Meriwether Lewis And William Clark In 1803: The Corps Of Discovery

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In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson purchased Louisiana; the land stretching West of the United States, all the way to the Pacific. The territory needed to be charted and explored, hence Jefferson assigned Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to lead an expedition group called the Corps of Discovery, Mapping the topography of the West and reaching the Pacific Ocean had been the major intention of the journey. On such a dangerous journey, mapping every topographic feature assisted not only themselves, but others who would later explore the vast area. Water routes and rivers made their journey easier and increased the speed of which they traveled at. Although the Missouri could not lead them to the Pacific ocean, the Columbia river had led them