Corps of Discovery and Apollo 11: Explorers of New Frontiers
Americans have always been astonished by uncharted regions. When faced with new frontiers, the American people never shy away from exploring these mysterious territories. The “Corps of Discovery” and “Apollo 11” were two brave teams whose story captured the imaginations of Americans all across the nation and influenced their dreams of discovery.
When the United States accepted The Louisiana Purchase of 1803, 827,000 square miles of unexplored land was added to the country. Americans were amazed at the sheer size of their newly acquired wilderness and wanted to unlock the mysteries of the unknown. Under the instruction of Thomas Jefferson, Meriwether Lewis “recruited his friend William
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Lewis learned how to hunt, fish, and gather plants, while also learning all sorts of other survival skills. Even at an early age, Lewis was a boy with a reputation, for there were “many stories of Meriwether as a child, defending himself and his family from both wild animals and enemy Indians” which demonstrated his impressive survivability (3). Lewis has always been a man deeply connected to nature. He is a true outdoorsman, showcasing his bravery and toughness by facing the large wilderness alone. After returning to Virginia and completing his formal education, Lewis enlisted in the U.S. Army where “he served alongside another soldier with whom he would become well acquainted, William Clark. In late 1795 Lewis was reassigned to the Chosen Rifle Company, which was commanded by Clark. The two became friends and developed a deep respect for each other,” that eventually led to Lewis asking Clark to become his co-commander (4). Lewis’ military training did nothing but help increase his survival skills and leadership during the expedition. The army caused the two men to develop a strong bond of friendship and trust that aided their command during their westward exploration. Lewis’ extensive history with nature and his military background have caused him to become a reliable and talented commander for the Corps of