Chapter 8 Section 2: Continued Explorers Head West

Lewis and Clark Expedition: President Jefferson was interested to learn more about the new land he purchased, including the animals, people, and topography of the area. In 1803 he asked Congress to fund an ____to explore the West, and chose Meriwether Lewis to lead it. Lewis chose his friend William _____ to co-lead. In preparation, Lewis studied with ____about animals, plants, and much more. Lewis selected ___skilled frontiersman to join the Corps of Discovery (the name they chose for their group). In May 1804 Lewis and Clark began their long expedition to explore the _____Purchase.

Lewis and Clark used the _____River as their highway through the unknown lands, using a lookout to spot sandbars and tree stumps hidden underwater. At night the explorers pulled ashore and slept…or tried despite the mosquitoes. Contact with Native Americans: During the summer of 1804 the Corps of Discovery had pushed more than ___miles without seeing any Native Americans. But when the explorers spotted huge buffalo herds in the distance, they guessed that Indian groups would be nearby. Many Native American tribes depended on the _____ for food, clothing, and tools. Lewis used _____ to talk to Native leaders, but they often relied on the goodwill of the people they met.

Sacagawea was a Shoshone who accompanied the group with her husband, who was a French fur trader. Together they served as interpreters and guides. ______ identified edible fruits and vegetables for the group. At one point, the group met with her brother, who provided ____and a guide to lead the expedition across the mountains. After they crossed the Rocky Mountains, they followed the _____ River and in November 1805 the group reached the Pacific Ocean. They stayed there for the winter and set off for their return journey in March of the next year. They didn’t find a ___ route across the West to the Pacific, but they learned a lot about the west. They learned about the people, the plants, animals, and terrain that would be valuable information for the future expansion of America.