-
Announcement of the Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase was important becasue it was the largest land deal in history. The grand total came to 15 million dollars and it gave the States access to the Gulf of Mexico. -
Expedition Begins
Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were assigned the task to map new territory, on the western side, of the continent. Their expedition was important because it was a way for President Jefferson to find out if there was a "Northwest Passage", from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean -
Charles Floyds Death
Charles Floyd died near present day Sioux City, Iowa, due to a probable burst appendix. Floyd was then buried there, and the captains named the hilltops, Floyd's Bluff, and named a nearby river, Floyd's stream. Floyd's death is important because it was later designated as a National Historic Landmark in1960. -
Confrontation with Teton Sioux
Teton Sioux demanded one of the expedtition boats as a toll to travel further, and Chief Black Buffalo resolves the situation. Teton Sioux demanding the expedition boats as a toll was important because Teton Sioux, the tribe of powerful warriors, regulated trade on the upper Missouri. -
Toussaint Charbonneau
Toussaint Charbonneau was a french Canadian fur trapper, who livied by the Hidatsas. He was hired an interpretor, and his wife was Sacagwea, who helped out Lewis and Clark. Toussaint Charbonneau was important to the expedition because Charbonneau made several contributions and Clark offered education to Toussaint's son. -
Sending the Keelboat
Lewis and Clark sent the Keelboat and approximately a dozen men back down the river with maps, reports, and other Indian artifacts for Jefferson. The rest of the expedition team kept heading west. This is important because the boat allowed the men to take hold supplies for President Jefferson. -
Great Falls of the Missouri
Lewis discovered the Great Falls of Missouri, and then discovered four more waterfalls upstream. It took nearly a month to get past them. This is important because it allows Lewis was the first colonial man to see the falls. -
The Shipment from Fort Mandan
The shipment sent from Mandan arrives in the east, and is delivered to Jefferson. Lewis approached toward the continental divide, and expected to see plains and a river flowing to the Pacific, but all he found was mountains. The importance is that Lewis split from his troop, in order to find the Pacific, but unltimately found nothing but mountains. -
Village of Shoshones
Lewis discoveres a village of Shoshones and tries to negotiate for horses. It is later discovered that the Shoshone cheif, Cameahwait, is Sacagawea's brother. It is important because Lewis needs horses to help him travel the mountains. -
Famous Journal Entry
Clark believes that he can see the ocean and writes his most famous journal entry, "Ocian in view! O! the joy." Terrible storms halt the expedition for weeks and weeks. The importance is that the expedition is still 20 miles away from the sea. -
Expedition Crosses the South Side
By majority vote, the expedition decides to cross the south side of the Columbia River. It is important because it allowed the expeditionists to build winter quarters to survive. -
Fort Clatsop
Fort Clatsop was presented to the Clatsop Indian, for which it was named. This is important because it alowed the expedition team to have living quarters for the cold, damp Pacific winter. -
Period: to
Expedition Reaches Bitterroot Mountains
In May, the expedition reached the Bitterroot Mountains, but the team has to wait until the snow melts in order to cross them. This is important because it allows the expeditionists to say with the Nez Perce, who were described by Lewis as "the most hospitiable, honest and sincere people that we have met with in our voyage." The voyage continued until late June of 1806. -
Reach St. Louis
Lewis and Clark reach the St. Louis, where the seperate parties rejoined in August on the Missouri River, at the mouth of the Yellowstone. They continued on down the river, towards Mandan, to drop off Sacagwea and the others. It is important because it was the first real step to Lewis and Clark returning home. -
National Heroes
Lewis and Clark were treated as National heroes. This is important because as a reward they recieved double pay and 320 acres of land (The captains were awarded 1,600 acres of land). Lewis was then named governor of the Lousiana territory, while Clark was made Indian agent for the West and was made general of the territory;s militia.
