Relationship Between Lewis And Clark

One of the greatest American adventure stories started on February 28, 1803, when President Thomas Jefferson gained approval for his visionary project. This project was to explore the unknown West with a small expeditionary group. President Jefferson chose Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to head this expedition. Both Lewis and Clark had close ties to Jefferson. Meriwether Lewis was one of Jefferson's secretaries and William Clark was a close friend. The initial idea of the expedition was to include scientific inquiry, geographic mapping, and clearing the way for commerce, but the purchase of the Louisiana Territory, on April 30 1903, changed this purpose. The new mission focused more on diplomacy, which required the crew to communicate the transfer of sovereignty to every Indian tribe and foreign interest occupying the lands along the journey. Thomas Jefferson believed that accurate information about Native Americans was essential in order to shape a peaceful environment for both groups of people. President Jefferson had always maintained an interest in Indian culture and way of
Inquiring information about intertribal trade was important to Lewis and Clark because this would help them create trade partnerships with these tribes. Lewis and Clark were often confused by what was valuable in an economic exchange because the Native Americans had no currency. Another part of the intertribal trade policy that confused Lewis and Clark was the fact that most of these groups were fierce enemies the majority of the year. The Native Americans would create a temporary ceremony that made other Native Americans temporary or fictional relatives. This allowed men who might later fight each other a brief time to exchange goods, trade stories and share religious practices in