Introduction
The land we gained 
Lewis and Clark
Thomas Jefferson
You will explore the journey of Lewis and Clark and decided if their mission was political/social, economic, or scientific. You will also focus on the outcomes of this mission (positive and negative) for example, the animals, plants and medicine that was discovered, but was it at a cost of some Native American lives?
Have fun! Ms. Ferrino
Task
Directions: After reading each paragraph of the letter below, decide whether Jefferson’s intentions of sending Lewis and Clark on an expedition to explore the Louisiana Territory were political/social, economic, or scientific. Then provide evidence that led you to that belief on your answer sheet. After that you will write the paper using what you learned. Must view all the links before writing because the prompt asks for more than one thing. It is also your job to figure out how many paragraphs the paper should be.
To: Captain Meriwether Lewis Esq., Capt. of the 1st. Regiment of Infantry of the USA
June 20, 1803
Your situation as Secretary of the President of the U.S. has made you acquainted with the objects of my confidential message of Jan. 18. 1803 to the legislature (congress). You have seen the act they passed was meant to sanction these objects, and you are appointed to carry them into execution.
Instruments for ascertaining, by celestial observations, the geography of the country through which you will pass, have been already provided. Light articles for barter and presents among the Indians, arms for your attendants, say from 10-12 men, boats, tents, & other traveling apparatus with ammunition, medicine, surgical instruments and provisions from the Secretary at War. From him also you will receive authority to engage among our troops, by voluntary agreement, the number of attendants above mentioned, over whom you, as their commanding officer, are invested with all the powers the laws give in such a case.
Ascertaining- finding out
Celestial- the sky, stars, sun
The object of your mission is to explore the Missouri river & such principal stream of it, as, by its course and communication with the waters of the Pacific ocean whether the Columbia, Oregon, Colorado or any other river may offer the most direct & practicable water communication across this continent for the purposes of commerce.
Communication- connection from one river to another
Commerce- trading goods
Beginning at the mouth of the Missouri, you will take careful observations of latitude & longitude at all remarkable points on the river & especially at the mouth of rivers, at rapids, at islands & other places & objects distinguished by such natural marks & characters of a durable kind as that they may with certainty be recognized hereafter. The courses of the river between these points of observation may be supplied by the compass, the log-line & by time, corrected by the observations themselves. The interesting points of the portage between the heads of the Missouri & of the water offering the best communication with the Pacific ocean, should also be fixed by observation & the course of that water to the ocean, in the same manner as that of the Missouri.
Log-line- a device used for measuring distance
Portage- the place where travel must change from a river to land, and the boats and goods must be carried
The commerce which may be carried on with the people inhabiting the line you will pursue, renders a knowledge of those people important. You will therefore endeavor to make yourself acquainted with the names of the nations & their numbers; the extent & limits of their possessions; their relations with other tribes of nations, their language, traditions, monuments, their ordinary occupations in agriculture, fishing, hunting, war, arts, their food, clothing, & domestic accommodations, the diseases prevalent among them & the remedies they use, moral & physical circumstances which distinguish them from the tribes we know, their laws, customs, and articles of commerce they may need. And considering the interest which every nation has in extending & strengthening the authority of reason & justice among the people around them, it will be useful to acquire what knowledge you can of the state of morality, religion, & information among them; as it may better enable those who may endeavor to civilize & instruct them.
Implements- tools Accommodations- shelter
Prevalent- occurring frequently
Process
Links to help you answer the prompt and the evidence behind the reasons for this expedition
https://www.history.com/topics/westward-expansion/lewis-and-clark
https://www.britannica.com/event/Lewis-and-Clark-Expedition
https://www.history.nd.gov/exhibits/lewisclark/results.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVkHfn6-Zl4
https://www.history.com/news/lewis-and-clark-animals-american-west
Evaluation
Web Quest/Prompt - Rubric
Using what you know from reading Jefferson’s instructions to Meriweather Lewis, why do you think Jefferson wanted the Louisiana Territory? Did he have political, economic, or scientific reasons for going? Explain the evidence you found to support each one you picked. (Can be all 3). Then also answer-What were the long term effects of this expedition to the Native Americans and the Americans? What was discovered that was beneficial? Conclude with your final opinions.
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Exceptional All points earned |
Admirable -3 points |
Developing -6 points |
Needs Improvement -10 points |
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Use of Internet (Links Provided) |
Successfully uses suggested Internet links to find information and navigates within these sites easily without assistance. |
Usually able to use suggested Internet links to find information and navigates within these sites easily without assistance. |
Occasionally able to use suggested Internet links to find information and navigates within these sites easily without assistance. |
Needs assistance or supervision to use suggested Internet links and/or to navigate within these sites. |
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Web Quests Tasks Completed |
All areas of the paper were addressed and handled with a high degree of sophistication. Project is interesting and completed. |
The paper is only partially completed. The project submitted demonstrates a great deal of thought. (Between 75% and 100% complete) |
The paper is only partially completed. The project submitted demonstrates a moderate level of thought. (Between 50% and 75% complete) |
The paper is incomplete, and/or it is apparent that little effort went into the development of the project, and/or project is less than 50% complete. |
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Time Use |
Classroom time was used to work on the project. Conversations were not disruptive and focused on the work. |
Classroom time was used to work on the project the majority of the time. Conversations were not disruptive and focused on the work. |
Classroom time was used to work on the project the majority of the time, but conversations often were disruptive or did not focus on the work. |
The Student did not use classroom time to work on the project the majority of the time and/or was highly disruptive. |
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Grammar, Format, and Spelling |
The final body of work was free of grammar, spelling, and formatting errors. |
The final body of work had 1-2 errors related to grammar, spelling, and formatting errors. |
The final body of work had 3-5 grammar, spelling, and formatting errors. |
The final body of work had major grammar, spelling, and formatting errors. |
Conclusion
I hope you had fun and learned something :)
