What characteristics would you look for in hiring a crew for your expedition?

1. Old friends who you enjoy spending time with
2. Strong, adventurous people
3. Experienced soldiers
4. Knowledgeable scientists

Lewis was the first captain of the expedition and therefore he was responsible for the success of the trip and the safety of the group. If you were Lewis, how would you prepare for the journey?

2. Studying astronomy, mathematics, medicine, botany, and navigation
3. Running and lifting weights
4. Publicizing the expedition in the newspaper
5. Meeting with each person and warning them about the dangers of the trip

A group of thirty-three people requires a lot to eat! What type of food would you bring along on the trip?

3. Fresh fruit and vegetables
4. Fresh meat, chicken, and fish
5. Bread, rice, and cereal
6. Condensed beef and vegetable soup

Lewis and Clark packed all of the following items, but which one did they consider the most important?

4. A canvas tent
5. Mosquito netting
6. Writing paper, ink, and pens
7. A knife

Lewis and Clark had never traveled to the western territory, but they knew the weather could get very cold. What kind of clothing do you think Lewis selected to keep his companions warm?

5. Flannel shirts
6. Fur-lined moccasins
7. Rubber boots
8. Ear muffs

The expedition had to begin by traveling 2000 miles upstream on the Missouri River. What kind of boat would you chose to carry your party?

6. A wooden dugout canoe
7. A flat-bottomed boat with a sail and oars
8. A sailboat
9. A raft

Lewis and Clark expected to encounter Native American tribes as they traveled west and they hoped to trade with them. What would you bring to trade with the Native Americans?

7. Chickens and geese
8. American money
9. Beads, sewing needles, and bright-colored cloth
10. Horse saddles

Without maps or directions, it was difficult for the expedition to find where they were going. Which of the following is a tool they used to help navigate?

8. A hatchet
9. A syringe
10. A whetstone
11. A chronometer

The expedition needed weapons so they could hunt and also protect themselves. What type of weapons would you bring?

9. Rifles
10. Revolvers
11. Bows and arrows
12. Cannons

In 1803, medicine was very different from what it’s like today. Which of the following treatments did Lewis bring to cure illness and exhaustion?

1. Aspirin (to reduce fever)
2. Diaphoretic (to makes you sweat)
3. Leeches (to suck your blood)
4. Antibiotics (to reduce infection)

Scroll Down for the Answers.

 

 

 

 

What characteristics would you look for in hiring a crew for your expedition?
	a. Old friends who you enjoy spending time with
	b. Strong, adventurous people
	c. Experienced soldiers
	d. Knowledgeable scientists
	Did you know? Lewis decided to hire people who were physically strong and excited to explore the unknown country, even if they had no previous experience.
2.	Lewis was the first captain of the expedition and therefore he was responsible for the success of the trip and the safety of the group. If you were Lewis, how would you prepare for the journey?
	a. Studying astronomy, mathematics, medicine, botany, and navigation
	b. Running and lifting weights
	c. Publicizing the expedition in the newspaper
	d. Meeting with each person and warning them about the dangers of the trip
	Did you know? In order for this expedition to be a success, Lewis had to lead the group across the country without a map, and collect detailed scientific data about everything they saw. Lewis believed that the more he knew, the better he could handle the unexpected.
3.	A group of thirty-three people requires a lot to eat! What type of food would you bring along on the trip?
	a. Fresh fruit and vegetables
	b. Fresh meat, chicken, and fish
	c. Bread, rice, and cereal
	d. Condensed beef and vegetable soup
	Did you know? Lewis and Clark knew that fresh foods would spoil quickly and take up too much room, so instead they planned to hunt, fish, and gather food along the way. They did bring nutritious canned soup in case of emergencies.
4.	Lewis and Clark packed all of the following items, but which one did they consider the most important?
	a. A canvas tent
	b. Mosquito netting
	c. Writing paper, ink, and pens
	d. A knife
	Did you know? Without writing supplies, Lewis and Clark would have no way to make maps or record descriptions of their discoveries, which were the main goals of the expedition.
5.	Lewis and Clark had never traveled to the western territory, but they knew the weather could get very cold. What kind of clothing do you think Lewis selected to keep his companions warm?
	a. Flannel shirts
	b. Fur-lined moccasins
	c. Rubber boots
	d. Ear muffs
	Did you know? According to American doctors at that time, people stayed warmest by wearing flannel next to their skin. While fur-lined clothes such as shirts or moccasins would have actually helped more, Lewis did not know about or believe in these Native American inventions.
6.	The expedition had to begin by traveling 2000 miles upstream on the Missouri River. What kind of boat would you chose to carry your party?
	a. A wooden dugout canoe
	b. A flat-bottomed boat with a sail and oars
	c. A sailboat
	d. A raft
	Did you know? Lewis selected a 55-foot-long keelboat that was big enough to hold their 12 tons of cargo but flat enough that it could pass through shallow water. It could also be propelled by wind, with oars, or poles.
7.	Lewis and Clark expected to encounter Native American tribes as they traveled west and they hoped to trade with them. What would you bring to trade with the Native Americans?
	a. Chickens and geese
	b. American money
	c. Beads, sewing needles, and bright-colored cloth
	d. Horse saddles
	Did you know? Lewis and Clark chose these items and others because they were lightweight, small, practical, and hard to make using Native American technology.
8.	Without maps or directions, it was difficult for the expedition to find where they were going. Which of the following is a tool they used to help navigate?
	a. A hatchet
	b. A syringe
	c. A whetstone
	d. A chronometer
	Did you know? Lewis and Clark brought all four of these items, but only a chronometer is used for navigation. To see a picture of a chronometer, click here.
9.	The expedition needed weapons so they could hunt and also protect themselves. What type of weapons would you bring?
	a. Rifles
	b. Revolvers
	c. Bows and arrows
	d. Cannons
	Did you know? Lewis selected rifles because they are powerful, accurate at long distances, and easy to carry.
10.	In 1803, medicine was very different from what it’s like today. Which of the following treatments did Lewis bring to cure illness and exhaustion?
	a. Aspirin (to reduce fever)
	b. Diaphoretic (to makes you sweat)
	c. Leeches (to suck your blood)
	d. Antibiotics (to reduce infection)
	Did you know? Aspirin and antibiotics were not available in 1803 and doctors believed sweating was the best cure for most illnesses. They also used leeches (yuck!) but these would have been difficult for Lewis and Clark to carry.

(source)