Lewis and Clark Expedition: Impact on Native American Culture
This paper examines the Lewis and Clark Expedition (1803–1806), tracing its origins in President Jefferson's vision to chart a northwest route and expand American commerce. The paper profiles key figures — Meriwether Lewis, William Clark, and the interpreter Sacagawea — and analyzes the expedition's interactions with more than fifty Native American tribal groups, including the Oto, Arikara, and Shoshone. It explores the diplomatic strategies employed to bring tribal lands under American authority, the cultural disruption that followed western expansion, and the scientific discoveries documented along the route. The paper concludes that while the expedition was a triumph of American frontier expansion, it also marked the beginning of the end of traditional Native American culture.
- Introduction: Overview of expedition's origins and significance
- Key Members of the Expedition: Profiles of Lewis, Clark, and their roles
- The Role of Sacagawea: Sacagawea's contributions as interpreter and guide
- Cultural Impact on Native Indian Tribes: How western expansion disrupted indigenous culture
- Diplomatic Approach and Tribal Encounters: Strategies used and specific tribes encountered
- Scientific Discoveries: New species of plants and animals documented
- Conclusion: Dual legacy of national triumph and cultural loss
✍️ How to write this paper — guide, tools & examples ▾
What makes this paper effective
- Uses direct quotations from primary and period sources — including Jefferson's own letter and a Hidatsa man's rebuttal — to ground the cultural argument in real voices rather than generalizations.
- Balances triumphalist and critical perspectives on the expedition, acknowledging both its role as a national achievement and its devastating consequences for indigenous communities.
- Moves logically from biographical profiling of key figures to broader cultural, diplomatic, and scientific analysis, giving the paper a clear layered structure.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper uses contrastive analysis effectively: it juxtaposes European-American values (unified governance, commercial trade, cessation of conflict) against Native American customs (warrior leadership, tribal autonomy, polygamy) to illustrate the depth of cultural incompatibility that the expedition exposed. This technique makes the argument about cultural disruption concrete and evidence-based rather than abstract.
Structure breakdown
The paper opens with a thesis-driven introduction establishing both the expedition's national significance and its cultural cost. It then moves through biographical sections on Lewis, Clark, and Sacagawea before pivoting to thematic analysis of cultural impact, diplomatic strategies, specific tribal groups, women's roles, and scientific findings. A concise conclusion restates the dual legacy of the expedition.
Introduction
The Lewis and Clark Expedition heralded the rise of a new and mighty American nation. However, this exploration also signaled the loss of tribal culture and traditional values, which is why many historians rightly attribute the expedition to be the "beginning of the end" of Native American culture.
The Lewis and Clark Expedition was a phenomenal undertaking that had a significant impact on the American nation in terms of both geographical expansion and cultural influence. The exploration was the outcome of the long-cherished dream and vision of President Jefferson. The project, envisioned by Jefferson, was led by Meriwether Lewis, a twenty-eight-year-old army officer, together with his friend William Clark, a thirty-two-year-old army man. The expedition was essentially a commercial exploration planned to investigate the possibility of using the Mississippi River as a communication route and to increase trade with Native Indians. Jefferson organized a contingent to explore the hitherto uncharted territory and to discover a northwest route.
Key Members of the Expedition
The Expedition Itself
The expedition began nearly two centuries ago, on July 5, 1803. Meriwether Lewis was appointed by President Jefferson to lead the task. The Louisiana Purchase greatly lessened the hardships of the expedition, as the party no longer needed to obtain permission from France to travel through much of the territory. By the end of August 1803, Lewis and his small entourage had traveled the Ohio River, and on October 15 they were joined by William Clark in Kentucky. There the members of the expedition were finally selected, and the group was composed of thirty-two men. The only casualty during the entire expedition was Charles Floyd, who died of appendicitis. On September 23, 1806, the expedition returned to St. Louis. Overall, the expedition lasted two years, four months, and nine days, and the group traveled a total distance of approximately 8,000 miles.
Meriwether Lewis
Lewis was a military officer and close associate of President Jefferson. He was well versed in Native Indian ways of life and had an inquisitive mind, which is why he was chosen to lead the expedition. In a letter to Benjamin Smith Barton, a naturalist at the University of Pennsylvania, Jefferson stated: "It was impossible to find a character who to a compleat science in botany, natural history, mineralogy & astronomy, joined the firmness of constitution & character, prudence, habits, adopted to the woods, & a familiarity with the Indian manners & character, requisite for this undertaking.... Altho' no regular botanist he possesses a remarkable store of accurate observation on all the subjects of the three kingdoms, & will therefore readily single out whatever presents itself new to him in either." [Jefferson National Expansion Museum]
William Clark
William Clark was a skillful cartographer who created maps with fine detail. His detailed maps are still considered a great achievement given the limited equipment he had available to chart the territory. His people skills were also far superior to those of Lewis, and he maintained excellent relationships with the many Indian tribes the party encountered. It was due to this special quality that he was appointed Superintendent of Indian Affairs in the aftermath of the successful expedition. [University of Virginia]
Create your account
Always verify citation format against your institution’s current style guide requirements.