Louisiana Purchase/Lewis and Clark
Louisiana Purchase
In 1803, the U.S. bought about 828,000 miles of land from France. Originally, the French controlled the area from 1699 until, in 1762, it became Spanish property as a gift, because they were allies. The French then wanted to build an empire in North America so they took the portion of land back in 1800. However, the plans were canceled because the Napoleon, the current leader, had to concentrate on preparations for war with the British. The land then was sold to the U.S. on April 30, 1803. The price was 15 million dollars, at only 4 cents per acre.
|
Meriwether Lewis
Lewis was born on August 18, 1774, near Ivy, Virginia. In 1801, President Thomas Jefferson asked Lewis to lead an expedition into the lands west of the Mississippi, which he did after enlisting William Clark. The team reached the Pacific Ocean in November of 1805. A few years later, Lewis died near Nashville, Tennessee, on October 12. Some historians believe he committed suicide while others think he was murdered.
|
William Clark
He was born on August 1, 1770 in Caroline County, Virginia. His real life journey started when Meriwether Lewis invited him to share command of an expedition. After more than two years and 8,000 miles of traveling, he went on to become a legendary explorer that helped mapmakers understand the lands of the West. He died on September 1, 1838 in St. Louis, Missouri.
|
Expedition
![Picture](/uploads/3/8/2/4/38248597/1427383789.png?250)
Between May 1804 and September 1806, thirty one men, one woman, and a baby traveled from the Midwest to the Pacific Ocean. Everything started when Jefferson offered Meriwether Lewis and William Clark a job to lead an expedition and explore the newly purchased land. It was Lewis's job to gather information about the plants, animals, and people of the region. Clark was to help keep the expedition moving and to map the land during their travels. The land they were about to explore was known as the "Northwest Territory" and now belonged to the U.S. after the Louisiana Purchase. The journey began in May, in St. Louis, Missouri.
Timeline
Nearing the end of their difficult journey, on October 16, 1805, they reach the Columbia River. After years of traveling, the expedition finally reached what they think is the Pacific. While approaching it, Clark writes, "Ocian in View! O the joy." In reality, they were seeing only the widening of the Columbia River.
|
Journal
Lewis and Clark both kept a very in-depth journal of what they encountered throughout their expedition.
Lewis:
March 3, 1804,
"The Commanding officer feels himself mortifyed and disappointed at the disorderly conduct of Reubin Fields, in refusing to mount guard when in the due roteen of duty he was regularly warned; nor is he less suprised at the want of discretion in those who urged his oposition to the faithfull discharge of his duty, particularly Shields, whose sense of propryety he had every reason to beleive would have induced him reather to have promoted good order, than to have excited disorder and faction among the party, particularly in the absence of Capt. Clark and himself: The Commanding officer is also sorry to find any man, who has been engaged by himself and Capt. Clark for the expedition on which they have entered, so destitute of understanding, as not to be able to draw the distinction between being placed under the command of another officer, whose will in such case would be their law, and that of obeying the orders of Capt. Clark and himself communicated to them through Sergt. Ordway, who, as one of the party, has during their necessary absence been charged with the execution of their orders; acting from those orders expressly, and not from his own capriece, and who, is in all respects accountable to us for the faithfull observance of the same."
- This entry was mainly about how Lewis felt Clark was the main reason this expedition was successful. Clark made Lewis very proud and he then described the traits that made Clark valuable to Lewis and the jobs that Clark were to preform.
Lewis:
March 3, 1804,
"The Commanding officer feels himself mortifyed and disappointed at the disorderly conduct of Reubin Fields, in refusing to mount guard when in the due roteen of duty he was regularly warned; nor is he less suprised at the want of discretion in those who urged his oposition to the faithfull discharge of his duty, particularly Shields, whose sense of propryety he had every reason to beleive would have induced him reather to have promoted good order, than to have excited disorder and faction among the party, particularly in the absence of Capt. Clark and himself: The Commanding officer is also sorry to find any man, who has been engaged by himself and Capt. Clark for the expedition on which they have entered, so destitute of understanding, as not to be able to draw the distinction between being placed under the command of another officer, whose will in such case would be their law, and that of obeying the orders of Capt. Clark and himself communicated to them through Sergt. Ordway, who, as one of the party, has during their necessary absence been charged with the execution of their orders; acting from those orders expressly, and not from his own capriece, and who, is in all respects accountable to us for the faithfull observance of the same."
- This entry was mainly about how Lewis felt Clark was the main reason this expedition was successful. Clark made Lewis very proud and he then described the traits that made Clark valuable to Lewis and the jobs that Clark were to preform.
Clark:
January 1st 1804,
"Snow about an inch deep, Cloudy to day, a woman Come forward wishing to wash and doe. Such things as may be necessary for the Detachmt. Several men Come from the Countrey to See us & Shoot with the men, they bring Sugare to trade, I purchase Sugar 6 lb at per pound, I put up a Dollar to be Shot for, the two best Shots to win. Gibson best. the Countrey people won ther dollar— (R [Reed?] & Ws. [Wiser, Windsor?] Drunk) a Perogue Passed Loaded with Salt & Dry goods. Jos: Vaun offers to let the Contrator have Beef at 4$ pd. [pound or produce?] or 3$ 50 Cents in money, Pokers hake, the Nut is Sheshake, a plant growing in the ponds with a large broad leaf, stem in the middle of the leaf in french Volies.Three men Mr. Lisbet, Blacksmith , one Man offers to sell pork at [blank] apply to Hannerberry, the blacksmith has traveled far to the north, & Visited the Mandols [Mandans] on Missouris, a quiet people 6 Day fr[om] [Ossini?] or Red river & that the M: [Missouri River] is about 150 yds. over at this nation."
- This entry was speaking about how a man came to their camp to trade sugar, beef, pork and herbs. The Corps of Discovery then set out along the Missouri River to continue their expedition.
January 1st 1804,
"Snow about an inch deep, Cloudy to day, a woman Come forward wishing to wash and doe. Such things as may be necessary for the Detachmt. Several men Come from the Countrey to See us & Shoot with the men, they bring Sugare to trade, I purchase Sugar 6 lb at per pound, I put up a Dollar to be Shot for, the two best Shots to win. Gibson best. the Countrey people won ther dollar— (R [Reed?] & Ws. [Wiser, Windsor?] Drunk) a Perogue Passed Loaded with Salt & Dry goods. Jos: Vaun offers to let the Contrator have Beef at 4$ pd. [pound or produce?] or 3$ 50 Cents in money, Pokers hake, the Nut is Sheshake, a plant growing in the ponds with a large broad leaf, stem in the middle of the leaf in french Volies.Three men Mr. Lisbet, Blacksmith , one Man offers to sell pork at [blank] apply to Hannerberry, the blacksmith has traveled far to the north, & Visited the Mandols [Mandans] on Missouris, a quiet people 6 Day fr[om] [Ossini?] or Red river & that the M: [Missouri River] is about 150 yds. over at this nation."
- This entry was speaking about how a man came to their camp to trade sugar, beef, pork and herbs. The Corps of Discovery then set out along the Missouri River to continue their expedition.
![Picture](/uploads/3/8/2/4/38248597/9394363.jpg?322)
To the left is part of the trail that was traveled by the Corps of Discovery, at this time they were traveling towards the opening of the Colombia River with horses from the Shoshone Indians, who they became allies with along the famous journey. The expedition was known as one of the greatest feats of exploration in our history.
How did the Louisiana Purchase transform the nation?
The Louisiana Purchase transformed the nation by doubling the size of it. This allowed more space for people to live which grew the country greatly, in many ways.