Why did Thomas Jefferson tell Lewis and Clark?

President Thomas Jefferson sent a secret message to Congress on January 18, 1803, asking for “the appropriation of two thousand five hundred dollars, for the purpose of extending the external commerce of the United States.” This money was used to fund the Lewis & Clark expedition.

Why was the Missouri River important to Lewis and Clark?

“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, may offer the most direct and practicable water communication across this continent, for the purposes of commerce.” -President Thomas Jefferson’s instructions to Meriwether Lewis

Who sent Lewis and Clark Expedition?

Thomas Jefferson sent Lewis and Clark on an expedition so that trade could be established with western Native American people and so that they could also find a water route to the Pacific Ocean….

Why did Lewis and Clark go to New Mexico?

Lewis and Clark were thus instructed to map the territory through which they would pass and to explore all tributaries of the Missouri River. This part of the expedition struck fear into Spanish officials, who believed that Lewis and Clark would encroach on New Mexico, the northern part of New Spain.

Who was president when Lewis and Clark went overland?

In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson won approval from Congress for a visionary project that was to become one of American history’s greatest adventure stories. Jefferson wanted to know if Americans could journey overland to the Pacific Ocean by following two rivers, the Missouri and the Columbia.

“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, may offer the most direct and practicable water communication across this continent, for the purposes of commerce.” -President Thomas Jefferson’s instructions to Meriwether Lewis

What was the object of Lewis and Clark’s Mission?

“The object of your mission is to explore the Missouri river, & such principal stream of it, as, by it’s course and communication with the waters of the Pacific ocean, whether the Columbia, Oregen, Colorado or any other river may offer the most direct & practicable water communication across this continent for the purposes of commerce.”

What kind of boat did Lewis and Clark use?

The expedition started up the Missouri River on May 1804 aboard a large keelboat (55 feet long) and two pirogues (open boats). They would not return until two years later in September 1806. While Lewis and Clark did not uncover the easy river route to the Pacific Ocean that Jefferson had sought,…

Where did Lewis and Clark go on their journey?

Lewis and his party would be exploring land that belonged to the United States. Armed with Jefferson’s letter of instructions, Lewis traveled to Pittsburgh and then set out on the Ohio River. At Clarksville, in present-day Indiana, he met up with William Clark.