Louisiana Purchase Exploration Quiz

Why did President Thomas Jefferson want the land in the Louisiana Purchase explored?

• To sell the land to other countries

• To find information about plants, animals, and natural resources

• To move the U.S. capital there

• To build a giant city there

Which question would be best to ask after watching the video to better understand why Jefferson sent the expedition?

• What color were the explorers’ uniforms?

• What songs did the group sing on the trip?

• How many men were in the Corps of Discovery?

• What kinds of plants and animals did the explorers report?

Who did Jefferson choose to lead the expedition west?

• Sacagawea

• William Clark alone

• Captain Meriwether Lewis and William Clark

• Thomas Jefferson himself

What was the name that Jefferson gave to the exploration group?

• The Frontier Friends

• The Pacific Team

• Corps of Discovery

• The Oregon Club

Which choice shows a good reason the volunteers were chosen for the Corps of Discovery — one that would help the team succeed on the trip?

• They could all read poetry aloud.

• They were trained only to build large ships.

• They had skills like hunting, wood cutting, and craftsmanship that helped with survival and travel.

• They were all friends with the president.

Why was Sacagawea’s presence important to the expedition?

• She paid for supplies with her own money

• She was the official map-maker

• She could pilot the barge by herself

• She was a skilled guide and her presence showed the group came in peace

What important feature did the expedition cross that divides water flowing to different oceans?

• Niagara Falls

• The Grand Canyon

• The Continental Divide

• The Mississippi Delta

How did the Corps of Discovery travel during their journey?

• By horseback, canoe, and on foot

• Only by train

• By airplane and car

• Only by wagon

Which question asks for an inference (not just a fact) about the explorers’ trip from the video?

• In what month did they reach the Pacific Ocean?

• Why might Sacagawea’s presence have helped the group form peaceful relationships with Native tribes?

• How many maps did they make?

• What was the name of the barge they used?

Which is the best question a student could answer using evidence from the video?

• How long is the Pacific Ocean?

• What color was Sacagawea’s son’s hat?

• Why did the Corps of Discovery create maps and record information about plants and animals?