Their Contributions
What contributions did Lewis, Clark, and Sacagawea make to America?
Goal:
Goal:
Think of a time when you visited a new museum, a new park, a new city or town. Think about this new place where you've never been before. Now, imagine a world full of rivers, lakes, mountains, plains, animals, and native people that have never been discovered. You and some friends are tasked with becoming explorers and discovering all of these new and wonderful things! That is exactly what Lewis, Clark, and Sacagawea did.
Lewis and Clark are names you will hear when you learn about our American history. They would not have been successful without the help of a lot of friends and strangers. Learning about explorers helps you see how people discovered new places, plants, animals, and cultures through bravery and teamwork. Click through the slides to learn what their journey looked like.
In May of 1804, President Thomas Jefferson sent out two explorers to explore the land in America. They were asked to make a map of the western part of North America. They were named Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, and they took a team of thirty people with them on the journey.
The expedition began in the Louisiana territory near what is now known as St. Louis, Missouri. It went all the way to what is now known as the coast of Oregon. For the first part of their trip, they paddled in canoes up the Missouri River to a trading post called Fort Mandan.
Lewis and Clark wanted to hire a guide. They needed someone to help them on their way to the west coast and communicate with the Native American tribes along the way. They hired Sacagawea to translate for them, because she was also very familiar with the rugged land.
The Lewis and Clark Expedition was the first chance for United States citizens to travel so far by river and land into the West. It certainly wasn't the last. Upon Lewis and Clark’s return, they provided detailed maps, reports about mountains, rivers, and open land, and details about the Native Americans. This expedition started what is called the Westward Expansion—or the expanding of the known lands to the west.
Sacagawea was very important. She helped the Lewis and Clark Expedition as a guide, as they explored the western lands of the United States. Her presence as a woman helped communicate with the Native American tribes and confirmed the peacefulness of their mission. They were able to report back to President Jefferson information about many of the Native American tribes that they encountered.
Question:
What contributions did Lewis, Clark, and Sacagawea make to America?
Lewis and Clark brought back detailed maps of the West. They also made notes about what natural resources were there as well. Without Sacagawea’s communication, Lewis and Clark would not have been able to contribute nearly as much. They also learned a lot about the Native American tribes in the West as well.