The Lewis and Clark Expedition: Documenting the Uncharted Northwest (Teaching with Historic Places)

This lesson is part of the National Park Service’s Teaching with Historic Places (TwHP) program.

Learn how the 1804-1806 expedition effectively opened the Northwest to the influence of the United States, established relations with numerous American Indian nations, and gathered useful scientific documentation about the West.

Objective

1. To explain the historical effects of the Louisiana Purchase in relation to the growth of the newly created United States;
2. To describe the challenges and successes that the Corps of Discovery faced during its journey;
3. To compare the cultures of several Indian tribes the corps encountered based on journal entries and explain the Indians' contributions to the journey's success;
4. To list the accomplishments of the Corps of Discovery;
5. To create a scale map of their own community.

Background

Time Period: Early 19th century
Topics: This lesson could be used in units on 19th-century westward expansion and U.S. and American Indian relations.

Full Lesson Plan