Anthony Pellegrino
History
3/20/13
Per. 3
William Clark Research Paper
When Thomas Jefferson made the Louisiana Purchase, he bought land that had previously never been explored by Americans. When the time came to explore these lands, Meriwether Lewis called upon William Clark to assist him in his expedition. Clark created the first detailed map of the West, and was an integral part of the continuation of the expedition.If it wasn’t for William Clark and the maps he created on the journey, western settlement might have never been possible.
William Clark was born on August 1st, 1770, in Caroline County, Virginia. Clark was the youngest of five older brothers, who all fought in the Revolutionary War. Clark’s eldest brother was George Rogers Clark, who was a military leader during and after the Revolutionary War. He defeated British and Native American tribes in multiple frontier battles. The older Clark brothers were educated in literature, geography, history, and science. Once the Clark family moved to Louisville, Kentucky, the younger Clark brothers, including William, were not able to receive the same education (BWC).
While Clark was a teenager, one of his older brothers taught him survival skills. When William was 19 years old, he enlisted in the army. He was stationed in the Ohio Valley, which protected the Kentucky settlements from Indian attacks.
Clark met Meriwether Lewis after he was transferred to General Anthony Wayne’s unit. Clark was a member of the fourth brigade; meanwhile Lewis was a member of the second (NHT).
The Essay on “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare
In Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Lady Macbeth’s desire for power prompts her interest in controlling Macbeth’s actions; consequently, when she loses control of Macbeth, she loses control of herself. Lady Macbeth relies on Macbeth to be the brawn so she can be the brain; she has somewhat of a symbiotic relationship with him. After the murder of Duncan, Macbeth slowly starts losing the ...
A few years later, in July 1796, Lewis retired from the military to help his family straighten out their business affairs. Once Clark left the military, he kept in touch with Meriwether Lewis. In mid-1803, Congress approved the wilderness expedition that had been a project of Lewis since 1792. William Clark was invited to co-captain the journey alongside Lewis (BWC).
These two men would lead the first transcontinental journey by the United States.
Clark spent several months preparing for the expedition by studying astronomy and map-making. The goal of the expedition was to find the most direct and practicable route across the continent. They left the training grounds on May 14th, 1804, and started up the Missouri River. The Expedition established relationships with dozens of indigenous nations, without whose help the expedition would have starved or become lost in the Rocky Mountains. During the expedition, Clark was in charge of mapping the area around them, leading hunting expeditions and managing the supplies they had. Once they reached the Pacific, Lewis and Clark took different routes back. Lewis took a portion of the men and navigated the Yellowstone River to the Missouri River. The two parties then reunited in St. Louis and returned as one party on September 23rd, 1806.
During the expedition, Clark was in charge of mapping the area around them. The first significant map he drafted was completed during the winter of 1804-1805. The map focused on upper Mississippi and Missouri. As they continued the journey, Clark kept careful compass records, measured distances and produced detailed strip maps of the area between landmarks. One of the most detailed mappings was done on the Great Falls of Missouri, where Clark measured the length of the chasm, the elevation of the falls, and the drop of the cascade (ITW).
This map would be of critical imprtance to U.S. expansionist froces for years to come. Clark also lead hunting expeditions and managed the supplies they had.
Without the discoveries and findings that happened during the Louis and Clark expedition, American settlements in the west might not have been possible. Clark created the first detailed map of the land west of the Mississippi River. William Clark was also an important part of the continuation of the expedition. The knowledge he obtained about the geography, natural resources, and native inhabitants strengthened America’s claim to the land. It also gave Americans proof that even though their nation was weak at the time; their men were capable of accomplishing great things and enduring hardships for the good of their country.
The Term Paper on Lewis and Clark Expedition 2
... so began the expedition, the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The expedition decided to spend that winter at Camp Wood, along the Missouri river in Present day Illinois. ... Throughout the next two years, the expedition made significant scientific discoveries, and mapped much of the Missouri river as well as much of the ...
Works Cited
Biography of William Clark (BWC), Virginia.edu
National Historic Trail (NHT), William Clark. 2013
Inside the War (ITW), Lewis and Clark.
