Question

Based on your knowledge of history, identify three impacts of the Lewis and Clark Expedition on American history.


recorded plants, animals, and Native tribes encountered


produced an accurate route to the Pacific Ocean


created a British claim on territory within the Louisiana Purchase


opened up a new territory for fur and lumber trade


discouraged westward expansion into the new territories


determined how the territories would be split into states

Answer 1

The three impacts are:

1. recorded plants, animals, and Native tribes encountered — Lewis and Clark kept detailed journals and specimen lists that vastly expanded scientific and ethnographic knowledge of the West.
2. produced an accurate route to the Pacific Ocean — their maps and route descriptions gave practical geographic information about river courses (especially the Columbia) and mountain crossings that future travelers and settlers could use.
3. opened up a new territory for fur and lumber trade — their reports and contacts encouraged trappers, traders, and later commercial exploitation (especially the fur trade and resource extraction) in the Pacific Northwest.