Jonah Patel
The Corps of Discovery, also known as the Lewis and Clark Expedition, was a unit of the United States Army that formed the nucleus of an expedition to explore the newly acquired western portion of the country after the Louisiana Purchase. The expedition, which took place between 1804 and 1806, was led by Captain Meriwether Lewis and Second Lieutenant William Clark, and had scientific and commercial objectives. The Corps of Discovery encountered more than two dozen Native American tribes during their journey, and their interactions with these tribes have raised questions about whether they stayed true to the Constitution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Expedition Name | Lewis and Clark Expedition, also known as the Corps of Discovery Expedition |
| Expedition Leaders | Captain Meriwether Lewis and Second Lieutenant William Clark |
| Expedition Members | About four dozen men, including officers, enlisted military personnel, civilian volunteers, and York, an African American man enslaved by Clark |
| Expedition Objectives | Scientific and commercial—to study the area's plants, animal life, geography, and to learn how the Louisiana Purchase could be exploited economically; another primary objective was diplomacy with Native Americans |
| Expedition Route | From St. Louis, Missouri, to the Pacific Ocean and back, covering nearly 8,000 miles (13,000 km) |
| Expedition Duration | Two years, from May 1804 to September 1806 |
| Native American Interactions | Encountered more than two dozen Native American tribes, including the Blackfeet and Crow tribes; held councils, military parades, and promised trade and intertribal peace |
| Challenges and Incidents | Struggled with illnesses, injuries, and hostile encounters with some Native American groups; Sergeant Charles Floyd was the only member to die during the expedition |
| Outcomes and Rewards | Lewis identified 178 new plant species and 122 new animals; successful completion resulted in double pay and land grants for the members |
| Involvement of Enslaved Individuals | York, an enslaved Black man, served as Clark's companion and contributed significantly to the expedition's success; despite this, Clark refused to grant York his freedom after the expedition |
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What You'll Learn
The treatment of York, an enslaved Black man
York, an enslaved Black man, was a crucial member of the Corps of Discovery. He was born into slavery and had been Clark's companion since childhood. York was one of 45 members of the Corps of Discovery, which was commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson to explore the Louisiana Purchase and establish trade. York's role in the expedition was significant, as he helped with hunting, heavy labour, and smoothing relations with Native American tribes. He was also allowed to carry a rifle, something that was not typically permitted for enslaved people, and his vote counted equally with those of the white men.
Despite his contributions, York was not freed after the expedition. While his fellow explorers received rewards such as double pay and land grants, York received nothing. York asked Clark for his freedom, but Clark refused. York then requested to move to Louisville to be with his enslaved wife, who was owned by another man. He offered to work and send his earnings to Clark, but Clark still denied his request. In an 1808 letter to his brother, Clark wrote that York was "serviceable to me at this place, and I am determined not... to gratify him, and have directed him to return." York's fate after this is disputed, but it is believed that he remained enslaved by the Clark family for at least a decade following the expedition.
The treatment of York by the Corps of Discovery, and specifically by Clark, has been criticised as heinous and a stark example of the complexities of race in American history. York's story highlights the injustice of slavery and the denial of freedom to a man who had contributed so much to the success of the expedition. It also underscores the complexities of the time, as York's role and treatment during the expedition appeared to be equal to that of the white men, despite the legal and social restrictions of slavery.
In conclusion, the treatment of York, an enslaved Black man, by the Corps of Discovery was one of both utilisation and denial of freedom. While York was allowed to participate in the expedition and was treated relatively equally during it, he was ultimately denied his freedom and forced to remain in bondage to Clark, highlighting the complexities and injustices of the time.
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The Corps' encounters with Native Americans
The Corps of Discovery, also known as the Lewis and Clark Expedition, was commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson in 1803 to explore the Louisiana Purchase. The Corps was led by Captain Meriwether Lewis and Second Lieutenant William Clark, and their objectives were scientific and commercial—to study the area's plants, animals, and geography, and to determine how the Louisiana Purchase could be exploited economically.
The Corps of Discovery encountered more than two dozen Native American tribes during their two-year expedition through the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains. These encounters were mostly peaceful, and the Corps established diplomatic relations and trade with many indigenous nations. They met with the Shoshone, the Mandan, the Minitari, the Blackfeet, the Chinook, and the Sioux, among others.
Before crossing the Continental Divide, the Corps split into two teams. Lewis's group met some men from the Blackfeet nation, but during the night, the Blackfeet attempted to steal their weapons, and in the struggle, two Blackfeet men were killed. Lewis and his remaining group members fled over 100 miles before camping again. Meanwhile, Clark entered the territory of the Crow tribe, and half of his horses disappeared, but not a single tribe member was seen.
At Fort Mandan, Lewis and Clark met a French-Canadian fur trapper named Toussaint Charbonneau and his young Shoshone wife, Sacagawea. Charbonneau served as the expedition's translator, and peace was established with the Mandan chiefs through the sharing of a ceremonial pipe. Sacagawea proved invaluable to the expedition, especially in her ability to help communicate with other Shoshone they encountered.
The Corps of Discovery also included an enslaved Black man known as York, who was the personal servant of William Clark. York was popular with the Native Americans they encountered, as they had never seen a Black man before. He contributed greatly to the expedition, assisting with hunting and the labor of pulling boats upstream. Despite this, Clark refused to grant York his freedom after the expedition and only allowed him a brief visit to Kentucky to see his wife before forcing him to return to Missouri.
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The expedition's scientific objectives
The Corps of Discovery, also known as the Lewis and Clark Expedition, was commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson to explore the Louisiana Purchase and establish trade. The expedition was led by Captain Meriwether Lewis and Second Lieutenant William Clark, and their objectives were both scientific and commercial.
The scientific objectives of the expedition were to study the plants, animal life, and geography of the newly acquired western portion of the country. Lewis, who served as the field scientist, was instructed by President Jefferson to make observations of latitude and longitude and take detailed notes about the soil, climate, animals, plants, and native peoples. The Corps of Discovery traveled nearly 8,000 miles (13,000 km) and encountered more than two dozen Native American tribes. They experienced the challenges of the terrain, including dysentery, venereal disease, boils, tick bites, and injuries from prickly pear. Despite these obstacles, only one member of the Corps, Sergeant Charles Floyd, died during the expedition, from what is believed to have been a ruptured appendix.
Lewis identified 178 plants new to science, including bitterroot, prairie sagebrush, Douglas fir, and ponderosa pine, as well as 122 animals. The scientific names of some of these discoveries, such as Philadelphus lewisii (mock orange), Lewisia rediva (bitterroot), and Clarkia pucella (pink fairy, or ragged robin), honour the men who made them. The expedition also named geographic locations after expedition members, peers, loved ones, and even their dog (Seaman’s Creek).
Clark served as the expedition’s principal waterman and cartographer, and his detailed maps of the West were the best available until the 1840s. The Corps of Discovery traveled up the Missouri River in a keelboat and two pirogues (dugout boats), covering 10 to 20 miles (16 to 32 km) a day. They crossed the Continental Divide of the Americas and reached the Columbia River and the Pacific Ocean in 1805. The return voyage began on March 23, 1806, at Fort Clatsop, Oregon, and ended six months later on September 23, 1806, in St. Louis.
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The influence of Alexander Mackenzie's journals
The journals of Alexander Mackenzie, an explorer and fur trader, were published in 1801 and documented his exploratory travels across Canada in 1789 and 1793. Mackenzie's journals were an important influence on Thomas Jefferson's decision to commission the Corps of Discovery, also known as the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
In 1802, Thomas Jefferson, who was then president, read Alexander Mackenzie's 1801 book about his exploratory travels across Canada. Mackenzie's journals documented his journey across continental North America, which he accomplished by canoe in 1793, twelve years before the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Mackenzie's journey took him from Fort Chipewyan to the Arctic Ocean in 1789 and then to the Pacific Ocean in 1793. His journals provided a detailed narrative of Canada in the late 1700s, including insights into the hardships and landscapes encountered.
The influence of Mackenzie's journals can be seen in Jefferson's decision to create an American body capable of reaching the Pacific. In 1803, Jefferson commissioned the Corps of Discovery, led by his personal secretary and U.S. Army Captain, Meriwether Lewis, who selected William Clark as his partner. The goals of the Corps of Discovery were to explore the Louisiana Purchase, establish trade, and conduct scientific and commercial research on the area's plants, animal life, and geography. The Corps of Discovery, like the Mackenzie expeditions, were conceived as waterborne explorations. They followed the Missouri River through what is now Kansas City, Missouri, and Omaha, Nebraska.
The journals of Alexander Mackenzie provided valuable information and inspiration for Jefferson's vision of an American expedition to the Pacific. Mackenzie's first-hand account of his travels across Canada demonstrated the feasibility of such an endeavour and influenced the planning and execution of the Corps of Discovery's journey. Mackenzie's journals, with their detailed descriptions and insights, served as a guide and reference for the Lewis and Clark Expedition, helping them navigate the challenges and complexities of exploring unknown territories.
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The role of the US military
The Corps of Discovery, also known as the Lewis and Clark Expedition, was a specially established unit of the United States Army. The Corps was formed to lead an expedition through the newly acquired western portion of the United States after the Louisiana Purchase. The unit was led by Captain Meriwether Lewis and Second Lieutenant William Clark, and their objectives were scientific and commercial. They were tasked with studying the area's plants, animal life, and geography, and exploring how the Louisiana Purchase could be exploited economically.
The Corps of Discovery was comprised of a select group of U.S. Army soldiers and civilian volunteers, including scouts, boatmen, and Clark's slave, York. The group numbered about four dozen men and set out from Camp Dubois (Camp Wood), Illinois, on May 14, 1804, travelling up the Missouri River. The expedition lasted two years and covered nearly 8,000 miles (13,000 km), with the Corps encountering more than two dozen Native American tribes.
Additionally, the US military provided essential skills and expertise that contributed to the success of the expedition. For instance, Clark served as the principal waterman and cartographer, creating detailed maps of the West that remained the best available until the 1840s. The military personnel also had experience in survival and navigation skills, which were critical in the challenging and unfamiliar terrain. Their knowledge of weapons and combat tactics was also valuable in establishing trade and diplomatic relations with the Native American tribes.
The US military's involvement in the Corps of Discovery was in line with the government's objectives of exploring and establishing control over the newly acquired Louisiana Purchase territory. By utilising the skills and resources of the military, President Thomas Jefferson was able to ensure the safety and success of the expedition, which ultimately contributed to the expansion and growth of the United States.
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Frequently asked questions
The Corps of Discovery was a specially established unit of the United States Army which formed the nucleus of the Lewis and Clark Expedition that took place between May 1804 and September 1806. The Corps was led by Captain Meriwether Lewis and Second Lieutenant William Clark.
The Corps of Discovery was commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson to explore the Louisiana Purchase, establish trade and learn how the newly acquired territory could be exploited economically.
The Corps of Discovery's treatment of York, an enslaved African American man, was not in line with the principles of freedom and equality enshrined in the Constitution. York was denied freedom and adequate compensation for his contributions to the expedition. Additionally, the Corps' encounters with Native American tribes, while generally peaceful, involved elements of coercion and military displays of power.
