Paper Topic:

How Lewis and Clark Shaped the Western United States

p The Corp of Discovery , the expedition force that under the demands of then President Thomas Jefferson , traveled from St . Louis to the Pacific Ocean and in the process , only lost one man to a disease that even by today 's medical advancements , would have been unable to save him . This expedition , led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark , helped to open up the West to future settlers and to correct the books and other resources which told of a West where wooly mammoths roamed and other erroneous assertions . From the time that

their expedition began in 1804 , until they returned in 1806 , The Corp of Discovery came across hundreds of new plant and animal life , never before categorized in American scientific history as well as seeing for the first time , a number of various Native American villages and tribes . In this , Lewis and Clark would come across more friends than enemies and only once , have to fire their guns in anger ' Ambrose , Stephen Undaunted Courage : Meriwether Lewis , Thomas Jefferson and the Opening of the American West . New York : Simon Schuster . 1996

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The Corp of Discovery expedition was a success in every sense of the word and exceeded the expectations of Congress , that both Lewis and Clark were awarded double pay once they returned back to Washington . The impact of the expedition , whether it be in the opening of the West , or further giving America the ability to claim the lands to the west for further expansion , the Lewis and Clark Expedition helped to accomplish this

The Louisiana Purchase was one of the most one-sided and advantageous land deals in not only American history but world history . Land from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains was sold to America for less than three cents an acre . A price of 15 million was sold to America from the French . Kuralt Charles . On the Road . New York : CBS Productions . 1989 Even though this President Jefferson did not hesitate for a minute . Even before the Louisiana Purchase was made , President Jefferson wanted this area to be surveyed . Jefferson chose Meriwether Lewis to lead the expedition and in turn , Lewis asked his former superior officer , William Clark to accompany him . In a message to Congress , Jefferson stated : The object of your mission is to explore the Missouri river , and such principal stream of it as by its course and communication with the waters of the Pacific Ocean whether the Columbia , Oregon , Colorado or any other river may offer the most direct and practicable water communication across this continent for the purposes of commerce ' Burns , Ken . Lewis and Clark . Boston : PBS Video 1997 This helped to spark additional interest in this expedition and it was decided that Congress would appropriate 2500 in that this expedition be funded . Burns , Ken . Lewis and Clark . Boston : PBS Video 1997

It was the purpose of this expedition , according to Jefferson , to study the wildlife , Native American tribes , Western terrain as well as access the already present...

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