Lewis and Clark

Before the Louisiana Purchase Jefferson persuaded the congress to fund and expedition by both Meriwether Lewis and Lieutenent Clark. Lewis and Clark set out from St.Louis in 1804, and turned back and completed there journey in 1806. It was a two-in-a-half year expedition. Many benefits came out of this expedition such as it increased geographic and scientific knowledge of perviously unexplored country, strengthened the U.S. claims to the Orgeon Territory, improved relations with Native American tribes, and developed maps and land routes for fur trappers and future settlers. Lewis was Jefferson's personal secretary and Clark was a young army officer. They statrted in St.Louis continued through the Rockies, and descended the Columbia River to the Pacific Coast.