Comparing Thomas Jefferson's The Lewis And Clark Expedition

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Thomas Jefferson wrote this secret message to Congress about the expedition led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark in 1803. He viewed westward expansion necessary to provide an extension of territory which the rapid increase of their numbers would soon call for. Jefferson hoped the explorers would establish trading relations with the Native Americans aiming to exchange what the Native Americans could spare and Americans wanted, for what Americans could spare and natives wanted. Thomas Jefferson proposes that by leading the western Indians to agriculture, manufactures, an civilization, it would bring together the two settlements and prepared them ultimately to participate in the befits of their growing government. Jefferson describes how our nations should follow in other civilized nations footsteps with the idea of …show more content…
He explains how our nation should enlarge the boundaries of knowledge by undertaking voyages of discovery and for other literary purposes. Thomas Jefferson introduces the Lewis and Clark expedition as one willing to undertake this voyage. He conveys to Congress the objects of the expedition as both scientific and commercial- to study the area's plants, animal life, geography, and for the men to have conferences with the natives on the subject of commercial intercourse, get admission among the for American traders, agree on convenient deposits for an interchange of articles, and return with the information required. Jefferson sums up his seemingly persuasive message to congress by requesting a great deal of money "for the purpose of expanding the external commerce of the United