Lewis And Clark Expedition example essay topic

The Lewis and Clark expedition was an early expedition of the vast wilderness of what is now the northwestern United States. The expedition was spon cered by the United States government and led by U.S. army officers, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. Meriwether was the explorer while William was the map maker. Lewis started the expedition on the fourteenth of May and picked up Clark in St. Louis. They departed St. Louis on the thirty-first up the Missouri River. Along the route they ran into many Indian tribes which Lewis traded with.

They traveled by river for six months and set up camp for the winter. The winter was a harsh one but everyone survived. The crew lived off corn, beans, and buffalo meat bought from the Indians, who accepted only one thing for trade-metal for making barbs. Winter passed, the river melted, and the crew started the trip again. Later in the expedition before they reached the Pacific, Lewis and most of his men felt sick. "At least three quarters of the party were sick except for the loathed roots, and dried fruits and berries there was no prospects for food".

Eventually they recovered and set out again and on November 18, 1805, Lewis, Clark, and their crew reached the ocean. The men would stay on the pacific coast and wait for trading boats to arrive. The boats never showed up so they decided to make the journey back. In June, the crew traveled over the Rocky Mountains which was one of their most difficult tasks. Sometimes their food and water supply became scarce and climbing the mountain was difficult, but under the guidance of Lewis and Clark they made it through. The men ran into many more deli mas on the path to home but they finally make it on September 23, 1806.

After they arrived home the crew parted and were all awarded greatly in land and military pay by rank. Upon returning "Lewis was to be appointed Governor General of all the Louisiana Territory". As Governor of Louisiana, Lewis was "undertaking again a mission whereupon other had failed; but the grave 33 year old held one outstanding advantage-he knew as much and probably more about Louisiana than did any other man living". From my readings in the book being Governor of Louisiana was going to be a tremendous task.

They territory of Louisiana was without "a common language or accepted law". During this time as Governor, Lewis ran into some problems. One was getting funding from the government and the other was being criticized by the government. The government doubted Lewis's accounts of what was happening in his territory. Lewis was very sick when he decided he must travel to Washington to clear his name.

Clark tried to talk him out of going until he got better but Lewis insisted. Lewis had made the trip to Washington a few times and it was an easy trip in comparison to his other expeditions. The easy trip to Washington would be his last. The people of the expedition to Washington run into a storm.

Lewis, still being very sick decides he will ride out in front of the rest of the men to seek shelter at the next house. He finds shelter at the home of the Gainer family where later on that night he would fall very ill and delirious. That night Lewis would end his own life.