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Period: to
Lewis picked as commander of expedition.
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Lewis picked as commander of expedition.
Lewis was the one who agreed to start the expedition. The expedition led to many discoveries in the west including new species and new bodies of water. -
Annomcement of Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana purchase allowed the Americans to move west of the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains. -
Expedition begins
Jefferson wanted to see what was to the west of the Mississippi River. Merriweather Lewis was accompanied by William Clark. -
All of the men attempt to drown a never-before-seen prairie dog out of its hole for shipment back to Jefferson
Jefferson wanted to see all of the new discoveries Lewis and Clark had made. It was the first discovery of animals in the west -
Confrontation with Teton Sioux, who demanded one of the expedition's boats as a toll to travel further upriver. Cheif Black Buffalo resolves situation before any fighting. Expedition stays with tribe for three more days.
These native americans would shoot anything in sight if they tried to cross their territory. The day lewis and clark met them could have ended the expedition but instead of fighting Teton Sioux called off his troops. -
Toussaint Charbonneau, a French Canadian Fur trapper living with the Hidatsas, is hired as an interpreter. His wife, Sacagawea, a Shoshone who had been captured by the Hidatsas and sold to the Charbonneau, is also considered helpful as the Shoshones are s
Sacagawea played a major part on the expedition. She showed the explorers edible plants and also savesd some of the explorer's most valuable goods that they had recieved on the expedition. -
Lewis and Clark send the keelboat and approx. a dozen men back downriver, with maps, reports, Indian artifacts and other scientific specimens for Jefferson. The remaining party heads west.
The artifacts sent back have been used to make many important discoveries that are improved upon everyday. Lewis and Clark's artifacts have also helped the government to make new ideas and studies. -
Scouting ahead of the rest of the expedition, Lewis comes across the Great Falls of the Missouri. He also discovers four more waterfalls farther upstream. The expedition will have to portage over eighteen miles, taking nearly a month, to get past them.
Lewis and Clark have traveled a long way but there was still more information to be uncovered. It was going to be a long trip crossing these waterfalls. -
The shipment sent from fort Mandan arrives in the East and is delivered to Jefferson. Lewis ascends the final ridge toward the Continental Divide expecting to see plains and a river flowing to the Pacific, but he finds even more mountains.
Lewis and Clark had no idea how large the western area was. Their expedition was far from over. They were going to need more supplies and equipment. -
Lewis discovers a village of Shoshones and tries to negotiate for horses. Clark and the rest of the expedition arrives as well, and it is discovered that the Shoshone chief Cameahwait is Sacagawea's brother. Lewis and Clark name the site Camp Fortunate
having Sacagawea aboard the expedition was more helpful than they expected. Since Sacagawea's brother was the chief, the explorers were able to recieve horses and cover land at a faster pace. -
The expedition reaches the Columbia River
It marks a significant point in their expedition because it shows the expedition is close to the end. -
By majority vote the expedition decides to cross to the south side of the Columbia River to build winter quarters.
If the explorers didn't vote and decided to go north, the outcome could have turned out differently. Going to the south gave Lewis and Clark winter quarters that allowed them to survive. -
President Jefferson welcomes a delegation of Missouri, Oto, Arikara, and Yankton Sioux chiefs who had met with Lewis and Clark more than a year earlier.
The meeting with Jefferson and the Native Americans could in the future form alliances. Also the Indians could recieve more land and traded goods. -
May - Late June, 1806 - - The expedition reaches the Bitterroot mountains, but must wait for the snow to melt before crossing them. During this time the expedition again stays with the Nez Perce, Lewis describes them as "the most hospitable, honest and si
Lewis and Clark were able to build more boats during their stay. The next day the explorers were ready to sail home. Everyone remained safe. Thanks to the Nez Perce they were able to survive and get through the Bitterroot mountains. -
Fall 1806 - - Lewis and Clark are treated as national heroes. They return to Washington D.C. The men recieve double pay and 320 acres of land as reward, the captains get 1,600 acres. Lewis is named governor of Louisiana Territory, Clark is made Indian age
Nobody thought Lewis and Clark would make it back home. Everyone thought they were dead. They had discovered the Pacific and new types of species. They also learned the way of Native American life by the help of Sacagawea and they both went on to become very successful.
