Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest

Divide the class into teams and assign students a Corps member (of the permanent party) to become an “expert” on. Each student should make a list of the skills and other attributes of the Corps member they research. They should know as much about their assigned Corps member as possible.

Present the following scenarios to the teams. The experts should relay their information to their team members with the team deciding how and by whom the situation should be handled. Have all the teams report their decisions.

Blackfeet Warriors
Courtesy American Museum of Natural History, Image #333568

Scenarios:

Grizzly Bear comes into Camp looking for food
Buffalo stampede into the River as the Corps is traveling in the same direction
Blackfeet Indians attempt to steal the Corps supplies and horses
As the Corps comes ashore they are met by hundreds of Native Americans lined along the river bank
Seaman has been captured by the Walla Walla tribe
A Native Indian boy has been found along the river bank, is barely breathing and appears to have been wounded by an animal
As the winter progresses, hunting does not providing meat for the explorers

Shooting grizzly bears, illustrated in Patrick Gass' published journal; Courtesy Edward E. Ayer Collection, The Newberry Library, Chicago

Medical Supplies

18th century medical chest
Courtesy T. Scott Garrett, M.D., Lynchburg, Virginia

Examine the document of the medical supplies purchased for the expedition and Dr. Rush's letter of instruction to Meriwether Lewis on preserving his health. In the chart below record your research findings on what medical situations these items might have been used for. In the 2003 Column, list what modern medicines or instruments have replaced the 1803 medical supplies.

printer-friendly version of chart

Thomas Jefferson was intensely interested in westward exploration. He had studied and promoted Western Exploration (see articles one and two). Match these exploration dates with the explorers (printer friendly version):

In 1802 Jefferson gets a copy of Alexander MacKenzie’s published journal, “Voyages from Montreal on the River St. Lawrence Through the Continent of North America to the Frozen and Pacific Oceans In the Year 1789 and 1793.”

Using the image of MacKenzie at right and the map from MacKenzie’s journal, assign students the task of promoting/marketing the sale of MacKenzie book. Students should consider:

creating a broadside/poster/flyer
giving the book a more appealing title
writing an ad
giving a press conference
hosting a book signing

Courtesy Hudson's Bay Company Archives, Provincial Archives of Manitoba

When MacKenzie reached the Pacific Ocean he used vermilion paint and grease to leave his “mark” on rocks. Ask students to compose the “mark” they would use if they had the opportunity to make a discovery. The Corps of Discovery would also make "marks" on trees when they reached the Pacific. Unfortunately none of those "marks" exist today. Can you explain why?

How many years after MacKenzie would it be before Lewis and Clark reached the Pacific Ocean?

Wade, M. S. Mackenzie of Canada: The Life and Adventures of Alexander Mackenzie, Discoverer. London: William Blackwood & Sons Ltd., 1927.

Compare and contrast the MacKenzie map with the Lewis and Clark map (note: these are large files). What similarities do you see? Any differences?

The following individuals provided training to Lewis in preparation for the journey. Have students research these individuals. Based on their research have the students complete the chart below.

printer-friendly version of chart

Professional	Profession/Expertise	Trained Lewis to:
Andrew Ellicott	Geographer/Astronomy
Robert Patterson	Mathematician
Benjamin Rush	Physician
Caspar Wistar	Anatomy/Paleontology
Benjamin Smith Barton	Botanist
Thomas Jefferson	President/Horticulturalist/ Amateur Botanist/Surveyor/Natural History

What skills did Lewis already have that led Jefferson to choose him to lead the expedition?

York

(Click image for larger version.)
YORK - C.M. Russell - 1908, watercolor
Courtesy Montana Historical Society, John Reddy, Photographer

Clark took his slave York along on the expedition. Using the image of York write a newspaper account of York and the Arikara Indians.

What jobs do you think York provided to Clark as a slave? What contributions do you think York made to the expedition as a member of the Corps of Discovery? Create a chart of these jobs/contributions. What generalizations can you make about York’s role as a member of the Corps of Discovery?

York’s Jobs as Clark’s Slave

York’s Contributions to the Expedition

On January 15, 1807 Lewis sent his roll of men to the Secretary of War, writing:

“With rispect to all those persons whose names are entered on this roll, I feel a peculiar pleasure in declaring, that the Amble support which they gave me under every difficulty; the manly firmness which they evinced on every necessary occasion; and the patience and fortitude with which they submited to, and bore, the fatigues and painful sufferings incident to my late tour of the Pacific Ocean, entitles them to my warmest approbation and thanks; nor will I suppress the expression of a hope, that the recollection of services thus faithfully performed will meet a just reward in an ample renumeration on the party of our Government.”

Image Courtesy Yale Collection of Western Americana, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Based on York’s role as a member of the Corps, what would be your recommendation of a reward for York for the successful expedition of the Corps? What were the rewards bestowed upon Captain Lewis and Captain Clark at the journey’s successful completion? Use the chart below (printer friendly version) to record your findings.

Lewis’ rewards

Clark’s rewards

Your recommendation for York

York’s actual rewards