Lewis and Clark: Explorers of the New Frontier

BIOGRAPHY chronicles Lewis and Clark's exploration in search of the elusive Northwest Passage through the Louisiana territory to the Pacific Ocean. Lewis and Clark's explorations would lead the United States into a westward expansion that would culminate in the creation of the continental United States.

Lewis and Clark: Explorers of the New Frontier would be helpful for classes on American history, geography, ethnic relations and ecology. It is appropriate for middle school and high school.

• abscesses
• abyss
• botanist
• cartography
• cauldron
• conduits
• confrontation
• congenial
• dominion
• dysentery
• erratic
• etiquette
• exacted
• expedition
• geopolitical
• intellectual
• navigation
• painstaking
• prosperous
• protocol
• reconnoiter
• terra incognito
• terrain
• typhus
• zealously

1. Lewis and Clark's journey is referred to as Americas first and greatest exploration. What other great explorations are there in American history? Do you agree that the Lewis and Clark exploration is the greatest? If so, why? If not, which exploration do you think is America's greatest?

2. How did Lewis and Clark's expedition fulfill Thomas Jefferson's Continental Vision?

3. How did international concerns and competitions for trading routes influence Lewis and Clark's expedition?

4. What role did commerce play in American Indian/American relations?

5. What role did technology (e.g. firepower) play in American Indian/American relations?

6. How do you think the American Indians reacted to the news that their lands now belonged to the great white father?

7. How did the aid of Sacagawea help Lewis and Clark's expedition to succeed? Discuss her contributions, both physical and symbolic.

8. Discuss the cultural differences between the different groups of Native Americans Lewis and Clark encountered.

9. How did the success of the Lewis and Clark expedition contribute to the rise of the United States as a global power?

1. On a map of the continental United States, trace the route of Lewis and Clark from St. Louis, Missouri, to the Pacific Ocean.

2. Imagine that you are one of the men or Sacagawea on the expedition. Create a travel/log diary that tells the story of your journey.

3. Imagine that you are Lewis or Clark and President Jefferson has invited you to the White House to discuss your journey. What are the events/sights/discoveries that you would tell the president?

4. Using the route you traced on the map in activity number one, explain the climate changes that the expedition experienced.

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Air Dates

• August 09, 2004
• October 07, 2004