History: The Expedition Of Lewis And Clark

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On May 14th, 1804, in St. Louis, Missouri along the Missouri River, Lewis and Clark led an expedition that would be one of the greatest accomplishment in the history of the United States of America. The scientific discoveries of animals, plants, and nature were astonishing in and like nothing known at that time. From forming relationships with various Indian tribes to the near death encounters made this journey a jaw dropping story. A story that is still told throughout history classrooms, throughout the country, and throughout the world. The expedition to the West would not only affect the young nation short term, but its outcome would help guide Americans to making the country what it is today. In April of 1801, President Thomas …show more content…
The group set off up the Missouri River on May 14th, 1804. During the journey, Lewis and Clark collected an incredible amount of information on the land and the people, plants, and animals. For the next six months, the Corps of Discovery travel upstream on the Missouri River inching closer and closer to the Pacific each day. Through the voyage they encountered as many as 50 Indian tribes such as, Teton Sioux, Mandans, and the Nez Perce, and traded and created peaceful relation with several tribe. Nearly every tribe would be astonished by Clark’s servant York, who was African-American. As winter approached the expedition had to stop and break until the weather was appropriate to continue forward. The Corps of Discovery would build Fort Mandan where they stayed for the rest of the winter. On the entirety of the voyage, the Corps of Discovery only lost one member, even when facing hostile natives, atrocious winters, and the grizzly bear. The Corps of Discovery eventually reached the Pacific Ocean in the fall of 1805, but they could not do this by way of water. They would have to portage between rivers on a few occasions. Just south where the Columbia River flows into, the expeditioners built a fort to spend the winter, which came to be known as …show more content…
Back home, the vast majority of people had given up on the expedition and thought they got lost or died. Along their return trip, Lewis and Clark decide to split up into three small groups, but eventually reunited. And finally, on September 23rd, 1806, the expedition reached St. Louis and were greeted by large crowds with cheer and celebration. Upon arrival, Meriwether Lewis immediately sent a letter to President Jefferson informing him of their return, and bearing him the bad news that there was no all water route to the Pacific. effdhfdlThe expedition by the Corps of Discovery, led by Lewis and Clark, marked the beginning of a new chapter in American history. Though there was no all water route found ot the Pacific, thousands of Americans made their journey into the newly explore lands following the Lewis and Clark. Many historians mark this as the first practice of Manifest Destiny even though the term hadn’t been formally established during the Lewis and Clark expedition. On the expedition westward, Lewis and Clark (and some other men on the trip) kept journals recording new discoveries regarding plants, animals, weather, and the land. From their recordings, people were now able to have an accurate idea of what life
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