What was the main goal of the Lewis and Clark expedition?

The primary goal of the Lewis and Clark expedition, officially known as the Corps of Discovery, was to map the newly acquired western territory following the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. This ambitious endeavor aimed to explore the vast lands west of the Mississippi River, assess the natural resources, establish geographic knowledge about the region, and identify a practical route to the Pacific Ocean.

The expedition, commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson, significantly expanded European-American understanding of the geography and cultures in the western United States. The resulting maps and journals provided invaluable information that facilitated future exploration and settlement of these territories.

While promoting trade with Native Americans, establishing military outposts, and claiming specific territories were also considerations during this era of westward expansion, they were not the central focus of the expedition itself. The main emphasis was on charting the landscape and understanding the geography, which laid the foundation for future American expansion and development.