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Lewis is Picked as the Commander
Lewis gets picked as the commander of the expedition.
This is important because he was in charge of the entire expedition. -
Announcement of the Louisiana Purchase.
America bought Louisiana from Napoleon of France.
This is important because Louisiana is where Louis and Clark held their expedition. -
Expedition Begins.
Lewis and Clark start their expedition.
This is important because it is the start of the discovery of a new land. -
Lewis and Clark Meet Their First Native Americans
Corps of Discovery meet with the representatives of the Oto and Missouri Indians, give peace medals, 15 star flags, and other gifts.
This is important because it was the first time that they saw a settlement outside of America. -
Prarie Dogs are Discovered
All of the men attempt to drown a never-before-seen prarie dog out of its hole for shipment back to Jefferson.
This is important because they were finding new species of animals in Louisiana. -
Sacagawea Joins the Journey
Toussaint Charbonneau, a French Canadian fur trapper living with the Hidatsas, is hired as an interpreter. His wife, Sacagawea, a Shoshone who had beed captured by the Hidatsas and sold to Charbonneau, is also considered helpful as the Shoshones are said to live at the headwaters of the Missouri.
This is important because Sacagawea helped the explorers find food and helped to interpret the other indians. -
The Great Falls of Missouri are Found
Scouting ahead of the rest of the expedition, Lewis comes across the Great Falls of the Missouri. He also discoveres four more waterfalls farther upstream. The expedition will have to portage over eighteem miles, talikg nearly a month, to get past them.
This is important because they are starting to find new landmarks. -
Shoshone Indians Give Horses
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 Camo Fortunate.
This is important because it shows how nice the native americans were to the explorers. Also, it is important because Sacagewea found her brother. -
The Columbia River
The expedition reaches the Columbia River.
This is important because this river starts to lead Lewis and Clark to the ocean. -
"Ocean in view!"
Clark, who believes he can see the ocean writes his most famous journal entry: "Ocean in view! O! The joy." The expedition is actually still 20 miles from the sea. Terrible storms halt the expedition for nearly 3 weeks.
This is important because they were getting closer to the destination of the expedition. -
Voting
By majority vote the expedition decides to cross to the south side of the Columbia River to build winter quarters.
This is important because it's the first time in history that a woman and a slave could vote. -
President Jefferson Meets Native American Chiefs
President Jefferson welcomes a delegation of Missouri, Oto, Arikara, and Yankton Sioux chiefs who had met Lewis and Clark more than a year earlier.
This is important because the president is starting to meet the natives of the land that he just bought. -
Expedition Turns to Home
Fort Clatsop is presented to the Clatsop Indian, for which it was named, and the expedition begins the journey home.
This is important because the explorers reach their destination and after a long journey, they get to go home. -
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Bitterroot Mountains
The expedition reaches the Btiierroot Mountains but must wait for the smow 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 sincere people that we have met on our voyage."
This is important because the native americans are very nice and helpful to the explorers. -
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Return to Washington, D.C.
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 governer of the Louisiana Territory, Clark is made Indian agent for the West and brigadier general of the territory's militia.
This is important because Lewis and Clark get what they deserve for risking their lives on a long expedition.
