Page 68 - All About History 48 - 2017 UK

DISCOVERING

THE

AMERICAN WEST

They ventured across the country through unknown terrain,

facing danger and discovery at every turn. This is the
journey of Lewis and Clark

WrittenbyJonathanHatfull

hen the Revolutionary war ended in and he had secretly asked Congress to approve
1783, the founding fathers had grand and fund the expedition six months before the
ideals of what the vast continent had purchase was officially announced.
to offer, but little notion of its sprawling The president already had the perfect leader for
Wlandscape and what lived there. It the expedition. Jefferson’s secretary, Meriwether
was an incredible wilderness full of possibilities Lewis, was a military veteran in excellent physical
and dangers, from which Meriwether Lewis and shape with a keen interest in the study of wildlife,
William Clark had no guarantee of a safe return. and his loyalty and dedication were unquestionable.
The shape of the young American nation would Lewis immediately began to prepare, taking lessons
change drastically when Napoleon Bonaparte in navigation and absorbing every piece of available
offered to sell the French territory of Louisiana, information about the geography and people of the
a colossal area of 2,144,500 square kilometres region. However, even with all his study, he knew
that would double the size of the USA. President there would be myriad surprises ahead.
Thomas Jefferson worked quickly to negotiate the Lewis invited his former commanding officer,
Louisiana Purchase for $15 million in 1803, and William Clark, to join him as co-captain, a move
he knew exactly what he wanted from it. He was that partly stemmed from the diplomatic aspect
desperate to know if there was a Northwest Passage of the voyage. They would be the ones to convey
that would connect the Mississippi and the Pacific to the many Native American tribes on their way
Ocean, thus greatly increasing trading possibilities, westward that they were now living under new