lewis and clark led an expedition to explore the louisiana territory.
lewis and clark led an expedition to explore the louisiana territory.
who led an expedition to explore the louisiana territory?
lewis and clark
in 1803, the united states purchased the louisiana territory from napoleon for $11,000,000. the territory included most of the western half of the mississippi watershed and covered nearly all of present-day south dakota, except for a small portion in the northeast corner of the state. the region was still largely unexplored and unsettled, and president thomas jefferson organized a group commonly referred to as the lewis and clark expedition to explore the newly acquired region over a period of more than two years. the expedition, also known as the corps of discovery, was tasked with following the route of the missouri to its source, continuing on to the pacific ocean, establishing diplomatic relations with the various tribes in the area, and taking cartographic, geologic, and botanical surveys of the area. the expedition left st. louis on may 14, 1804 with 45 men and 15 tons of supplies in three boats (one keelboat and two pirogues). the party progressed slowly against the missouri's current, reaching what is today south dakota on august 22. near present-day vermillion, the party hiked to the spirit mound after hearing local legends of the place being inhabited by "little spirits" (or "devils"). shortly after this, a peaceful meeting took place with the yankton sioux, while an encounter with the lakota sioux further north was not as uneventful. the lakota mistook the party as traders, at one point stealing a horse. weapons were brandished on both sides after it appeared as though the lakota were going to further delay or even halt the expedition, but they eventually stood down and allowed the party to continue up the river and out of their territory. in north central south dakota, the expedition acted as mediators between the warring arikara and mandan. after leaving the state on october 14, the party wintered with the mandan in north dakota before successfully reaching the pacific ocean and returning by the same route, safely reaching st. louis in 1806. on the return trip, the expedition spent only 15 days in south dakota, traveling more swiftly with the missouri's current.
history of south dakota
section::::boundaries.









































the louisiana territory included everything in the louisiana purchase north of the 33rd parallel (the southern boundary of the present state of arkansas).









































the southern and western boundaries with spanish texas and new mexico were not fully defined until the adams–onís treaty of 1819.









































section::::subdivisions.









































the louisiana territory had five subdivisions: st. louis district, st. charles district, ste. genevieve district, cape girardeau district, and new madrid district.









































in 1806, the territorial legislature created the district of arkansas from lands ceded by the osage nation. the remainder was known as the upper louisiana territory.









































section::::government.
louisiana territory