The Lewis and Clark Expedition
Louisiana Purchase:
In 1803, the United States purchased the Louisiana Purchase from France, and it added about 828,000,000 square miles of territory to the United States. The Louisiana Purchase more than doubled the amount of territory the United States had possessed prior to it. It stretched from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains, and from the Gulf of Mexico to the Canadian border. This land eventually created part or all of fifteen states.
In 1803, the United States purchased the Louisiana Purchase from France, and it added about 828,000,000 square miles of territory to the United States. The Louisiana Purchase more than doubled the amount of territory the United States had possessed prior to it. It stretched from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains, and from the Gulf of Mexico to the Canadian border. This land eventually created part or all of fifteen states.
Meriwether Lewis:
Born in Albemarle County, Virginia on August 18 in 1774, Lewis was the second child and first son to William and Lucy Meriwether Lewis. His family managed a 100-acre plantation only ten miles away from Thomas Jefferson's home. His mother being a respected herb doctor encouraged Lewis' interest in plants during his childhood. In 1794, he joined the army for six years. President Jefferson appointed Lewis to be his personal secretary in 1801. When the expedition was approved by Congress in 1803, Jefferson specifically chose Lewis to embark on the journey given his loyalty, discipline, and superb physic. During the expedition, Lewis would record and take samples of anything and everything the team came across. Though he was in prime physical condition and good health, his stamina was put to the test on multiple occasions during the journey. After the expedition ended, he gradually increased his alcohol consumption resulting in a poor relationship with most of those from his past including Thomas Jefferson.
Born in Albemarle County, Virginia on August 18 in 1774, Lewis was the second child and first son to William and Lucy Meriwether Lewis. His family managed a 100-acre plantation only ten miles away from Thomas Jefferson's home. His mother being a respected herb doctor encouraged Lewis' interest in plants during his childhood. In 1794, he joined the army for six years. President Jefferson appointed Lewis to be his personal secretary in 1801. When the expedition was approved by Congress in 1803, Jefferson specifically chose Lewis to embark on the journey given his loyalty, discipline, and superb physic. During the expedition, Lewis would record and take samples of anything and everything the team came across. Though he was in prime physical condition and good health, his stamina was put to the test on multiple occasions during the journey. After the expedition ended, he gradually increased his alcohol consumption resulting in a poor relationship with most of those from his past including Thomas Jefferson.
William Clark:
William Clark was born in Virginia near Rappahannock River on August 1, 1770. His brother taught him how to live off the land at a very young age, and he learned the history of his surroundings. When he was 19, he joined the Kentucky Militia. Eventurally, he was promoted to Captain. He had many qualities of a good leader: he was 6 feet tall, strong, and could persuade Native Americans to tell him information. Lewis and Clark's friendship began when Lewis was assigned to Captain Clark in the late 1790's and early 1800's. When Lewis was asked to lead an expedition, he asked Clark to join him. Clark agreed, and together, they led the Corps of Discovery. On this maraculous journey, Clark's job was to create maps of the territory (called the cartographer). After their famous trip, Clark returned to Virginia where he married Julia Hancock and he was announced Governor of the Missouri Territory. One very interesting fact about Clark is that he named his son Meriwether Lewis Clark after his partner.
Goals:
The goals of sending the Corps out on the expedition to explore were to study a lot of things, including the Native American tribes in the area, plants, animals, geology, and terrain of the region. Also, Jefferson wanted to transfer the power over the lands the expedition was exploring from French and Spanish rule to United States rule. The main reason to send out the expedition was because Jefferson wanted to find a direct way to the Pacific Ocean.
The goals of sending the Corps out on the expedition to explore were to study a lot of things, including the Native American tribes in the area, plants, animals, geology, and terrain of the region. Also, Jefferson wanted to transfer the power over the lands the expedition was exploring from French and Spanish rule to United States rule. The main reason to send out the expedition was because Jefferson wanted to find a direct way to the Pacific Ocean.
Supplies: Travel- 55-foot (17-meter) Keelboat
2 Pirogues (open boats)
Square sail (also called a broad sail)
35 Oars
2 Horses
Camping Equipment- 150 Yards (140 meters) of cloth to be oiled and sewn into tents and sheets
6 Large needles
Pliers
Chisels
Handsaws
Oilskin bags
25 Hatchets
Whetstones
30 Steels for striking or making fire
Iron corn mill
2 Dozen tablespoons
Mosquito curtains
10.5 Pounds (5 kilograms) of fishing hooks and fishing lines
12 Pounds (5.4 kilograms) of soap
193 Pounds (87.5 kilograms) of "portable soup"
3 Bushels (106 liters) of salt
Writing paper, ink and crayons
Clothing- 45 Flannel shirts
20 Coats
15 Frocks
Shoes
Woolen pants
15 Blankets
Knapsacks
30 Stockings
15 Pairs wool overalls
Medicine- 50 Dozen Dr. Rush's patented "Rush's Thunderclapper" pills
Lancets
Forceps
Syringes
Tourniquets
1,300 Doses of physic
1,100 Doses of emetic
3,500 Doses of diaphoretic (sweat inducer)
Additional drugs
Arms- 15 Prototype Model 1803 muzzle-loading .54-caliber rifles "Kentucky Rifles"
15 Gun slings
24 Large knives
Powder horns
500 Rifle flints
420 Pounds (191 kilograms) of sheet lead for bullets
176 Pounds (80 kilograms) of gunpowder packed in 52 lead canisters
1 Long-barreled rifle that fired its bullet with compressed air, rather than by flint, spark, and powder
Mathematical Instruments- Surveyor's compass
Hand compass
1 Hadley's quadrant
1 Telescope
3 Thermometers
2 Sextants
1 Set of plotting instruments
1 Chronometer (needed to calculate longitude; at $250 it was the most expensive item)
1 Portable microscope
1 Tape measure
Presents for Indian Tribes
Encountered- 12 Dozen pocket mirrors
4,600 Sewing needles
144 Small scissors
2 Pirogues (open boats)
Square sail (also called a broad sail)
35 Oars
2 Horses
Camping Equipment- 150 Yards (140 meters) of cloth to be oiled and sewn into tents and sheets
6 Large needles
Pliers
Chisels
Handsaws
Oilskin bags
25 Hatchets
Whetstones
30 Steels for striking or making fire
Iron corn mill
2 Dozen tablespoons
Mosquito curtains
10.5 Pounds (5 kilograms) of fishing hooks and fishing lines
12 Pounds (5.4 kilograms) of soap
193 Pounds (87.5 kilograms) of "portable soup"
3 Bushels (106 liters) of salt
Writing paper, ink and crayons
Clothing- 45 Flannel shirts
20 Coats
15 Frocks
Shoes
Woolen pants
15 Blankets
Knapsacks
30 Stockings
15 Pairs wool overalls
Medicine- 50 Dozen Dr. Rush's patented "Rush's Thunderclapper" pills
Lancets
Forceps
Syringes
Tourniquets
1,300 Doses of physic
1,100 Doses of emetic
3,500 Doses of diaphoretic (sweat inducer)
Additional drugs
Arms- 15 Prototype Model 1803 muzzle-loading .54-caliber rifles "Kentucky Rifles"
15 Gun slings
24 Large knives
Powder horns
500 Rifle flints
420 Pounds (191 kilograms) of sheet lead for bullets
176 Pounds (80 kilograms) of gunpowder packed in 52 lead canisters
1 Long-barreled rifle that fired its bullet with compressed air, rather than by flint, spark, and powder
Mathematical Instruments- Surveyor's compass
Hand compass
1 Hadley's quadrant
1 Telescope
3 Thermometers
2 Sextants
1 Set of plotting instruments
1 Chronometer (needed to calculate longitude; at $250 it was the most expensive item)
1 Portable microscope
1 Tape measure
Presents for Indian Tribes
Encountered- 12 Dozen pocket mirrors
4,600 Sewing needles
144 Small scissors