Lewis and Clark expedition.. By: Kyle Moon Theo Fritz and Usam Morina

Lewis and Clark President Thomas Jefferson commissioned Lewis to head an expedition to explore the newly-bought Louisiana Territory in order to further commerce (trade). Jefferson also wanted information on the plant and animal life of the American West. This was the first official expedition to cross the continent to the Pacific Ocean. Lewis chose Clark as the co-leader of the expedition; the two men had been friends since childhood.

Who is Sacagawea was a Lemhi Shoshone woman, who accompanied the Lewis and Clark Expedition, acting as an interpreter and guide, in their exploration of the Western United States. She traveled thousands of miles from North Dakota to the Pacific Ocean between 1804 and She has become an important part of the Lewis and Clark legend in the American public imagination. The National American Woman Suffrage Association of the early twentieth century adopted her as a symbol of women's worth and independence, erecting several statues and plaques in her memory, and doing much to spread the story of her accomplishments

How did Sacagawea get involved with Lewis and Clark? Sacagawea was given to Lewis and Clark, and acted as an interpreter and guide on their expedition. She was basically a slave to them.

Lewis and Clark

Sacagawea

Lewis and Clark and Sacagawea

What they found on their expedition They found many interesting things while on their westward journey. They found 300 different species of plants and animals that were completely unknown the science and the knowledge of the people. They also discovered the Rockies mountains that borderline the state of Colorado. They also discovered 50 different types of Indian tribes that were spread throughout the wild territory. They mapped all of the territory that they discovered, but they failed to find a water route that led all the way to the Pacific Ocean.

Why they where important The important thing about The Lewis & Clark Expedition was that it set the stage for settlement of the West. It proceeded the Louisiana Purchase. It allowed different cultures to meet and get to know each other's ways and customs. And it took white exploreres on a discovery of many new geographic, plant and animal species. But the important thing about The Lewis & Clark Expedition was it set the stage for settlement of the West.

Continued… The important thing about The Lewis & Clark Expedition was that it looked scientifically and critically at an area of land that had not yet been explored. It established relationships with the people that lived in that area. It looked at how those people and their environments were related. And it opened a new chapter in American history..

The dollar coins (Actual size)

Thomas Jefferson… Thomas Jefferson had always dreamed of sending explorers West even before he became the United State’s third President. After he became President, he realized that everybody lived within 50 miles of the Atlantic Ocean. He sent a secret letter to Congress asking for $2500 for an expedition West to explore the new land in the Louisiana Purchase. He wanted them to find a route to the Pacific Ocean and make friends and trading routes with the native Indians of the new territory. He chose Lewis at first because Lewis was his old secretary, and a loyal man. He chose Clark as his companion because Clark was his commander in the army, and was a great man. After Thomas set them out, they led to many discoveries. Sacagawea was given as a gift from the Indians and she was joined into the expedition group as an entrepreneur and a guide.

Just for the record… The Sacagawea from slides 6 and 7 are from Night at the Museum historically accurate Sacagawea was not pretty See for yourself