Jefferson's letter of instruction to Meriwether Lewis
"The object of your mission is to explore the Missouri river, and such principal stream of it, as, by its' course & communication with the water of the Pacific ocean may offer the most direct & practicable water communication across this continent, for the purposes of commerce." -Jefferson's letter of instruction to Meriwether Lewis
The Expedition
The Expedition
- The exploration was devised to establish the land more greatly as American territory.
- First step toward settlement developing in the western United States.
- Provided discoveries in fields such as science and medicine.
New discoveries would advance America and benefit them in trade and further exploration.