46. The Lewis and Clark Expedition

Title: The Lewis and Clark Expedition
Author: Patricia Ryon Quiri
Publisher: Compass Point Books
Copyright Date: 2001
Number of Pages: 45
Reading Level: 10+
Genre: Nonfiction

Summary
After the Louisiana Purchase by President Jefferson he needed a group to go out and explore the new territory. This new territory was so large that it doubled the size of the United States. He wanted to find a water route from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean. This would provide a trade route. Eventually the goal would be to expand the nation to the Pacific and make America a nation to be noted. The Corps of Discovery was formed and Jefferson chose his personal secretary, Meriwether Lewis to head the expedition. Lewis asked his friend William Clark to come on the trip as well. They first set up a camp on the Mississippi River to train and prepare for the journey. They left on May 14, 1804 and traveled in three boats. Two horses were brought along as well to go and hunt food when it became scarce. Ticks and mosquitoes were a nuisance to them and the only solution was to cover themselves in grease. Clark was talker and Lewis enjoyed being alone to think. They met their first buffalo in South Dakota. The two men kept detailed journals of animals and plants to take back to Jefferson. The group met man groups of Native Americans along their way, people like the Oto were friendly and inviting while the Sioux were dangerous and threatened the lives of the explorers. While with the Mandan people The expedition took on three more people to the journey, Charbonneau, his young wife Sacagawea and their baby nicknamed Pomp. The group became attached to the baby and Sacagawea helped them to navigate and choose which foods were safe. Many men fell ill, Lewis was chased by a bear and shot in the butt, mistaken for an elk. They lost only one man on the expedition and it was due to severe illness three months into the trip. They found that a direct route to the Pacific did not exist.

Recommendation
I would recommend this for fourth grade history here in Idaho. I think that this will help kids understand some of the things that Lewis and Clark did on their journey.

Problems/Conflict
No problems with it. Everything seemed direct and to the point.

My Reaction
I was a little bored with this book. It was short and easy but I just wasn’t interested in the material it presented.