What is the main idea of the section "Work For Jefferson"?


Synopsis: Meriwether Lewis was born on August 18, 1774 in Virginia. In 1801, he was asked by President Thomas Jefferson to be his secretary. Then Jefferson made Lewis another offer — to lead an expedition into the lands west of the Mississippi. He and his team reached the west coast in 1805.

Work For Jefferson
Meriwether Lewis was born on August 18, 1774 in Virginia. Before he was an explorer, he was a soldier. While he was serving, he met another soldier, William Clark. They became friends.

In 1801, President Thomas Jefferson hired Lewis as his assistant. In 1803, Jefferson asked him to explore west of the Mississippi. The U.S. had just bought the land from France. Not much was known about that part of the country. Jefferson asked Lewis to study the plants, animals, and people living there. Lewis was eager to do it. He asked his friend William Clark to join him.

The Expedition Begins
Lewis, Clark, and the rest of their expedition began their journey near St. Louis, Missouri, in May 1804. It was a difficult trip. They crossed dangerous waters and faced rough weather. They went hungry and got sick and hurt. Along the way, Lewis kept a journal. He also collected samples of plants and animals.

Lewis and his group got help from many Native American tribes. During their first winter, the group met Toussaint Charbonneau and his Native American wife, Sacagawea. They knew Native American languages and helped the group talk to different tribes.

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Reaching The Pacific
The group reached what is now Oregon in November of 1805. They built a fort called Fort Clatsop. There they spent the winter. On their way home in 1806, Lewis and Clark split up. Lewis' men got in a fight with Native Americans from the Blackfeet tribe. Two Blackfeet were killed.

The next month, Lewis was hurt in a hunting accident. He joined up with Clark again at the Missouri River. They returned to St. Louis together. They had traveled almost 8,000 miles in all.

Returning Home
Lewis and Clark were welcomed everywhere they went. In Washington, D.C. Lewis was paid. He was also given 1,600 acres of land and named governor of the Louisiana Territory. He tried to publish the journals he kept on his journey. Unfortunately Lewis later had personal problems. He did a poor job as governor.

Sad End
Lewis died on October 11, 1809, near Nashville, Tennessee. He died suddenly. Lewis' end was sad, but he helped explore the American West. Lewis and Clark became famous for their discoveries. Many others followed in their footsteps.