Introduction
The United States of America gained its independence in the second half of the eighteenth century and developed rapidly. The purchase of new territories was one of the factors that contributed to the geographic and economic growth of the new country (Turner, 2016). The Louisiana purchase that took place in 1803 was one of the most remarkable acquisitions as it more than doubled the territory of the U. S. and offered a plethora of opportunities to Americans (Brooks, 2019). The same year, Thomas Jefferson addressed Congress to approve an expedition to the Pacific Northwest, and the approval was granted for several weeks (Turner, 2016, p. 2). This paper briefly describes some of the most serious challenges and far-reaching outcomes of the so-called Lewis and Clark expedition.
Reasons for the Expedition
The history of the United States can be seen as an illustration of people’s desire and will to explore new lands and new opportunities. Therefore, it is clear that Americans were eager to expand their territories and discover new prospects for their nation. Thomas Jefferson was fascinated by the discoveries of famous explorers, but he was also interested in the development of an easy river route across the continent, which was a popular idea at that period (Brandt, 2018). The route was to facilitate U. S. fur trade and further economic development of the country. Of course, it was important to examine and describe in detail the peculiarities of new lands, which was pivotal for the creation of proper plans for their use.
Major Challenges and Discoveries
The preparation for the expedition took approximately a year, and during this period, its leader Meriwether Lewis was trained to be able to complete the necessary tasks. He had some knowledge in botany, astronomy, and other natural sciences, as well as the cultural peculiarities of some indigenous tribes, but he was taught to navigate, preserve species, and communicate with different tribes (Moulton, 2018). Lewis also recruited people in what was later called the Corps of Discovery and included approximately fifty people (Turner, 2016, p. 121). The U. S. government funded the expedition, and the Corps had all the necessities (including but not confined to money, provision, horses, clothes, weapons, and gifts for First Nations peoples). Irrespective of such financial support, the explorers still had to endure multiple challenges as they had to travel across the wilderness yet to be explored.
One of the most common issues the members of the corps had to address was related to health. People suffered from heat, exhaustion, insect bites, illnesses, and injury (Moulton, 2018). Although they were all young and seemingly healthy, the condition of some people deteriorated due to the peculiarities of their health status. For instance, Sgt. Charles Floyd is believed to have died of a burst appendix, and this was the first death in the Corps of Discovery (Brandt, 2018, p. 88). The expedition lasted two years and slightly over four months, so the travelers had to endure several harsh winters (Turner, 2016, p. 109). They often had scarce supplies during the later months of their voyage, but local people tended to help them with food, shelter, and clothes during the most dramatic periods.
Another considerable challenge the voyagers had to encounter was associated interactions with different Indian tribes. As mentioned above, in the vast majority of cases, Native Americans were helpful, and they gratefully accepted presents from the Corps. They often helped the explorers to arrange their forts and survive in the harsh environments of the west (Turner, 2016). However, the relationships with the Sioux tribe were the most troublesome, and the parties nearly started battles several times during their encounters (Brooks, 2019). Only the wisdom of the chief and the oldest of the tribe and Lewis enabled the two sides to develop appropriate relationships and ensuring the successful continuation of the expedition.
The expedition was a great success in terms of the exploration of the territory of the west. Numerous maps became one of the most important outcomes of the expedition, these maps were further refined and improved, but they were the basis of the development of the Pacific North (Brooks, 2019). Although they had to admit that no proper river route to the west could be used, Lewis and his people described the geographic peculiarities of the rivers and the territories they moved through. The explorers described numerous species and brought various samples, which was essential for the understanding of the peculiarities and commercial potential of the new regions (Turner, 2016). For instance, the Corps encountered grizzly bears that had been unknown before.
Outcomes and Significance
The significance of the Lewis and Clark expedition can hardly be overestimated as it had multiple effects on the development of the United States. First, it was a successful voyage as it reached all the set goals (description of the territory, reaching the west coast, the examination of the cultural peculiarities of the Native Americans that inhabited those lands) (Turner, 2016). One of the expedition’s primary outcomes was that Americans started the exploration and further exploitation of the newly acquired territories (Turner, 2016). This exploration started soon after the purchase and claim of the lands by the Americans. The nation stipulated its commitment to the development of the new lands. As mentioned above, the creation of maps was a critical milestone that marked the nation’s move westward.
The explorers provided vast volumes of data about the territories. Their descriptions of the flora and fauna of the west were extremely important for the creation of plans for further exploration and commercial exploitation of the territory (Moulton, 2018). Lewis and his team also established relationships with the indigenous tribes, informing them about the status of the lands. These peaceful encounters with First Nations were important for the subsequent interactions. The expedition was also an impetus for other brave explorers who commenced their own voyages and discovered new roots and new opportunities.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is necessary to note that the Lewis and Clark expedition was one of the most important milestones in the history of the United States. It paved the way for new expeditions that led to the development of the most efficient routes. These routes contributed to the economic development of the country and the commercial exploitation of the west. The interactions of the Corps with Native Americans were also pivotal for the development of relationships between these groups and the American government and new settlers. The expansion of the USA was facilitated by the expedition as Americans proved that they were committed to developing new territories and using them. Of course, the success of the expedition inspired others for more accomplishments, and the expansion of the United States continued.
References
Brandt, A. (Ed.). (2018). The essential Lewis and Clark. National Geographic Society.
Brooks, N. (2019). First across the continent: The Lewis and Clark expedition. e-artnow.
Moulton, G. E. (2018). The Lewis and Clark expedition: Day by day. U of Nebraska Press.
Turner, E. H. (2016). It happened on the Lewis and Clark expedition (2nd ed.). Rowman & Littlefield.