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January 18th
Thomas Jefferson is in secret communication with congress requesting authorization for expedition. The exploration is undertaken by the U.S. government. 2,500 dollars is requested and given for the expedition. -
Spring
Lewis is chosen to be commander of the expedition. He is sent to receive instruction in Philadelphia. He receives instruction for “botany, zoology, celestial navigation, medicine from nation’s leading scientists.” Lewis invites William Clark to help be in command. -
July 4th
Thomas Jefferson is offered to double the size of America for 15 million dollars. In more detail, He bought “820,000 square miles for 3 cents an acre.” Lewis leaves Washington. -
Summer
In Pittsburg, Lewis oversees how the construction of the big keelboat. He then rides it down the Ohio Lake to pick up Clark and other volunteers. Clark brings his slave. The Slave’s name was “…York, a slave he has owned since childhood.” -
Fall/Winter
They build camp on the east bank of the Mississippi. They then head downstream to “…St. Louis. More men recruited and trained.” -
March 10th
In Saint Luis, Lewis and Clark attended Ceremonies. They also help transfer the land of the Louisiana Purchase from France to U.S. land. -
May 14th
Clark sets off on the expedition. Lewis stays to sign the papers and joins them later. Nobody knows how many men were involved in the Lewis and Clark expedition, but people say it was about 4 dozen men. Their boat is 55 feet in length and 8 feet wide. It was also followed by two smaller boats known as the pirogues. -
May 25th
They pass the last white settlement. It was only 7 houses. The settlement was 60 miles up the Missouri river. -
July 4th
They celebrate the 4th of July on the Mississippi. Lewis and Clark fire their cannons. They drink a lot of whiskey and name a creek Independence Creek. -
August 3rd
A council is held between the United States and western Indians. The expedition meets Missouri and Oto Indians. They hand out 15 star flags, peace medals, and gifts. The expedition gives a speech about peace between them and the Indians. -
August 20th
Sargent Charles Floyd is the first to pass away. He dies near the Sioux city. Floyd is the first US soldier to die in the west Mississippi. -
August 30th
a friendly council is held between the expedition and Sioux tribe. Because they are now in America, the first Sioux baby born will be rapped in an American flag and called an American. -
September 7th
The expedition enters the great plains. The see many plants and animals they hadn't seen in the old area. They recorded 178 new plants and 122 new animals. -
September 25th
The Teton Sioux state that they won't let them pass unless they give them a boat. Their diplomacy chief Black Buffalo resolves it by saying that they would let them pass if they stayed in the tribe for three more days. The expedition neared Pierre in South Dakota. -
October 24th
The expedition finds a huge village called Mandan at Bismark in North Dakota. They build Fort Mandan across the river from the village. -
November 4th
The expedition hires two people to help them. Sacagawea, a Shoshone Indian, knew the mountain area they were headed to. Toussaint Charbonneau, a French Canadian fur trader, was hired as an interpreter. -
December 17th
The expedition spent Christmas in Fort Mandan. They note that it is 45 degrees below zero.
