Lewis and Clark : The All American Heroes

I think that Lewis and Clark are the Greatest Americans because they were great negotiators and even greater explorers. Meriwether Lewis grew up in Charlottesville, Virginia. He was family friends with Thomas Jefferson. Lewis’s father died when Lewis was only 18, forcing him to work the fields. This made him stronger, as well as a good farmer. Lewis joined the local militia in 1794 and fought in the Whiskey Rebellion. He fought alongside Clark, a childhood friend. Later he joined the US Army and served under General Anthony Wayne as a captain. When Jefferson became President, he made Lewis his personal secretary, which is the equivalent to today’s Chief of White House staff. Jefferson wanted to explore the west coast, as they knew nothing about the area. When he informed him of his plans, Lewis volunteered. So he ventured to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. There he studied botany (plants) and astronomy (stars) to help him on the trip. There he found his old neighborhood friend, William Clark. Lewis told Clark about the trip, and Clark wanted to go too. Lewis wrote Jefferson requesting Clark to come along. Jefferson agreed, and Clark became the new Co-Captain of the expedition. Then for the next 2 years they crossed mountains, rivers, and bartered with the indigenous tribes of the area. The people of St. Louis had not heard from them for a year, and all thought they were dead. When they appeared, all of St. Louis went wild. When they sent the information to Jefferson, all of it was kept in national archives for over a century. And when it finally was released, scientists used the data to compare and contrast the landscape.

1st Influence: Charismatic Heroes

Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were influential Americans because they went blind into unknown territory and explored. They encountered many hostiles and were able to avoid all of them and proceed all in one piece. They negotiated gold for food and horses. This shows that they have good negotiation skills and charisma, especially since the indigenous were angry at Americans for taking their land. When they reached the end of the Missouri river, they were able to negotiate their boats for horses to travel over the Rocky Mountains. Throughout their lives, they influenced most of America.

2nd Influence: The Power Of Exploration

Lewis and Clark were great explorers as they found a way to the Pacific and did not lose but one man on the whole expedition. They made it across the United States in 2 years by boats, and then riding horses over the Rocky Mountains. Though thick and thin, hostile encounters disease and parasites. They stayed together and were able to fulfill their objectives. It took 2 years, but in the end, it was all worthwhile. The data they collected went to years of research and study and made it possible to compare and contrast the geography of their time and today.

Fun Facts: What do you know about America's explorers?

Only 1 person died on the whole exploration. Which is surprising because during the whole time, they faced disease and parasites.

Most of the information collected during Lewis and Clark’s expedition was kept in National Archives for a century before being released to the public. Later, the info would be reviewed by scientists to see how much the land had changed since then.

Clark adopted Sacajawea’s son, Pompey, and educated him at the best schools on the east coast. Later, Pompey traveled with a German Prince to Europe and toured the continent for 6 years before traveling back to California and becoming the mayor of San Luis Rey.

Lewis killed himself by shooting himself in the head 3 years after the expedition. It was said that he suffered from depression.

How long was the expedition?

How many people died on the expedition?

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