1. Lewis and Clark Voyage of Discovery

2. Importance Louisiana Purchase (1803) doubled size of US – 828,800 square miles Encompasses all of part of 14 US states Exploration/settlement key to future success/security of nation

3. Background Few Americans knew of area past Mississippi River - trappers, explorers Contact was limited due to variety of languages encountered Everyone convinced of a ‘Northwest Passage’ (all-water route connecting Atlantic & Pacific) Competing Empires: Britain, Spain, Russia Spain controlled New Orleans & access to Mississippi River

4. Events of 1802-1803 October 16, 1802: Spain revokes American goods to move into or through New Orleans November 1802: Jefferson learns that Spain secretly transferred Louisiana Territory to France 1803: Jefferson sends negotiators to France and offers $10 million for NO & West Florida April 11, 1803: Napoleon offers entire territory for $15 million ($275 million adjusted) October 20: Senate approves sale & treaty October 21: Jefferson convinces Congress to send an expedition into Territory

5. Jefferson’s Orders Find all-water route to Pacific Ocean Tell natives of “Great White Father” Present peace medals to all tribes (right picture on new US nickel) Create journals

6. Question of Constitutionality The Constitution did not directly give Jefferson the authority to buy new territory for the nation. Jefferson and his fellow strict constructionists decided that the right to acquire territory was implicit in the president’s constitutional power to make treaties.

7. Lewis + Clark Bios Meriwether Lewis Aide to Jefferson Shy, Reclusive Drew detailed maps of land, animals + plants William Clark Served w/Lewis in Continental Army Friendly, Outgoing Brought slave (York) Translated for Clark Natives treated him like celebrity

8. Onward! “Corps of Discovery” left St. Louis on May 14, 1804 Traveled on Missouri in special cargo boat Many difficulties faced by Corps Boat got stuck many times in river silt- was pulled upstream Mosquitoes, fleas, gnats, leeches, snow, rapids

9. The Journals Required by Jefferson Included 60 maps Rivers, mountains Very detailed Sketches Animals/plant life 140,000 words Provided important credibility to journey

10. Expedition Route

17. Indian Contacts Visited/traded with nearly 50 tribes Mandan, Arikira, Nez Perce, Shoshone Confrontations between Blackfeet + Sioux (1805, 1806) First deaths of natives by representatives of US

18. Sacagawea Shoshone woman kidnapped at age 12 Sold as slave to Charbonneau Joined expedition when Charbonneau hired by Clark Invaluable to journey Translated for the various tribes, provided horses + shelter

19. To the Pacific and Back… Expedition reached Pacific Ocean in November 1805 Only 2nd non-native people to reach Pacific Stayed in modern-day Oregon for the winter before starting return journey Returned to St. Louis in Sept. 1806 Traveled 8,000 miles in 2 ½ years

20. Achievements & Effects of the Journey Established etiquette for communicating with the tribes - traders relied on makeshift languages based on combining French, English, Russian, and Native vocabularies SkookumStrong EenaBeaver MuckamuckFood; eat CaninCanoe PiahFire Chinook Jargon

21. Achievements & Effects of the Journey Studied more than 40 tribes Discovered 122 new animals Described 178 new types of plants “The Northwest Passage is closed forever.” Journey signaled beginning of Amer. power + end to native’s way of life