Lewis & Clark

Briyana Butler & Naomi Williams

Meriwether Lewis

▪ Born: August 18, 1774 in Ivy, Virginia

▪ 5 years of formal education

▪ Didn’t have education till the age of 13

▪ Yet he developed many skills:

– Hunting

– Fishing

– Etc.

▪ Very Moody & Introverted

▪ Died at the age of 35

Goals of Expedition

▪ Scientifically: Study plants, animals, geography

▪ Economically

▪ Be ambassadors to Indian Tribes (Bring messages of friendship; “Peace Medals” )

▪ President Jefferson chose Lewis to lead the scientific expedition across the Louisiana Territory because of his experience in:

• Astronomy• Botany• Cartography• Geology

• Indian affairs• Mineralogy• Navigation.

William Clark

▪ Born August 1, 1770 in Virginia as the 9th child, and 6th boy in a liter of 10.

▪ At age 19 he enrolled into the military, where he met Lewis.

▪ Lewis and Clark had many things in common as they are both great leaders and experienced outdoorsman.

▪ Clarks skillset ranged from:– experienced geographer, mapmaker, nature artist, riverboat

man, excellent at hunting, fishing, and trapping, tracking, camping and land navigation.

▪ Lewis died at 68 on September 1, 1838, St. Louis, MO.

The Squad

York Lewis:Clark’s Salve

Seaman:Lewis’ Newfoundland Dog

Sacagawea:Their Shoshone guide

Corpse of Discovery:• 21 Soldiers• 18 River men• Trained by Clark

The expedition begins! 1804

▪ May 14, 1804 marks the start of the expedition

▪ They travel up the Missouri river from St. Louis

▪ Clark spent most of his time mapping out the area while Lewis studied the flora and fauna

▪ They were constantly on the look out for Indians

▪ By July they traveled 6000 miles up the river and still ha not seen a single Indian

Expedition Continues

▪ They met many native tribes including the Oto , the Yankton Sioux, Teton Sioux and the Arikara.

▪ They exchanged gifts like blankets, beads and peace medals which signified that the “Great Father” (Thomas Jefferson) was now their new leader.

▪ The Teton Sioux were not pleased with their gifts and a fight almost broke out. Jefferson’s hope for friendly relations with the sioux failed.

▪ They continued up north and made shelter for the winter at the Mandan tribes villages.

▪ While at Hidatsa, they hired as an interpreter Toussaint Charbonneau, a French-Canadian fur trapper.

▪ Charbonneau, his Shoshone wife, Sacagawea, and their baby son, Jean Baptiste, would travel with the expedition when it left Fort Mandan.

▪ Lewis and Clark spent most of their winter collecting and sending information back to Jefferson.

▪ After they passed though Grizzly Valley, where they spotted bears, they planned to head to the Rocky Mountains.

▪ On June 13, 1805, they reached the graet falls

▪ In August of 1805, they came into contact with the Shoshone tribe, whose leader happened to be Sacagawea's brother.

▪ They bargained for the horses they desperately needed to cross the Continental divide

Final Leg

▪ On November 7, 1805, Clark thinks he see the Pacific when they were really still 20 miles from the coast.

▪ Storms halt them for three weeks then they reach the pacific.

▪ The then begin their trek back home.

▪ On the way back they split up at Traveler’s Rest in order to explore more Louisiana territory.– Lewis’ group encountered the Blackfeet Indians and had a little skirmish. Two

Indians died

– Clarks men had some horses stolen by the row tribe.

They finally reach St. Louis—two years, four months, and ten days after they had left

Effects of the Expedition

▪ People no longer wondered about the mysteries of the Louisiana Purchase.

▪ Mostly the information collected was geographical.

▪ One of the long term effects was the increase in rise in the northern plains fur trade from 1806 to 1812.

▪ The Natives had a very negative outcome from this expedition, the disease of small pox broke out, which dwindled down and weakened this once strong and courageous group.

Short Timeline

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July 4, 1803

Announcement of Louisiana Purchase

May 14, 1804

Expedition begins

Nov. 4, 1804

The Crew hires Toussaint Charbonneau and his wife, Sacagawea.

Nov. 7, 1805

Clark believes he sees the Pacific.

July 26-27, 1806

Skirmish between Blackfeet and Lewis’ Party

Sept, 23, 1806

Lewis and Clark reach St. Louis.

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