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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. When Sacagawea recalls the place where she was kidnapped by the Hidatsas, she

2. Clark's attitude toward hostile Indian tribes was

3. Lewis hoped that the Indians would accept

4. Jefferson undertook the preparation of

5. Winter at Fort Mandan was

Short Essay Questions

1. What was the primary reason for wanting to find the Shoshones at this point in the trip?

2. Why did the Shoshones hesitate to go with Lewis to meet Clark and help the expedition over the Lemhi River?

3. Why were the Captains' gifts considered insufficient by the Teton Sioux Indians?

4. The trip through the Bitterroot Mountains is a particularly gruesome time or the expedition. Starvation, rough terrain, cold and illness forces the men to take desperate measures. What were they and why didn't the expedition turn back?

5. Describe the irony in Lewis' attitude toward Native Americans and African Americans.

6. What happened to Lewis' beloved iron-frame boat?

7. Discuss the large keelboat and its journey back to St. Louis.

8. Discuss Lewis' mental meanderings on his 32nd birthday.

9. What is Lewis' goal in trying to make peace between the Arikaras and the Mandans? Why does he involve himself in their dispute?

10. Why is Sacagawea's presence valuable to the expedition?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Meriwether Lewis' father died when he was young and his mother remarried, changing her name to Marks.

1) Is there a genealogy of Lewis' family? Is there an organized group of "family" genealogists related to him?

2) Lewis is said to have come from royal ancestry in Europe. Research this and determine whether it is factual, and provide additional information.

3) Try to locate some information on Meriwether Lewis' father. Did he suffer from mental illness? Write an essay on his life.

Essay Topic 2

Research and write an exploratory essay on the Nez Perce Indians

1) The Nez Perce were favored by Lewis and Clark as being kind, generous and trustworthy.

2) Did the Nez Perce have any earlier history with, or prior reasons to trust the white men?

3) What was the ultimate disposition of their tribe? How did the US government deal with them? Is there a reservation? Is the tribe still in existence?

4) Research and describe the customs and traditions in the Nez Perce culture.

Essay Topic 3

Write a critical essay about Thomas Jefferson and his wild ideas of a water route to the Pacific.

1) What were Jefferson's motives? Were they mercenary? Why did he want to be the one to find the passage?

2) Do you feel Jefferson sacrificed Lewis, knowing that the odds were against his returning safely?

3) Did Jefferson desert Lewis in his time of need? Did he fight for him after he left office when his vouchers were in question?

4) Why did Jefferson lay the burden of publishing the data on Lewis personally, and later on Clark?

(see the answer keys)

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