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Preparing for the Expedition

As the celebrations of the Lewis and Clark Expedition continue, the story of their journey has been presented in many different ways. Most articles and programs focus on the expedition itself, the actual encounters with Indian nations, and the group's arrival on the west coast of the continent. But what about the origins of and preparations for the expedition? Think about the following:

Why did president Jefferson choose his executive secretary to lead the expedition?
Why did Jefferson want Lewis to meet with Indian leaders as he encountered them?
What specific instructions did Thomas Jefferson give Lewis and Clark about the kinds of information and specimens they were to gather during the expedition?

Display a transparency of this month's primary source. As a class, read through the document. Ask students: Would you ask the secretary of your school to lead an expedition into unknown territory, take lots of notes, collect samples of the plant life, and be a messenger to the Indians?

Explain that, in some ways, that is what president Jefferson did in 1803 when he asked Meriwether Lewis, his executive secretary, to lead the exploration of the Louisiana Territory. Even though it would seem that a secretary's qualifications would be vastly different from those needed to lead an expedition into the wilderness, Jefferson had good reasons for selecting Meriwether Lewis for the task. Lewis had first-hand knowledge of the western country, had served in the army, and was exceptionally skilled at handling logistics and details. Jefferson also had "a personal acquaintance with him, owing from his being of my neighborhood." Lewis was, in all respects, what Jefferson described as "an intelligent officer."

On the transparency, draw students' attention back to Jefferson's instructions regarding the Indians. Explain to them that elsewhere in the instructions Jefferson admonished Lewis to "treat [Indians] in the most friendly and conciliatory manner which their own conduct will admit; allay all jealousies as to the object of your journey, satisfy them of its peaceable and commercial disposition of the U.S. of our wish to be neighborly, friendly & useful to them & of our dispositions to commercial intercourse with them." What does that mean in plain English? Ask students: Why was Jefferson so interested in the Indians in the Louisiana Territory? Why was it important to establish good relationships with the various Indian nations?

On the transparency, review with students Jefferson's instructions regarding "other objects worthy of notice." Explain that Jefferson wanted Lewis to find out if there was a way by sea, once he reached the Pacific, to send a couple of his men back with a copy of all of his expedition notes. Jefferson also recommended that Lewis write a copy of all his notes and journals on "paper of the birch," as it would be less likely than common paper to be damaged by dampness. Finally, Lewis was instructed to, at his leisure, make several copies of everything, just in case. So, how long could that take?

Have each student make a Window-Pane Graphic Organizer as follows:
- Fold a piece of paper horizontally, then unfold to reveal the midpoint.
- Fold the outer edges of the paper to meet at the midpoint.
- Fold in the paper in half and cut along the interior folds to create four "window panes." (see illustration)
Under the top left flap of the Window-Pane Graphic Organizer, have students write Question 1 (see below) across the top with their answer below it. Have them create an image to illustrate the answer on the inside of the open flap. Have students repeat this process using Questions 2 through 4 on the three remaining flaps of the graphic organizer.

Graphic Organizer Questions:
1. What qualifications did Lewis have to lead the expedition?
2. How was captain Lewis told to treat the Indians he met?
3. What were president Jefferson's suggestions for recording and keeping all of the expedition's written information safe?
4. What kinds of scientific information did Jefferson want the expedition to gather?

Have students close all the flaps on their graphic organizers and create a map of the modern United States across the outside of the flaps. Have them draw the route taken by the Corps of Discovery. Finally, have students add a label across the top of the map.