Question

On May 14, 1804, William Clark set off from St. Louis on the Missouri River to meet up with Meriwether Lewis. Together with a few dozen men, Lewis and Clark braved the uncharted countryside of the western United States. They called their journey the Corps of Discovery Expedition.

2

This trip was supported by Thomas Jefferson, the president at the time. Jefferson asked Lewis to lead the exploration and Lewis asked Clark to be his right-hand man. Jefferson had faith in the strength and leadership abilities of both because of their military backgrounds. Neither Lewis nor Clark wavered in their bravery or resilience throughout the voyage.

3

This journey had several key goals. First, Jefferson wanted Lewis and Clark to claim American ownership of all the land from St. Louis to the Pacific coastline. Second, Jefferson wanted to establish a peaceful relationship with Native American tribes. Third, the president asked Lewis and Clark to discover a continuous waterway from the established US to the Pacific Ocean. Fourth, and finally, they were to study the animals, plants, and geology of the landscape.

4

Before they set out on their journey, Lewis and Clark were both educated by the nation's best scientists and mapmakers. Both men studied botany, zoology, astronomy, cartography, and many other scientific disciplines. Their expedition was funded in large part by the American Philosophical Society. This organization is based in Philadelphia in the Independence National Historical Park.

5

Lewis and Clark set off on the Missouri River in boats heading west. Clark spent much of his time in the boat drawing detailed maps of the terrain. Meanwhile, Lewis explored the banks.

6

Lewis and Clark prepared themselves for the possibility of resistance from the Native American tribes. This was because their expedition planned to claim land that Native Americans already inhabited. In case of skirmishes, Lewis and Clark had numerous weapons. They also had coins that Jefferson had commissioned, called Indian Peace Medals. These coins were valuable and were meant to show US sovereignty over the Native American people.

7

While they did encounter occasional resistance among Native American people, Lewis and Clark also managed to trade with many of them. Without assistance from the Native Americans, it is quite possible that the explorers would have perished in the harsh winters. Some Native American tribes were quite helpful. Others were angry, demanding payment for their land and resources.

8

Both men kept detailed journals of their travels. These have helped historians understand their triumphs and hardships. The journals showed that they neared the Great Plains in August of 1804. They then arrived at the Mandan tribal ground in North Dakota by November. They set up camp there for the winter. In May of 1805, Lewis and Clark continued west over the Rocky Mountains. They caught their first glimpse of the Pacific Ocean in November. Once they made their way all the way to the shore, they had to hunker down for another winter of harsh weather and scant provisions. Despite these hardships, Lewis and Clark were never afraid or doubtful that they would succeed. They left the coast on March 23, 1806, and returned to St. Louis on September 23.

9

The expedition was considered a success, as it accomplished several of its goals. First, it secured US ownership of the land, as Lewis and Clark made it all the way to the Pacific to claim it for the United States. Second, it established positive relationships with over two dozen Native American nations. Third, Lewis and Clark documented over 300 new plant and animal species. Finally, although they did not discover a waterway that led from St. Louis to the Pacific Ocean, they did create over 140 maps of the land. All together, the Corps of Discovery Expedition enlightened the country of what existed in the West.

The author of "The Corps of Discovery Expedition" concludes that the journals of Lewis and Clark help historians understand their hardships. Which details from the journals of Lewis and Clark BEST support this conclusion? Select TWO options.

"…braking with great force and fury against the rocks and trees on which we lie, as our Situation became Seriously dangerous…"


"…we took the advantage of a low tide and moved our Camp around a point a Short distance to a Small wet bottom at the mouth of a Small Creek…"


"O! how horriable is the day—This Storm Continued all day with equal violence accompanied with rain…"


"…we find the Indians easy ruled and kept in order by a Stricter indifference towards them…"


"…having made up our minds to remain until the 1st of April…it is true that we could even travel now on our return as far as the timbered country reaches…"

Answer 1

Select the 1st and the 3rd options.

- "…braking with great force and fury against the rocks and trees on which we lie, as our Situation became Seriously dangerous…" — shows dangerous river conditions.
- "O! how horriable is the day—This Storm Continued all day with equal violence accompanied with rain…" — shows severe weather.

Both directly describe hardships faced on the expedition.