Corps Of Discovery Analysis
Economics is a driving force in history. Empires, nations, and peoples have been conquered due to the lack of economic power and progress. Since the beginning of the American economic system, our nation has been based upon a Capitalistic Economy, which is fundamentally based on one’s self-interest. Without a prosperous economic system, a country cannot be a withstanding force politically, militarily, nor seen as a respected, influential nation when addressing world conflicts. Before negotiations for the Port of New Orleans began with France, President Thomas Jefferson understood that if the United States was to become a progressive, industrialized, and economically powerful nation, he must ensure that trading ports/routes must be gained in
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From these journals, we see the perspective of the American men who journeyed west and how their presence effected trade relations and peace with the Native American tribes. Yes, many argue that the journals, and the expedition itself, lack importance due to individuals moving west, even before the expedition returned to St. Louis. However, from the evidence provided in the words of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, historians can see the effects of the interaction with the Corps of Discovery and Native Americans and the suppression of Sacajawea’s perspective not recorded in the journals. This expedition is a part of American history, whether or not people enjoy the story or simply want to forget. Americans need to address and confront the truth; not disregard the facts because it makes them uncomfortable, like it seems to do to Stephen Ambrose. America cannot be the land of the free if the American government continues to lie to its people and native tribes that the government once made promises to. America needs to apologize and begin to make amends for what occurred during the Lewis and Clark Expedition, giving Native Americans an ultimatum to either: assimilate, relocate, or face death for not cooperating, and giving Sacajawea a false voice furthering their longing for Manifest Destiny and Imperialist ideologies. The government could have brought Native American’s on the journey of progress but instead let racial superiority exist between Americans and Natives. We as a nation, by studying the negative affects during and after the expeditions return to the United States, can begin to mend and abolish hostility that the expedition caused. Overall, working
From these journals, we see the perspective of the American men who journeyed west and how their presence effected trade relations and peace with the Native American tribes. Yes, many argue that the journals, and the expedition itself, lack importance due to individuals moving west, even before the expedition returned to St. Louis. However, from the evidence provided in the words of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, historians can see the effects of the interaction with the Corps of Discovery and Native Americans and the suppression of Sacajawea’s perspective not recorded in the journals. This expedition is a part of American history, whether or not people enjoy the story or simply want to forget. Americans need to address and confront the truth; not disregard the facts because it makes them uncomfortable, like it seems to do to Stephen Ambrose. America cannot be the land of the free if the American government continues to lie to its people and native tribes that the government once made promises to. America needs to apologize and begin to make amends for what occurred during the Lewis and Clark Expedition, giving Native Americans an ultimatum to either: assimilate, relocate, or face death for not cooperating, and giving Sacajawea a false voice furthering their longing for Manifest Destiny and Imperialist ideologies. The government could have brought Native American’s on the journey of progress but instead let racial superiority exist between Americans and Natives. We as a nation, by studying the negative affects during and after the expeditions return to the United States, can begin to mend and abolish hostility that the expedition caused. Overall, working