationships with the Native Americans that they met, 3 – pay close attention “to the soil and face of the country”, its plants, animals, minerals and climates keeping a record of their findings; these journals are the main source of info about their expedition; May 1804 Lewis and Clark and other members of their expedition set out westward from St. Louis MO; Along MO river, expedition included soldiers, riverboat men, hunters and york; Clark slave and childhood friend York was at his side most of the time, he showed he was ready to sacrifice his life for Clark’s; nevertheless, when York asked to be freed due to his contributions on the expedition Clark refused