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George R. Clark's Expansion Of The West

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George Rogers Clark once said: “If a country were not worth protecting, it was not worth claiming.” Nearly everyone knows how the United States gained recognition as an independent nation after the Revolutionary War. George Washington and his men fought to free the States in the East; however, few people know the story of how the country swelled in size. During the Revolutionary War, the actions of George Rogers Clark’s expedition, west of the Appalachian mountains, would later prove necessary for peace and expansion of the country’s frontiers. The future conqueror of the West grew up in Virginia, one of ten children of John Clark and Ann Rogers. Young George was two years old when North America’s French and Indian War began in 1754 (Ketchum 1). Elimination of the French dominance in North America, created a desire by settlers to move westward, …show more content…

Clark concluded the only solution, was confronting the source (Ketchum 1). His plan required him supplies, so he travelled to Williamsburg, Virginia, where he met with Governor Patrick Henry to discuss his intentions (Davis 93). Clark’s plot was to stop the threat of the Indians in the West (“Patrick Henry in Council to George Rogers Clark”). Governor Henry approved of the plan, but did not inform the majority of the Assembly in order to maintain secrecy. Clark’s payment upon completion of the campaign would be lands from the West (Davis 93). He was then permitted to assemble three-hundred and fifty men and purchase supplies for the expedition. However, he was unable to recruit the assumed three-hundred and fifty and settled with one-hundred and fifty volunteers (Davis 93). Due to disputes at Fort Pitt, Clark received little help and travelled mostly by foot or on flatboats. Following this setback, Clark and his men set out on the Ohio River towards the Illinois Country which lies north and west of the river, in May, 1778(Davis

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