When did Jefferson send Lewis and Clark to Louisiana?

Students will learn that the United States purchased the Louisiana Territory in 1803 and President Thomas Jefferson sent Lewis and Clark to explore west of the Mississippi River in 1804 — though the land was already inhabited and politically complicated.

Who was the leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition?

Lewis & Clark Expedition. After the Louisiana Purchase Treaty was made, Jefferson initiated an exploration of the newly purchased land and the territory beyond the “great rock mountains” in the West. He chose Meriwether Lewis to lead an expedition, who in turn solicited the help of William Clark.

What did Jefferson want to do with his expedition?

He hoped to establish trade with the Native American people of the West and find a water route to the Pacific.

What was the cost of the Lewis and Clark Expedition?

Jefferson officially asked for $2,500 in funding from Congress, though some sources indicate the expedition ultimately cost closer to $50,000. Meriwether Lewis was joined by his friend William Clark and 50 others on the journey, including an African-American slave and a female Indian guide named Sacagawea.

Who was president during the Lewis and Clark Expedition?

Lewis & Clark Expedition. In 1803 President Thomas Jefferson guided a splendid piece of foreign diplomacy through the U.S. Senate: the purchase of Louisiana territory from France. After the Louisiana Purchase Treaty was made, Jefferson initiated an exploration of the newly purchased land and the territory beyond the “great rock mountains” in…

Why did Lewis and Clark go on the voyage of Mackenzie?

The two men apparently took the voyage of MacKenzie as something of a challenge. Jefferson resolved that an American expedition should also explore the Northwest. Jefferson believed that an expedition to the Pacific could only be properly funded and sponsored by the US government.

Where can I find the Lewis and Clark Expedition?

Links go to DocsTeach, the online tool for teaching with documents from the National Archives. Lewis & Clark’s Expedition to the Complex West, available on DocsTeach.org, can be used as an introduction or for a closer study of the Lewis & Clark Expedition.

When did Lewis and Clark travel up the Missouri River?

When the spring of 1805 brought high water and favorable weather, the Lewis and Clark Expedition set out on the next leg of its journey. They traveled up the Missouri to present-day Three Forks, Montana, wisely choosing to follow the western-most tributary, the Jefferson River.