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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. The most prized and valuable animal found along the river is the

2. Meriwether Lewis named Marias River after

3. On their journey over the Bitterroots, Lewis and his men found

4. Lewis feels that Native Americans will become civilized citizens, but

5. Lewis and Clark's meeting with Daniel Boone is a matter of

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Of what, exactly, was the "great father" trying to convince the Indians, under Jefferson's instructions?

3. Why was Jefferson so interested in exploring the West?

4. How did the expedition manage to drag its boats over land?

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

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

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

8. What caused the expedition's "portage" period to be longer than expected?

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. Is it obvious why Clark's commission stayed that of lieutenant and not captain? How did that affect the two leaders?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Thomas Jefferson gave birth to the idea of an expedition to find the Northwest passage. Write a persuasive essay about any or all of the following:

1) Did Jefferson prove to be a fair weather friend to Lewis & Clark?

2) What did Jefferson do upon Lewis' return to help distribute his findings? Was Lewis properly credited?

3) Did Jefferson get what he wanted out of the expedition, besides the answer to his question about a waterway to the Pacific?

4) Jefferson claims to have known that Lewis had some mental illness all his life. Did he take any measures to help Lewis?

Essay Topic 2

Lewis and Clark were more famous after their deaths than during their lives. What can we learn about them this many years later?

1) Research and construct a report about all of the monuments, parks, schools and other landmarks that bear Lewis and/or Clark's names. Explain, for each, their significance.

2) In the alternative, research and report on how many of the rivers and landmarks that Lewis & Clark named still have those names. Many were changed in the years after the expedition, but some may have remained.

3) What educational insititution(s) specialize in the history of Lewis and Clark? Describe their research program and anything notable about the school.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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