Lewis, Clark, Sacajawea & The Corps of Discovery

In 1803 the United States President Thomas Jefferson successfully negotiated the purchase of a large tract of land from France. The Louisiana Purchase came at a time when the French were facing difficulties in their Caribbean Territories and war with England. As a result, the land, which ranges from New Orleans in the South, across the Midwest and into the Rocky Mountains, was purchased at approximately $.03 an acre. After the purchase of such a large tract of land for the United States, President Jefferson sent a Corps of Discovery, led by Lewis and Clark, to explore the newly acquired territory.

In 1804 Lewis and Clark arrived at an outpost near where the Missouri River joins the Mississippi River. The plan was to follow the Missouri River west to attempt to find a water route out to the Pacific Ocean. The Americans at the time were aware that Native American tribes inhabited the area, but the Americans were not aware of the difficult terrain, specifically the Rocky Mountains, that blocked easy access to the Pacific Ocean. As a consequence, the journey for Lewis, Clark, Sacajawea and the Corps of Discovery was extremely difficult.

Lewis, Clark and the Corps of Discovery set out across the Great Plains. At the time the land was full of wild game. Buffalo and Bison herds numbered in the tens of thousands. Bears, coyotes, elk, and deer were abundant. Across the Great Plains the expedition had the opportunity to engage Native Americans, record the differing species of megafauna, and take account of plants and other scientific information found throughout the region. Eventually the expedition would encounter a more challenging experience as they pushed further to the west.

Upon reaching the more mountainous terrain to the west, the expedition encountered its first casualties and its first hostile encounters with Native Americans. The weather became more difficult as the altitude increased over the Rockies. Game became more scarce when the winter season started to settle in. At one point the entire expedition had to carry the canoes over cataracts and water falls. Alas, the expedition crossed the Rockies and entered the modern day Washington state region. A tribe of Native Americans called the Nez Perce were less hostile, which as a result, helped the expedition reach the shores of the Pacific Ocean. With the translation abilities and assistance of Sacajawea, a female Native American who accompanied the expedition, the Corps of Discovery successfully reached the Pacific Ocean.

After reaching the Pacific Ocean the expedition had to build a camp or fort to spend the winter before attempting a return trip. During the winter disease and malnutrition became a problem. By eating the available but limited protein sources that the land provided, and not having access to fruits, vegetables, and other sources of nutrition, members of the expedition had a difficult winter. The spring came around however, and the expedition prepared for the return trip.

The return trip began in the spring time. Once across the continental divide the expedition simply needed to follow the rivers east back to the Mississippi River. The collected journals and materials that were developed during the journey provided the United States government with a much more thorough understanding of the lands acquired in the Louisiana Purchase. Furthermore, trading relations with friendly Native Americans were established; whereas the identification of hostile and violent Native American tribes was also similarly produced. The journals of Lewis and Clark are still available for study today.