The Lewis and Clark Expedition - Essay Example

The main objective of the expedition thus was stated as to “Explore the Missouri river & such principal stream of it as by its course and communication with the waters of the Pacific ocean, whether the Columbia, Oregon, Colorado or any other river may offer the most direct & practicable water communication across this continent for the purpose of commerce” (Presidential Mission 2001). Led by Captain Meriwether Lewis and Lieutenant William Clark, the historic expedition was given the name Corps Of Discovery.

Exploring the history surrounding the expedition, it is worth understanding what prompted the American government in to commissioning this exploration. During the late seventeen hundreds, the French had been thinking of sending an expedition to explore the western part of the continent. President Thomas Jefferson, who was then the minister to France (1785-1789), heard many rumors of such expeditions. Although the French maintained that the expedition planned was purely on the basis of scientific interest and not of commercial motives, many had their doubts.

Whatever the intentions may have been, the initial French expedition of 1788 was not a success as it was halted due to bad weather conditions (Lewis & Clark Expedition 2007). It’s most likely that President Thomas Jefferson’s interest in initiating the expedition once he became president was influenced to some degree by the knowledge of French interest in the matter. In addition, in 1786 an American, John Ledyard planned of crossing the Continent from the western side itself. The route was planned to be overland across Siberia all the way to the Capital.

This expedition failed half way as Czarina, Catherine The Great of Russia had him deported to Poland once he arrived in Siberia. Subsequently, the Louisiana Purchase renewed the interest in exploring the west, and it also made the expedition more politically correct as the American