The Lewis and Clark Expedition

What impact did leaving official U.S. territory have on the dynamics within the Lewis and Clark expedition?

• They continued to follow U.S. laws strictly.

• They established a system where all members had equal voting rights, regardless of their background or status.

• They reverted to traditional hierarchies, with decisions made solely by Lewis and Clark.

• They were free to enslave local Native Americans they encountered.

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Why was Thomas Jefferson disappointed with the findings of the Lewis and Clark expedition?

• They failed to establish trade relations with Native American tribes.

• They found that the American continent did not possess a water route to the east.

• They did not bring back enough valuable items from the journey.

• They encountered too many dangers, making the expedition unworthy.

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How did Sacagawea’s presence contribute to the success of the expedition?

• She provided technical expertise in building boats for the journey.

• Her presence helped the group avoid conflict, as Native American tribes associated her presence with peace.

• She negotiated land deals with tribes to secure safe passage.

• She acted as the main leader of the expedition, taking over decisions from Lewis and Clark.

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What crucial role did Sacagawea play during a dangerous incident on the expedition?

• She fought off a grizzly bear attack that threatened the group.

• She guided the group through treacherous mountain terrain.

• She saved important items, including Lewis’s journal, from a river during an overturned boat incident.

• She built shelters to protect the group from severe winter weather.

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How did the Nez Perce tribe decide to help the Lewis and Clark expedition instead of harming them?

• They were impressed by the expedition's advanced weaponry.

• A woman named Watkuweis, who had been previously rescued by white men, persuaded the tribe to assist them.

• They wanted to form an alliance against rival tribes.

• They were offered a large sum of money and goods by the expedition.

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What was the outcome for Sergeant Charles Floyd, and what does it reveal about the challenges faced by the expedition?

• He successfully recovered from his illness, showing the group’s medical resilience.

• He died early in the expedition from what is believed to be a burst appendix, highlighting the dangers and lack of medical care.

• He was killed by a wild animal, demonstrating the constant threats from the environment.

• He abandoned the expedition due to the hardships faced.

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How was Sacagawea’s son, Jean Baptiste, involved in the expedition, and what was his later relationship with William Clark?

• Jean Baptiste was left behind before the expedition began and did not participate.

• He accompanied the entire expedition and was later raised and educated by William Clark.

• He became an important translator for the group.

• He led the group back to North Dakota after the expedition ended.

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CHOOSE ONE:

1. 1. Reflect on the various risks and challenges faced by the Lewis and Clark expedition. How did the group’s interactions with Native American tribes affect their survival and success?

3. 2. Clark maintained ownership of York as a slave until the start of the Lewis and Clark expedition, even though the expedition operated on principles of equality among its members. Considering the social, economic, and legal context of the time, why do you think Clark waited until the expedition began to treat York more equally, and what does this reveal about the complexities and contradictions of attitudes toward slavery in early 19th-century America? How might the unique circumstances of the expedition have influenced Clark's behavior, and why do you think these attitudes did not extend beyond the journey?

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