American Legends: The Lewis and Clark Expedition

Includes passages from the journals of Lewis and Clark.Profiles important members of the expedition, including Lewis, Clark, and Sacajawea.Includes pictures of important people and places.Includes a Bibliography for further reading.Includes a Table of Contents."Ocian in view! O! The Joy!" - William Clark, journal entry dated November 7,1805A lot of ink has been spilled covering the lives of history's most influential figures, but how much of the forest is lost for the trees? In Charles River Editors' American Legends series, readers can get caught up to speed on the lives of America's most important men and women in the time it takes to finish a commute, while learning interesting facts long forgotten or never known. It is the most fabled and storied journey in American history. From 1804-1806, the first expedition across the North American continent was commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson, who had recently bought a vast swath of territory from France. Though he knew he had bought a huge amount of land, Jefferson wasn't entirely sure of what he had bought, so he asked a team led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to traverse the continent until they reached the Pacific, studying everything from the ecology to geography along the way to get an understanding of the country's new region. Lewis and Clark would find far more than they bargained for. The 33 men who made the trip came into contact with about two dozen Native American tribes, many of whom helped the men survive the journey, and along the way they met and were assisted by the famous Sacagawea, who would become one of the expedition's most famous participants. Though they suffered deaths on their way west, the group ultimately reached the Pacific coast and got back to St. Louis in 1806, having drawn up nearly 150 maps and giving America a good idea of much of what lay west. American Legends: The Lewis and Clark Expedition chronicles the amazing journey made by the group and profiles the lives of its most famous members. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about Lewis and Clark like you never have before, in no time at all.