Childrens Illustrated Encyclopedia

314

Wildlife

The expedition returned with

valuable samples of animals,

plants, rocks, and minerals.

lewis became particularly

interested in grizzly bears,

one of which tried to

attack him. He reported a

large number of grizzlies,

which pleased President

Jefferson, who was eager

to develop the fur trade

in the United States.

iN 1803, PReSideNT THOMAS JeffeRSON sent

Meriwether lewis and William Clark to lead an expedition to

explore the wild and largely unknown lands west of Missouri,

to the Pacific Ocean. Their instructions were to explore

and chart the region, to make contact with Native

Americans, and to find out if there was a water link

between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. lewis and Clark

were not experienced explorers, but they successfully led

a band of about 40 men, traveling by boat, horse, and foot,

some hazardous 8,000 miles (13,000 km) to the Pacific

and back. They returned home as heroes with important

and exciting new information about the region, which

later encouraged US expansion westward.

WeSTWARd exPANSiON

lewis and Clark’s expedition proved there

was no direct water link between the Atlantic

and Pacific oceans. However, lewis and

Clark’s information about the diversity and

richness of the lands attracted hundreds

of traders and settlers to the West. from

the 1840s, increasing numbers made their

way on the long journey westward in covered

wagons, or “prairie schooners.”

WilliAM ClARk

Clark (1770-1838) was a lieutenant

in the army. He resigned in 1796,

but rejoined the army in 1804 to

go westward with lewis. Although

untrained, he mapped accurate

routes for the expedition and

assembled records of the journey

for publication.

MeRiWeTHeR leWiS

lewis (1774-1809) was private

secretary to President Jefferson.

Co-leader of the expedition,

he served as the party’s

naturalist, collecting animal

and plant specimens.

ROUTe Of THe exPediTiON

The expedition left Saint louis on May 14, 1804,

traveling along the Missouri River by boat. in

November, the explorers reached what is now

North dakota, where they spent the winter with

native Mandans. in April 1805, they continued up

the Missouri. leaving the river, they struggled on a

perilous journey over the Rocky Mountains, then

paddled up the Columbia

River, finally reaching the

Pacific in November. They

spent the winter on the

Pacific coast, before

retracing their steps,

arriving back in St. louis

on September 23, 1806.

BOATS

The expedition set sail for the

Pacific Ocean in a flat-bottomed

keelboat and two smaller “pirogues,”

or dug-out canoes similar to those

used by Native Americans. in

rough water, the travelers

were forced to tow

the boats from land

or carry them

around rapids.

Grizzly bear

SACAJAWeA

lewis and Clark encountered many Native Americans on their journey.

None was as important as Sacajawea (1786-1812), also known

as “Bird Woman.” She joined the expedition in 1805, and

guided the explorers over mountain trails. Her

presence encouraged friendly relations

with the Native Americans.

Early settlers traveled

across North America

in a covered wagon.

Cascades

Rocky Mountains

Columbia River

Lake

Superior

Missouri River

Saint Louis

Mississippi River

Pacific

Ocean

Lewis and Clark

Find out more

Bears and pandas

Mountain wildlife

Native americans

United states of america

United states, history of

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