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The Lewis and Clark Expedition
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Researched by Nicki C.
2002-03 |
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Introduction
The Lewis and Clark Expedition helped the United States learn more about
the west. Lewis took notes on the plants and animals that he saw along
their journey. Notes were also taken on the Native Americans. His notes
have helped us for two centuries.
Tools They Brought
The expedition took clothing, kettles, pick axes, and scientific books
too. They packed guns, eating material, and a special air gun to attract
the Indians. They took everything they needed.
The Start of the Expedition
President Thomas Jefferson had been thinking of a secret western exploration
for 20 years! When he was elected president he decided it was time to put
his dream in action. He wrote to the congress telling them about his plan.
They thought he was out of his mind. Since he was president, they let him
go on with his "new idea."
The Expedition
The Lewis and Clark expedition started in St. Louis and traveled to
the Pacific and back, but first there had to be people to run it! Jefferson
chose Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. He chose them because Lewis
was his personal secretary, and Clark was a former commander in the army.
He also needed an Indian interpreter, so he chose Sacagawea from the Shoe-
Shone Indians.
Clark got 14 soldiers, nine volunteers from Kentucky, Clark’s slave,
York, two French river-men, Sacagawea, and Lewis’ dog, Seaman. Meanwhile
Lewis went to school. He had to learn how to take notes about plants and
animals that he saw. Clark started training the men to prepare for their
journey. Soon they would head for the river where he would meet up with
Lewis.
The party made mid-winter camp at Camp Dubois, or Camp Wood.
On May 14, 1804 they left Camp Dubois on their journey, in kettle
boats and two dugout canoes. The expedition contained 50 men. Most were
hired to row the boats and move them.
Soon they traveled west into what is now Montana. After a while in June
they spent at least 2 weeks trying to figure out which of 2 rivers would
lead to the main river. Finally they found the correct way and then had
to go over huge waterfalls. They had to carry all their boats and supplies
over land for 18 miles.
As they came closer to the mountains they hoped to meet friendly Indians
who would supply the men with new food. Thankfully they met those Indians
in August. The Indians supplied them with shelter, food, and new clothes.
Crossing the mountains was the hardest part for the party of 50 men.
Especially when the horses tripped and fell to their death, ruining special
supplies. When it came winter, they ran out of food, so they started eating
the horses that were left.
The Return Voyage
As they left the mountains, they met the Nez Perce Indians, who had
piercing on their noses. They looked fascinating to Lewis and Clark. The
Indians supplied them with many necessities such as food, water, and shelter.
While they were in shelter Lewis and Clark built boats and canoes.
Impact
Lewis and Clark explored the Louisiana Purchase and opened the North
West for traveling settlers.
Biographies
Sacagawea
Sacagawea was born in 1787. She was in the Sho-Shone Indian tribe.
In 1805 she joined the expedition in North Dakota after Lewis and Clark
hired her and her husband as an interpreter. She was the expedition’s guide
as well as an interpreter. The party knew that she would help interpret
the Sho-Shone Indian language in their territory. She died in 1812.
Meriwether Lewis
Meriwether Lewis was born in Albemarle County, Virginia in 1774.
In 1794, he joined the US Army and was good enough to rise to captain.
He became Private Secretary for President Jefferson in 1800. Lewis was
the main leader and a naturalist in the Lewis and Clark expedition in 1804.
He was granted governor of Louisiana in 1806. He was murdered in 1809.
William Clark
William Clark was born in Virginia during 1770 and died in 1838.
He had a brother who became a hero in the Revolutionary War, George Rodgers
Clark. Besides the fact that he helped run the expedition William Clark
had other duties. He made maps of their routes on the journey.
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was third president of the United States of America. He
was also the author of the Declaration of Independence. A leader
in the American Revolution, he was a great political thinker and diplomat.
The U.S.A doubled its area when Thomas bought territory called the Louisiana
Purchase.
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The Products I Created
Everyone in the class created a survey. First I wrote a few possible questions
and answers. I typed them and had them checked by the teacher, then
fixed my mistakes. I learned how to make response boxes and how to put
two copies on one page in two columns. I selected a color and had 100 copies
made. Next I made appointments and actually conducted the survey
with four classes. After I collected all of my data I counted all
the responses for the boys and for the girls. I entered these numbers into
Excel spreadsheet. Then I made a graph for each question. I formatted each
graph to be readable and colorful.
Another product I created is a blow up drawing of the Lewis and Clark
trail. First, I looked up pictures about their journey and decided on one.
Then, I asked Mrs. Helms if she could make this into a transparent sheet.
Next, I put the sheet on the overhead and taped a large piece of white
paper to the white board. After that, I traced the drawing on the paper
and colored it in with bright colors that represented parts of their trip.
Then I put on labels telling where the main places they went are.
I also created a buzzer board. Our class had a choice of doing a game
or a buzzer board. I made questions and answers for students to answer.
Then I sized and cut them into equal pieces. Next, I chose a poster board
so I could paste the questions and answers to it. I put backgrounds in
back of the questions and answers to match the color of my board. I punched
holes into the sides of my board and taped tin foil to the back of it.
I taped tin foil on it, because the electricity wouldn’t be able to run
through it if there wasn’t any. Now students can learn and have fun.
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Bibliography
Kroll, Steven. Lewis and Clark. 1994
"Lewis and Clark." www.LewisandClark.com
"Lewis" www.who2.com
Schorer, Mark. "Lewis and Clark." The World Book Encyclopedia .
1991
"Thomas Jefferson" Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia Deluxe. 2001
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