Lewis and Clark Expedition.pptVIP

Lewis and Clark Expedition 0861325 王作舟 Background The Louisiana Purchase (路易斯安那购地案) in 1803 sparked interest in expansion to the West Coast of the American continent. The United States did not know precisely what it was buying and France was unsure of how much land it was selling. A few weeks after the purchase, President Thomas Jefferson, an advocate of western expansion, had Congress appropriate $2,500 for an expedition. Jefferson selected U.S. Army Captain Meriwether Lewis–his aide and personal friend–to lead the Corps of Discovery. Lewis selected William Clark as his partner. The expeditions goal was to gain an accurate sense of the resources being exchanged in the Louisiana Purchase. Task The expeditions goal was stated by Jefferson in a letter dated June 20, 1803, to Lewis: “ The object of your mission is to explore the Missouri River, and such principals stream of it as by its course and communication with the waters of the Pacific Ocean...may offer the most direct and practicable water communication across this continent for the purpose of commerce. ” 你的任务目标是探索密苏里河和极其主要支流，例如，其河道和通达太平洋的水道……可作为商业用途、横跨大陆的直接和实用的交通水路。 ——托马斯·杰斐逊 Journey On May 14, 1804, the corps began their historic journey. On August 20, 1804, the Corps of Discovery suffered its only death when Sergeant Charles Floyd died. (死于阑尾炎) During the final week of August, Lewis and Clark had reached the edge of the Great Plains, a place abounding with elk, deer, bison, and beavers. They were also entering Sioux (苏人的) territory. In the winter of 1804–05, the party built Fort Mandan (曼丹堡垒), near present-day Washburn, North Dakota. In April 1805, some members of the expedition were sent back home from Mandan in the return party. The explorers began their journey home on March 23, 1806. On July 3, after crossing the Continental Divide, the Corps split into two teams so Lewis could explore the Marias River (玛丽亚斯河). Lewis and Clark