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Why did Thomas Jefferson sent Lewis and Clark to the West?
President Thomas Jefferson commissioned the expedition shortly after the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 to explore and to map the newly acquired territory, to find a practical route across the western half of the continent, and to establish an American presence in this territory before European powers attempted to …
What did Thomas Jefferson want Lewis and Clark to do?
The Lewis and Clark Expedition began in 1804, when President Thomas Jefferson tasked Meriwether Lewis with exploring lands west of the Mississippi River that comprised the Louisiana Purchase.
What was the purpose of the expedition west?
The Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804–1806) was a federally funded venture to explore the North American West. The expedition’s principal objective was to survey the Missouri and Columbia rivers, locating routes that would connect the continental interior to the Pacific Ocean.
What did Thomas Jefferson want to find out about the Louisiana Territory?
President Thomas Jefferson had many reasons for wanting to acquire the Louisiana Territory. The reasons included future protection, expansion, prosperity and the mystery of unknown lands. President Jefferson knew that the nation that discovered this passage first would control the destiny of the continent as a whole.
Why did Jefferson choose Lewis and Clark to lead the expedition?
Meriwether Lewis was chosen by Jefferson to lead the expedition because he had the necessary skills, military discipline and experience. Lewis chose Clark, a former rifleman whom he had served with in his company, to aid him in leading the U.S. Army expedition, which is known today as the Corps of Discovery.
What was Thomas Jefferson’s view of the west?
Jefferson also was fascinated by the prospect of what could be learned about the geography of the West, the lives and languages of the Native Americans, the plants and animals, the soil, the rocks, the weather, and how they differed from those in the East.
What did Jefferson look forward to at the end of his presidency?
At the end of his presidency, Jefferson looked forward to a United States that spread across the entire continent of North America.
How much did Jefferson ask Congress to pay for Lewis and Clark?
Jefferson sent a letter to Congress in Jan. 18, 1803, asking for $2,500 in order to fund the Lewis and Clark expedition.