Summary
Encyclopedia of the Lewis and Clark Expedition explores the people, places, ideas, plants, animals, and tools involved in one of America's most important expeditions, on the celebration of its 200th anniversary.
On November 30, 1803, France formally transferred 828,000 square miles to the United States in exchange for $15 million. This land, the Louisiana Purchase, doubled the size of the nation. While negotiations for this deal had been going on, Thomas Jefferson had already begun thinking about a transcontinental expedition to explore the lands west of the Mississippi. Besides the commercial and scientific benefits of such an exploration, there was the issue of asserting America’s sovereignty over the new territory. Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were hired to undertake this journey. They kept detailed journals on the flora and fauna they observed, and members of their team—the Corps of Discovery, as the group is often referred to—were also the first non-Indians to make contact with a number of tribes.
This indispensable encyclopedia provides a complete reference to this great American expedition, covering all major elements from the preparatory work initiated by President Thomas Jefferson in 1801 to the corps' return from the Pacific Ocean in 1806. Containing a wealth of informative, cross-referenced A-to-Z entries, as well as an extensive chronology with mileage markers, an introductory essay, a strong general bibliography and further reading lists to the specific entries, many maps, and more than 100 black-and-white photographs, Encyclopedia of the Lewis and Clark Expedition details a fascinating and important expedition in American history.
More than 350 entries include:
- Animals, new species
- Bitterroot Mountains
- Bozeman Pass
- Camp Dubois
- Cartography
- Corps of Discovery
- The Dalles
- Diplomacy
- Elk
- Flathead Indians
- Albert Gallatin
- Illness and injuries
- Keelboat
- Meriwether Lewis
- Mountain lions
- Mountain men
- Nez Perce Indians
- Oilcloth
- Pacific Ocean
- Peace pipe
- Pomp
- Twisted Hair
- Weasels
- Whiskey
- York
- and many more.