Lewis and Clark

Thomas Jefferson asked fellow Virginian Merriwether Lewis to lead an exhibition to the Louisiana Territory. Lewis then asked his friend and fellow soldier William Clark to help lead the exhibition.  

   Their mission was both scientific and political.  Jefferson wanted the group chart a water route to the Pacific Ocean.  This would allow American merchants to trade with nations in Asia and increase American commerce.  An Amateur scientist himself, Jefferson also ordered the group to catalogue and chronicle the plant and animal life that they encountered on their journey.  Jefferson was curious as to what types of plant and wildlife were native in the Louisiana Territory. The men kept journals of the trip detailing the different species they had seen along the way as well as the climate of the land they journeyed through.  These journals would become helpful for future American farmers that moved into the lands that Lewis and Clark explored.  

Years after the journey was finished, accounts from the journals would be sold telling stories of the land in the American frontier. These encounters would inspire thousands of Americans to seek out new and cheaper land in the newly gained territory. 

   On the political side of the trip, the men had a very important job.  They represented the United States of America whenever they encountered Native American tribes.  They were ambassadors for the U.S.  As representatives of the U.S., they were ordered by the President to try and establish peaceful relationships with the tribes that they met.  Jefferson also wanted the group to gather as much information on the tribes as possible.  These facts would allow Americans to further their understandings of the different native groups in the American West.

   Jefferson wrote various letters to Captain Lewis before he left for his journey.  We looked at two letters today.  One letter was written in June of 1803, the other was written in January of 1804.  He instructed the men on the following: how to behave towards the tribes, what to tell the tribes, and what to ask them.  For each letter you should be able to explain to me the content.  (we made a chart in class). 

   Why did the tone of the letters change?  What was different about the two letters?