Essay --

During Thomas Jefferson’s presidency, he completed a series of transactions that made America what it is today. The most famous of these transactions was the Louisiana Purchase. He bought a lengthy stretch of land spanning from the obvious (Louisiana) to Montana. This land was bought for approx. 15 million. This translates to about 234 million dollars in today’s money (about 42 cents per acre).1 In order to explore this newfound territory, Thomas Jefferson sent two pals off into the wilderness, along with 31 other men. These two men were Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. Meriwether Lewis was born in 1774 at his family’s estate in Virginia. When Lewis was five, his father died of pneumonia and his mother shortly remarried with a retired army officer. When Meriwether was 13, he returned to Virginia and began his schooling. In 1794, Lewis signed up for the army, where he was sent to quench the Whisky Rebellion along with 13000 other Virginians. One of these men was William Clark. The following year, Lewis joined the army of General ‘Mad’ Anthony Wayne. He was quickly transferred to the Chosen Rifle Company, which was led than none other than William Clark. The two quickly became friends but not long after being transferred, General Clark had to resign do to health problems. The following February, he was invited by his friend and president, Thomas Jefferson to serve as his personal secretary. The President proposed his plan to explore the United State’s new territory, and Lewis quickly volunteered to go. In 1803, congress app roved and Meriwether began to get ready. He sent a letter to his old friend, William Clark, asking him if he wanted to go with him. He agreed and the two left with 31 other men in the spring of 1804. Willi... ...e, unlike his best friend Meriwether. Sacagawea settled down with her French husband and six years after returning from their journey, gave birth to a daughter. No one knows if this daughter lived. In 1812, William Clark legally adopted both of Sacagawea’s Children. In the 20th century, a theory developed that Sacagawea instead lived to the age of 100 and was buried on the Wind River Indian Reservation. After close speculation, this theory was sent to rest by most historians, but you can believe what you like. William Clark, Meriwether Lewis, and Sacagawea remained friends long after their journey, and it is somewhat obvious due to the many respectful comments and other notes that involved the opinions and their friends that these people influenced each other greatly. These 35 people that returned to Virginia can be considered some of America’s greatest explorers.