Articles+Newspaper+Ben

Article 1 When Jefferson was president; he is trying to send explorers west of the Mississippi River. Jefferson wanted to know about the West's people and their land and a river to be taken to the Pacific Ocean. In January, Jefferson convinces Congress to fund a small western expedition. Leading it is, army captain Meriwethe Lewis, and he chooses Lieutenant William Clark. Jefferson tells them to explore the Missouri River and to establish peace with the American Indians. In addition, the president asks them to explore the soil, growth of vegetables, animals, mineral productions, and climate. Lewis spent weeks studying with experts on survival and other subjects they needed to take notes on. After being delayed for picking the right people and getting equipment, they were off on May.

Article 2 Lewis and Clark traveled the Great Plains. Every time the expedition met a tribe, Lewis told the tribe, that the United States owned the land they were on. Lewis and Clark tried to be confident to the leaders, but they depended on the help of the Indians they met, especially Sacagawea. She offered to help as they were crossing the Great Plains. Lewis and Clark kept journals and described what they saw. In the journals was wonderful things, and there was dangers of the travel, such as sicknesses, natural disasters and terrible storms.

Article 3 After crossing the Plains, they came to the Rocky Mountains. Lewis thought that this would cause trouble for them. When Lewis and Clark met the Shoshoni tribe, they learned that the leader was Sacagawea's brother. He provided horses and a guide to lead them across the mountains. When they got out of the mountains, they followed the Columbia River and ended up in the border of Washington and Oregon. On November 7, Lewis and Clark saw the Pacific Ocean. They stayed there and traded with the Clatsop and Chinook Indians and traveled the coast. On March Lewis and Clark headed home. They didn't find a route to the Pacific Ocean, but Lewis and Clark provided useful information on the Rocky Mountains. They also collected a great deal of scientific items, like plants and animals. After, Lewis became governor of the new Louisiana Territory, while Clark became governor of the Missouri  Territory.

Article 4 While Lewis and Clark were on their expedition, Zebulon Pike, a young army officer, was sent on a different expedition. He was ordered to find the start of the Red River, which runs through Louisiana and the border of Texas. He was also told to spy on Spanish out posts in the Southwest. Pike led his expedition through the Rocky Mountains. He headed south with a few members into New Mexico and struggled to the Rio Grande. They passed Spanish lands and Pike continued, until they ran into Spanish cavalry and were arrested. Pike said," Isn't this the red river?" The Spanish cavalry thought he was a spy, and imprisoned him. After his imprisonment, he came back to the United States and reported his trip.