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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. Ironically, Jefferson told visiting Indians that

2. In an unfortunate hunting incident, Meriwether Lewis is accidentally

3. At The Dalles, the expedition paid dearly for four horses with

4. The federal government has now begun to refuse to

5. With hostile Blackfeet behind and him hostile Sioux ahead, Lewis learns that

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Discuss Lewis' varied capabilities that made him the perfect leader for this journey.

3. What were two of the worst problems for the expedition at Clatsop? Explain

4. Why was General Clark upset with his loyal slave, York?

5. It seems that Lewis has had a major lapse in judgment in many respects and his behavior has become erratic. What major political mistake did he make when arranging to send Big White back to the Mandans?

6. Discuss Meriwether Lewis' response to the fact that some of his soldiers were planning to publish their own journals of the expedition.

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

8. In what way was Lewis being overly confident when crossing the Lolo trail?

9. What were some of the changes the expedition experienced as they came nearer to the coast?

10. What is it that begins to finally destroy Lewis financially?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

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

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?

(see the answer keys)

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