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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. Clark was appointed as brigadier general of militia, as well as

2. Captain Lewis has his doubts about Jefferson's hope to

3. For Lewis' men, life at Fort Clatsop in the winter was

4. By the time Lewis reaches Grinder's Inn, he seems

5. Two of the group stayed behind with the Mandans. They were

Short Essay Questions

1. In what area does the author feel Lewis' greatest talents had lain?

2. Describe Lewis' grand scheme for American fur trading.

3. Was it justifiable for Lewis to turn his publishing project into such a huge and complex undertaking?

4. What may Lewis have been talking about when Mrs. Grinder heard him taking to himself like a lawyer?

5. Describe Lewis' desperate act in the spring of 1806.

6. Lewis experiences pain that far exceeds any he has been through on the trip thus far. Describe the incident.

7. What was the intention behind Lewis' last voyage?

8. As governor of the Louisiana Territory, Lewis was in over his head. How did Lewis fail in his job as governor?

9. What mistake did Lewis make with the Blackfoot Indians with whom he was trying to make a deal?

10. Describe the difference between the more northern Walla Walla Indians and the coastal Chinookian tribes, as Lewis perceived it.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were very close friends, but had very different personalities and backgrounds. Compare and contrast:

1) How differently did the two men grow up?

2) What did they have in common?

3) How did their leadership habits mesh or clash?

4) Were they a good team?

Essay Topic 2

Lewis and Clark witness a Sioux "scalp dance" on the upper Missouri.

1) Why was the scalp dance being performed at this time? What did it mean?

2) Did the Sioux find some kind of spiritual triumph in capturing prisoners of other tribes? What was the Sioux's philosophy regarding other tribes? Was their priority their land, hunting grounds, horses, or just power? How could another tribe offend them enough to get scalped?

3) How many bands, or different groups of Sioux were in the country at that time?

Essay Topic 3

Stephen Ambrose's footnotes could comprise a story by themselves. Write a descriptive essay, addressing one or two of the interesting facts he has noted, as well as the supportive information for them, which is not included in the actual text of the book.

1) Page 234 describes the brand Lewis applied to the expedition's horses that was found many years later. Try to find an image of it and write a short essay about this part of the journey, and how the horses were retrieved.

2. The soldier, Newman, who was court martialed and sent back to St. Louis is mentioned on page 209. Find additional information about Newman and what he did after returning to St. Louis.

3. On page 320, there is added information about Lewis' mercury cure for syphilis. Research and write about this "cure," how and when it was discovered, and its true effects on the disease.

(see the answer keys)

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