Lewis and Clark
New Orleans
Louisiana Purchase 

Job 22:21
“Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Keats Listening to a Nightingale on Hampstead Heath
Joseph Severn (1793–1879)
Guildhall Art Gallery
Image credit: City of London Corporation

 

 

 

 

 

Chess: "Lewis and Clark" "New Orleans" "Louisiana Purchase"

 

 The Lewis and Clark Expedition, also known as the Corps of Discovery Expedition, was a significant U.S. military expedition that took place from May 14, 1804, to September 23, 1806. Led by Captain Meriwether Lewis and his close friend Second Lieutenant William Clark, the expedition aimed to explore the newly acquired western portion of the country after the Louisiana Purchase. Their mission was to find a practical travel route across the western half of the continent, document biodiversity, and establish positive trade relations with Native American tribes. The expedition crossed the Continental Divide, reached the Columbia River, and eventually the Pacific Ocean. President Thomas Jefferson commissioned this historic journey to explore and detail as much of the new territory as possible.

 

 During the Lewis and Clark Expedition, the team made several significant discoveries and accomplishments:

Geographic Exploration: They mapped previously uncharted territories, including the Missouri River, the Rocky Mountains, and the Columbia River.
Native American Interactions: The expedition established contact with various Native American tribes, learning about their cultures, languages, and customs.
Flora and Fauna: Lewis and Clark documented hundreds of plant and animal species, contributing to scientific knowledge.
Continental Divide: They crossed the Continental Divide, marking the separation between waters flowing to the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Pacific Ocean: The expedition reached the Pacific Ocean, completing their journey.
Their findings significantly expanded understanding of the western frontier and paved the way for future exploration and settlement.

 

 

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The Louisiana Purchase was a pivotal event in American history. In 1803, the United States acquired approximately 828,000 square miles of territory from France, effectively doubling its size. For a sum of $15 million, the U.S. gained control over land stretching from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains. This acquisition significantly influenced America’s westward expansion and its development as a nation.