History of the United States I / Unit 11 USH1 1504 short lesson, about 20 seconds
The Expedition's Objectives
Captions available
The idea
The corps was to find a water route to the Pacific, improve access to Chinese ports, establish a river route from St Louis for the fur trade, and legitimise American claims against British and Spanish rivals.
In practice
Orders to map the territory and establish trade relationships with western tribes.
Where people slip
Scientific observation was one objective among eight, and commerce was the first.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Builds on
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