What Is The Corps Of Discovery Dbq

From 1804-1806, the Corps of Discovery embarked on a journey that would take them through thick forests, across dangerously fast rivers, and up into the highest regions of the country. The most famous members, Lewis and Clark, led the expedition, along with the help of many others, including a Native American woman named Sacagawea. They scouted and mapped the area, taking notes and naming regions that would later be populated by thousands of pioneers that would immigrate into the area. Their efforts towards exploration proved successful and allowed the U.S. to gain detailed information of their newly acquired land. Within American history, a number of individuals have reached greatness, yet only a few have ever been appreciated and recognized

Sacagawea was a Native American who was married to a French trader named Toussaint Charbonneau who was hired by the group as an interpreter (Doc A and E). From knowing the languages in the region, she was able to communicate with the Shoshone people, allowing the team to obtain horses from the tribe, making their journey across the Rocky Mountains possible (Doc E). Secondly, when food was scarce, she was able to provide nuts, berries, roots, fish and small animals to keep the team from starving to death (Doc E). Furthermore, in May of 1805, she saved journals and important equipment that were close to being forever lost in the Missouri River (Doc E). If she wasn’t able to rescue the items, they would have lost a whole years worth of logged research and extremely valuable tools that they desperately needed. Not only did Sacagawea provide resources and knowledge, but she was a representation of peace to all who encountered the party (Doc E). This prevented many possible attacks on the party from Natives who might have believed they were a threat. As a result, Sacagawea proved to be a great asset to the Corps of Discovery on their trip through the

As the team headed farther West, they were aware that they needed to figure out where they would stay for the winter. Therefore, Lewis and Clark chose to have a vote, even allowing Sacagawea and York to participate (Doc E and F). To let not only an African American but also a woman to vote was a first in America and showed how they put aside their differences to choose what was best for them. As another example, a man named Reed was a member that chose to abandon the party while taking stolen items. He was later found, trialed for his actions, punished, and was expelled from the expedition (Doc G). His actions proved that by abusing the ties of teamwork, he underwent the consequences of not following the orders established by the team. Lastly, Lewis held the position of Captain and Clark was the Lieutenant (Textbook) and although they held different rankings, they divided up power and shared leadership so well that no one knew Lewis had more control over the team than Clark. Therefore, the Corps of Discovery displayed a combined effort towards accomplishing their goal of charting the Northwest and their ability to stay loyal to one another was their greatest