Luis Arteaga History 11 Professor Claudio Ramos 12 October, 2010 9:10 am

Lewis and Clark Expedition: A Journey to the West

When Napoleon Bonaparte sold the Louisiana territory to the United States in 1803, there was a sudden urge to explore the unknown, and to capitalize on all of its wonders. And so President Thomas Jefferson assigned a close aide of his by the name of Meriwether Lewis with the task of Exploring the vast unknown of the west, and to find a water-route from the Missouri River to the Pacific Ocean. Unable to think of a better partner for his expedition, Lewis asked his old sergeant William Clark to accompany him on his journey. Together, Lewis and Clark, and the 33 pioneers that joined them formed the Corps of Discovery, and set forth into the unknown. The expedition into the interior parts of North America began in the Missouri River. The Corps of Discovery started into the territory gained from the Louisiana Purchase with much ease. The party was well equipped, and ready for early hardships. The trip up the Missouri River proved to be the first obstacle in this great journey. Fighting against tough currents, mounted logs in the river, and brush that couldn't be ignored, Lewis and Clark had their first taste of the harsh forces of nature. Less than a month into the expedition Lewis nearly lost his life from a fall off a cliff. His body may have lost it's balance, but his focus on the journey never strayed. Lewis knew the goal of the expedition was to find a water route to the pacific, but he was also tasked with discovering new plants and animals to forward scientific advancement. And just as Lewis had his side project, Clark would chart the routes theyd come across for their safe travel back home and for future pioneers. In their travels, Lewis and Clark were bound to come across the natives of North America.

Many of the natives were friendly, providing the Corps of Discovery with shelter, food, and eager trade. But not all tribes would prove to be as hospital. The party came in contact with the Teton tribe around the upper parts of the Mississippi River. This particular tribe, like others they would find, were violent, and prone to war. This hostility brought the Corps of Discovery and the Teton tribe to a pivotal moment, where the two would either shed each others blood, or part ways with heavy tension. Heavy tension was taken. The expedition continued, with obstacles only mother nature could conjure. The Buffalo Hunter tribes the pioneers would come across were a friendly people, who like past tribes, treated them like old family. It was in these moments of rest that the pioneers were able to send back herbs and artifacts the pioneers had collected thus far. In one of the Buffalo Hunter tribes the party came across, they met a french fur-trader, who they hired to guide them. The fur-trader brought along one of his two wives, Sacajawea, who was pregnant at the time. Sacajawea would prove to be a vital asset in the Corps of Discovery's arduous journey to the pacific. During their rough journey, Sacajawea gave a difficult birth to a son, with the aid of Clark. The boy was named Jean Baptiste, and became a member of the great expedition. As time passed, Sacajawea showed Lewis and Clark new herbs that would help them survive future troubles. Eventually the explorers' would find themselves in yet another life-threatening situation. The party found themselves at a fork in the Missouri River, with no knowledge on which route continued the Missouri. But with the help of local natives, Lewis and Clark were told to search for a waterfall, which would lead them towards the real Missouri. Lewis led a scout team in search of the waterfall. When Lewis finally found it, the Corps of Discovery would experience a 17-mile hike past a waterfall and rough terrain. Forced to leave behind anything not vital to the expedition, the explorers would continue their difficult journey to the pacific, or die in the process. The real threat to their expedition came when the pioneers awaited a coming winter. This cold would bring an end to the Corps of Discovery. Their only hope was the aide of the native Shoshoni tribe. With their horses and hopeful hospitality, the explorers would have a chance at escaping the winter.

Lewis scouted ahead with a party in search of the Shoshoni, and in the process found the source of the Missouri River. When the Shoshoni tribe was finally found, the Corps of Discovery was given shelter when Sacajawea recognized the chief as her brother. The party was shown great hospitality for two weeks before continuing their journey. With the help of the Shoshoni, the pioneers traveled into the snowy mountains of the Rocky's in 1805. Freezing and almost starving to death, the Corps of Discovery would have ended their journey at the Rocky's if it were not for Lewis and Clark traveling ahead of the party in search of the Nez Perce tribe. When the tribe was finally found, the Corps of Discovery was nearly killed. If it were not for an old women who pleaded for their lives the pioneers would have never reached the pacific. The party stayed with the Nez Perce for two weeks, records would tell how the tribe was above all others the most hospital and caring of them. The pioneers would eventually reach the Columbia River, where they would experience the difficult rapids. But the rough waters of the Columbia was no match for the conviction the Corps of Discovery held. And soon after this obstacle would they reach the Pacific Ocean. A year-and-a-half after starting their unique expedition the party finally came to stop, and was faced with an impending winter. Forced to stay in one place, Lewis asked his crew where they should take shelter. It had been one of the first times in history a slave and woman voted. A shelter was made and housed near Oregon for four months, and for four months it rained. Only twelve days of those four months were dry. In March of 1806, the Corps of Discovery made their way back to Louisiana nearly two-years after starting the expedition. The trip back home only took six-months, and after that the pioneers of the Corps of Discovery were rewarded, as promised. Lewis was named governor of the Louisiana territory, and Clark governor of the Missouri territory. Sacajawea stayed behind with her family, and her son went on to become an explorer. The 8000-mile journey to the pacific inspired Americans to find great wonders Lewis and Clark proved to be true. Aside from finding a water route to the Pacific Ocean, Lewis 178 new plants and 122 new animals in the name of science, and Clark updated his charted routes for future pioneers.