Definition

1. Proper Noun:
   • The Lewis and Clark Expedition: A historic journey of exploration commissioned by U.S. President Thomas Jefferson to explore the vast, newly acquired western territories of the United States. The expedition was led by Captain Meriwether Lewis and Second Lieutenant William Clark, and its primary goal was to map and document the geography, resources, and indigenous peoples of the region, seeking a practical water route to the Pacific Ocean.

Usage Examples

• Proper Noun:
  • The Lewis and Clark Expedition is a foundational event in American history.
  • Scholars study the journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition for detailed accounts of the American West before widespread settlement.
  • The route of the Lewis and Clark Expedition is now a National Historic Trail.

Advanced Usage

• "The Corps of Discovery": This is the official name for the group led by Lewis and Clark. The terms "Lewis and Clark Expedition" and "Corps of Discovery" are often used interchangeably.
  • The Corps of Discovery faced immense challenges during their journey.

Variants and Related Words

• Corps of Discovery (n): The official military unit, led by Lewis and Clark, that conducted the expedition.
• Exploration (n): The act of traveling through an unfamiliar area to learn about it.
• Expansion (n): The action of becoming larger or more extensive, often used in the context of "western expansion" in U.S. history.

Synonyms

• Voyage of discovery: A journey undertaken to explore unknown regions.
• Exploratory mission: A task with the primary purpose of investigation and discovery.

Related Phrases

• To chart/explore the wilderness: To map or travel through an uncivilized area.
  • The expedition's goal was to chart the wilderness of the Louisiana Purchase.

Noun

1. an expedition sent by Thomas Jefferson to explore the northwestern territories of the United States; led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark; traveled from St. Louis to the mouth of the Columbia River from 1803 to 1806