Lewis and Clark
Explorers of the Louisiana Territory
Start of the Expedition
- On April 30th, 1803, President Thomas Jefferson purchases the Entire Louisiana territory from Napoleon and France
- The following year, in 1804, President Jefferson organizes an expedition led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to find a water trade route to the Pacific Ocean.
- over 27 new Indian tribes were discovered by Lewis and Clark
- During their expedition, Lewis, Clark and their team were plagued by mosquito
- Lewis and Clark met up in Louisville Kentucky to begin their journey
- the expedition team was also known as the Corps of Discovery
Lewis and Clark
Map of the Louisiana Territory
Sacajawea, Lewis and Clark
Expedition Encounters
- The Exploration Party consisted of 33 to 35 men including Lewis and Clark's guide Sacajawea and her baby
- The expedition led to the discovery of 122 new animals and 178 new plants
- in December of 1805 the team reached the edge of the United States and the Pacific ocean
- While they did find new plants animals and people, the team did not succeed in finding a water based trade route from the Eastern US to the West Coast