Download Lewis and Clark Power Point.

Introduction to Lewis and Clark
By Nicholette Johnson
In 1803, little was known about the land west of the Mississippi River. President
Jefferson proposed an expedition to explore these mysterious lands. Foreign
powers were competing for lands and Jefferson felt it was urgent to explore the
land and try to prevent the English from claiming new territories on this continent.
Who was Thomas Jefferson?
• The principal author of the
Declaration of Independence
(1776)
• He was the third president of
the United States. (1801-1809)
• He had a vision for the U.S. to
expand from the Atlantic Ocean
to the Pacific Ocean.
Jefferson doubled the size of the
United States with the Louisiana
Purchase for only 3 cents an acre.
President Jefferson’s Questions:
• Could the nation expand its land all the way to
the Pacific Ocean?
• Could the nation extend the external
commerce of the United States? Trapping and
trading of furs was important for the nation’s
economy. Asia and Europe wanted these
pelts. The only way to the orient was to travel
all the way around Cape Horn of South
America.
• Was there a short cut across America? Could
merchants send their cargoes to and from the
Pacific by river on one continuous waterway?
• Jefferson referred to his expedition as a
“literary pursuit.” He meant scientific quest
for knowledge.
• Congress mocked his idea and viewed the
West as a worthless wasteland.
• He only asked for $2,500 to finance his
“Voyage of Discovery”
Jefferson’s
letter to
Congress.
• In addition to political and commercial aims,
President Jefferson expected the explorers to
contribute new information about the Native
peoples of the continent.
Who would lead this “Voyage of
Discovery?”
Lewis and Clark’s Journey
President Jefferson wrote:
“To Meriwether Lewis, esquire, captain
of the first regiment of infantry of the
United States of America” – Thomas Jefferson
“The Object of your Mission is…”
http://www.lewisandclarkexhibit.org/cd_index_flash.html?
Watch the introduction
Go to Journey: Explore the Map and look at the letter
from President Jefferson. To see the letter go to #4 and
see the Gallery. Once in the Gallery, go to set 6 and the
letter will be one of the artifacts that you can select.
Also, don’t forget to click on modern map and 1803
map.
Assign different parts of the journey as Online
Homework Exploration.