What important skills did Lewis and Clark have for this adventure?

Lewis himself had been trained by the country’s leading scientists in botany, zoology, celestial navigation and medicine. Clark had a long career as a militiaman and army officer, and one of his most valuable skills for this expedition was that of cartography – making maps.

What were Lewis and Clark’s qualifications?

He studied medicine, botany, astronomy and zoology and scrutinized existing maps and journals of the region. He also asked his friend Clark to co-command the expedition.

Why was the expedition of Lewis and Clark so important?

Lewis and Clark were important because they undertook the first expedition to cross the western part of the United States all the way to the Pacific Ocean. During their expedition, they explored the newly acquired lands of the Louisiana Purchase, surveyed and mapped the land, established a U.S.

What kind of weapons did Lewis and Clark use?

The Lewis and Clark expedition was in many ways an infantry company on the move, fully equipped with rifles of various kinds, muskets, and pistols. Among the firearms were two blunderbusses.

Why did Lewis and Clark need a certificate of loyalty?

Lewis told the Otos that they needed these certificates “In order that the commandant at St. Louis . . . may know . . . that you have opened your ears to your great father’s voice.” The certificate on display was left over from the expedition. Certificate of loyalty, ca. 1803. Printed document with wax seal and ribbon.

Why did Lewis and Clark use a peace medal?

And in a moment of imperial bravado, Lewis hung a peace medal around the neck of a Piegan Blackfeet warrior killed by the expedition in late July 1806. As Lewis later explained, he used a peace medal as a way to let the Blackfeet know “who we were.”

What did Lewis and Clark do for a job?

As a young Army officer during the 1790s, Clark received further training in mapmaking. He was responsible for constructing military fortifications, a job that required skill in drawing and reading maps. While Meriwether Lewis was not a cartographer, he carried out much of the celestial observation.

What kind of Education did Lewis and Clark have?

Although Clark had little formal education, he displayed an inherent ability for mapmaking. He appears to have learned surveying and mapping on the Virginia frontier and in the Army. His first teacher was probably his older brother, the famous Indian fighter and Revolutionary War hero George Rogers Clark. His brother was also a land surveyor.

How old was Lewis and Clark when he joined the Army?

Clark entered the military at the age of 19. He became friends with Meriwether Lewis while the two served together in the U.S. Army in 1795. The next year, Clark resigned from the army to become the manager of his family’s estate.

Where did Lewis and Clark train for the expedition?

Throughout the winter of 1803-1804, Clark recruited and trained men at Camp DuBois north of St. Louis, Missouri. He chose unmarried, healthy men who were good hunters and knew survival skills.