Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, two soldiers select by President Jefferson to lead an expedition and map out the Northwest.  The main purpose of Jefferson's expedition was to find the Northwest Passage, a water route across North America.  Lewis and Clark set out on the Missouri River with a crew and they had to go through obstacles such as waterfalls and rapid, which made them leave the watery passage they were hoping to find.   To the general public, Jefferson told the people that Lewis and Clark were exploring the west to learn about the Indians and their interest in trade, but he really just wanted to find the water way or "Northwest passage." 

During there journey through the rugged terrain of the Northwest, Lewis and Clark faced many challenges.  In the Dakotas they met a french fur trapper whos wife was a Shoshone Indian, named Sacagwea.  They were happy that they met her because she could help translate if they met any Indians.  They first met the Shoshone Indian's and Sacagwea pursuaded the Shoshone chief to give them horse so they could make it over the Rockie Mountains.  On the other side of the Rockie's the Nez Perce tribe saved Lewis and Clark's team from death by starvation.   If Lewis and Clark hadn't of met the French fur trappers wife, they possibly could have died on this expedition. Her help with the horses allowed them to cross a mountain range that would have killed men on foot.  

After traveling over 8,000 miles round trip from St. Louis through the Northwest Lewis and Clark did not find the water passage way Jefferson had hoped for, but they did map out a route to the Pacific Ocean over land and built friendships with the Indians along their journey.

Sources:

Hart,Diane.History Alive the Udited States.Palo Alto,CA 94303,2002.

Lewis and Clark Return Journey.www.historicaltrailscycling.com/art/Map2low3.jpg.August 30, 2007.