may 1, 1804 - Lewis and Clark began
their expedition to the west
Description:
- Description: The Lewis and Clark Expedition from May 1804 to September 1806, also known as the Corps of Discovery Expedition, was the first American expedition to cross the western portion of the United States.
- Causes: resident Thomas Jefferson commissioned the expedition shortly after the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 to explore and to map the newly acquired territory, to find a practical route across the western half of the continent, and to establish an American presence in this territory before Britain and other European powers tried to claim it.
- Historical Impact: The expedition returned to St. Louis to report its findings to Jefferson, with maps, sketches, and journals in hand.
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