In the winter of 1803-04 the expedition was assembled in Illinois, near St. Clark joined him at Clarksville, Indiana, across from Louisville, Kentucky. Then he oversaw the construction of his specially-designed 55-foot keelboat and floated it down the Ohio River. First he picked up arms at the government arsenal at Harper’s Ferry. to pursue his project on July 5, 1803, but ahead lay almost a year’s worth of preparation. The party was to ascend the Missouri to its source, cross the Continental Divide, and descend the Columbia River to its mouth. The route of the expedition was carefully planned. In preparation for the historic journey, Lewis studied map making and learned how to fix latitude and longitude. Little was known about western America before Lewis and Clark’s Corps of Discovery. In commissioning the exploration, on June 20, 1803, Jefferson wrote to Lewis as “Captain of the first regiment of Infantry of the United States of America,” and said “The Object of your mission is to explore the Missouri river & such principal stream of it as by its course and communication with the waters of the Pacific ocean, whether the Columbia, Oregon, Colorado or any other river, may offer the most direct & practicable water communication across this continent for the purpose of commerce.” However, the expedition’s objectives were actually broader they were partly scientific, partly to open diplomatic relations with Indian tribes, partly to evaluate the land for future settlement, and very much to lay the basis for an American claim to the Pacific Northwest as a way of preempting European nations. Both were familiar with the frontier and with Indians through their military service. William Clark to share the leadership of the expedition. To head the expedition, Jefferson chose his young secretary, army captain Meriwether Lewis, who resided in the presidential mansion, and at the President’s behest frequently conversed with prominent figures in politics, the arts and other circles. The consummation of the Louisiana acquisition on Apmeant that that the explorers Jefferson hoped to send would remain on American soil until they crossed the Rocky Mountains. Indeed, he set about preparing for an exploration before the opportunity to purchase the Louisiana Territory even came along. That the West was foreign territory didn’t bother Jefferson his initial efforts occurred while Louisiana belonged to Spain. For twenty years he had thought about finding a water route to the Pacific Ocean, and establishing an American presence to the West of the then borders of the United States. The spirit behind the opening of the American West was President Thomas Jefferson.
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