Thomas Jefferson had many goals for the Lewis and Clark Expedition, but the main goal was to find an all water route to the Pacific Ocean. Although they did not accomplish this goal, they did accomplish many more of their goals. One of the goals they fulfilled included taking notes of the lands economic potential during their expedition. Also, Lewis and Clark, both wrote diaries that reported wildlife, abundant resources, opportunities for trade, and other information about the Louisiana Purchase. The leaders of the expedition were chosen by President Thomas Jefferson, who had been thinking about discovering the Louisiana Purchase for a while. President Jefferson did not look any further than his personal secretary, …show more content…
Lewis and Clark started out in St. Charles, Missouri on the Missouri River trying to find an all water route to the Pacific Ocean. Next, Lewis and Clark made their way to Fort Mandan, where they stayed during their second winter. This is also where they met Sacagawea. After they left Fort Mandon, they made their way to Fort Clatsop, which is where they made salt. Lewis and Clark thought that their original route took too long and took them too far south, so they tried something different. Lewis followed the original route while Clark followed the Yellowstone River to Fort Mandan, where they met each other and traveled back to St. Louis. Lewis and Clark arrived back in St. Louis on September 23, 1806. Along the way, though, there were a couple interesting things that happened on the trip. I think it is very interesting that only one crew member died on the whole trip. Throughout this entire journey the only man to die was Charles Floyd, apparently from a burst appendix. Nobody died from hypothermia in the winter or of attacks from Indians. Also, another unusual fact is that Merriweather Lewis was shot by his own men while being mistaken for wild