What was the primary purpose of the Lewis and Clark Expedition?

The primary purpose of the Lewis and Clark Expedition was to explore the recently acquired Louisiana Purchase and to find a practical route to the Pacific Ocean. Commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson in 1803, the expedition aimed to gather valuable information about the geography, ecology, and the various Native American tribes inhabiting the vast territory. By charting this unknown land and mapping the waterways, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark provided crucial insights that would later facilitate westward expansion and settlement.

The expedition also contributed to scientific understanding by documenting new species of plants and animals, but that was not the expedition's main goal. Establishing trade routes or building settlements were potential outcomes of the expedition, but its core mission was centered on exploration and mapping. This distinction clarifies why exploring the Louisiana Purchase and seeking a passage to the Pacific were fundamental to the objectives of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.