Louisiana Purchase
On October 20, 1803, Thomas Jefferson had bought 827,000 square miles of land from the French. Jefferson had bought the land for $15 million for about 4¢ per acre. The purchase had nearly doubled the size of our nation at the time. The land had consisted of all the land between the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains in the west and from the Gulf of Mexico to the Canadian border in the north.
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Meriwether LewisMeriwether Lewis was born on August 18, 1774, near Ivy, Virginia. In 1801, President Thomas Jefferson had ask him to become his private secretary. Jefferson had also asked him something else. He asked if Lewis could lead an expedition near the Mississippi River in the west. He had chosen to do so after enlisting William Clark. Lewis died on October 12, 1809, at an inn near Nashville, Tennessee. Many people believe that he had committed suicide but others think he had been murdered.
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William ClarkWilliam Clark was born on August 1, 1770, in Caroline County, Virginia. He became the other leader of the exploration team of Lewis and Clark. Meriwether Lewis had asked him to share leadership of an expedition to the left of the Mississippi River. They had traveled more than 8,000 miles for more than 2 years. The journals they had written in had showed new information about land, people, and life in the region. Clark died on September 1, 1838, in St. Louis, Missouri.
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The Expedition
After Jefferson had asked Lewis to be his private secretary, he had then asked him if he could lead an expedition into the lands west of the Mississippi. The Lewis and Clark expedition started on May 14, 1804, and ended on September 23, 1806. The Lewis and Clark expedition spanned 8,000 miles and took three years for the Corps of Discovery to complete. They had traveled down the Ohio River, up the Missouri River, across the continental divide, and to the Pacific Ocean.
Journal Entries
Below are two journal entries by William Clark on the first day of their expedition and by Meriwether Lewis three days after the expedition had started.
May 14, 1804
William Clark
"Set out from camp River a Dubois at 4 oClock PM and proceed up the Missouris under Sail to the first Island in the Missouri and Camped on the upper point opposit a Creek on the South Side below a ledge of limestone rock calledColewater* made 4 1/2 miles, the party consited of 2, Self one frenchman and 22 men in the boat of 20 ores, 1 Serjt. & 7 french in a large Perogue, a Corp and 6 soldiers in a large Perogue, men in high spirits . I determined to go as far as St. Charles a french village 7 Leags.*** up the Missourie, and wait at that place untill Cap. Lewis Could finish the business in which he was obliged to attend to at St. Louis and join me by land from that place 24 miles; by this movement I calculated that if any alterations in the loading of the Vestles or other changes necessary, that they might be made at St. Charles."
September 17, 1804
Meriwether Lewis
"Having for many days past confined myself to the boat, I determined to devote this day to amuse myself on shore with my gun and view the interior of the country lying between the river and the Corvus Creek. ... the shortness and virdu[r]e of grass gave the plain the appearance throughout it's whole extent of beatifull bowling-green in fine order. ... this senery already rich pleasing and beatiful was still farther hightened by immence berds of Buffaloe, deer Elk and Antelopes which we saw in every direction feeding on the hills and plains. I do not think I exagerate when I estimate the number of Buffaloe which could be compre[hend]ed at one view to amount to 3000. my object was if possible to kill a female Antelope ... it appeared reather the rappid flight of birds than the motion of quadrupeds. I think I can safely venture the asscertion that the speed of this anamal is equal if not superior to that of the finest blooded courser."
May 14, 1804
William Clark
"Set out from camp River a Dubois at 4 oClock PM and proceed up the Missouris under Sail to the first Island in the Missouri and Camped on the upper point opposit a Creek on the South Side below a ledge of limestone rock calledColewater* made 4 1/2 miles, the party consited of 2, Self one frenchman and 22 men in the boat of 20 ores, 1 Serjt. & 7 french in a large Perogue, a Corp and 6 soldiers in a large Perogue, men in high spirits . I determined to go as far as St. Charles a french village 7 Leags.*** up the Missourie, and wait at that place untill Cap. Lewis Could finish the business in which he was obliged to attend to at St. Louis and join me by land from that place 24 miles; by this movement I calculated that if any alterations in the loading of the Vestles or other changes necessary, that they might be made at St. Charles."
September 17, 1804
Meriwether Lewis
"Having for many days past confined myself to the boat, I determined to devote this day to amuse myself on shore with my gun and view the interior of the country lying between the river and the Corvus Creek. ... the shortness and virdu[r]e of grass gave the plain the appearance throughout it's whole extent of beatifull bowling-green in fine order. ... this senery already rich pleasing and beatiful was still farther hightened by immence berds of Buffaloe, deer Elk and Antelopes which we saw in every direction feeding on the hills and plains. I do not think I exagerate when I estimate the number of Buffaloe which could be compre[hend]ed at one view to amount to 3000. my object was if possible to kill a female Antelope ... it appeared reather the rappid flight of birds than the motion of quadrupeds. I think I can safely venture the asscertion that the speed of this anamal is equal if not superior to that of the finest blooded courser."