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Primary Source Worksheet (based on Lewis & Clark DVD: The Great Journey West)
The DVD has so many valuable primary sources. A teacher can use the transcript to create questions to engage the students.
Name period
Lewis and Clark Close Reading Part 1
Honored Parents.
I am now on an expedition to the westward, with Captain Lewis and Captain Clark, who are appointed by the President of the United States…to go through the interior parts of North
America…to ascend the Missouri River with a boat…and then to go…to the western ocean.
If we live to return…and if we make Great Discoveries as we expect… the United States has promised to make us Great Rewards.
1. Underline and write 1 next to the recipients of the letter. (This is a difficult questions for some students confusing Lewis and Clark as the recipients)
2. Underline and write 2 next to the expectations of the journey.
3. Explain the author’s tone in the above excerpt. (1-2 sentences)
To lead this dangerous expedition, President Thomas Jefferson described Merriweather Lewis as a man “of courage undaunted…with… qualifications as if…implanted by nature…for this express purpose…”
4. In your own words, explain Jefferson’s thoughts on Lewis’s qualifications for the job of leading the Corps of Discovery. (2-3 sentences)
CLARK “Lewis wanted a co-captain for such a long and risky mission — his old army commander, William Clark, who was four years older, an expert mapmaker and river man, and a proven leader. Lewis asked Clark to join him …“…in this enterprise…with its…dangers and honors …there is no man on earth with whom I should feel equal pleasure in sharing them as yourself…”
Clark answered Lewis’ letter… “My friend, I join you with hand and heart.”
5. Based on the above correspondence, predict how these two men will lead the expedition. What type of relationship do they seem to have? (sentences)
Native American Interactions: “a party of Oto and Missouri Nation came to camp… Captain Lewis and myself…sent them some roasted meat…in return they sent us water melons.”
6. Underline and write 6 the two Native American groups.
7. Based on Clark’s Journal entry, evaluate the interaction with the Oto and Missouri Native Americans. List TWO adjectives to describe the interaction.
Lewis and Clark Close Reading Part 2
8. …been up the greater part of last night with Sergeant Floyd, who is as bad as he can be… “he expired…having said to me before his death that he was going away…We buried him…with all the honors of war, much lamented…”
8. Underline and write 8 what was special about Floyd’s at the burial.
9. ON YOUR OWN (no right or wrong answers): Explain the reasoning Lewis and Clark might have used to granting Floyd this special burial. (2 sentences)
10. “Children: We have been sent by the Great Chief of the seventeen Great Nations of America, to point out to you the road that you must now walk…and to inform you that a great council was lately held, between this great chief and your old fathers…”
10. Underline and write 10 who sent Clark and the Corps of Discovery.
11. Who (what person) do you think is the Great Chief
12. What do you think the underlined / bold words referring to
“…The thermometer stood at 45 degrees below zero…” “…snowed all day, ice ran thick and air cold…” “…three men frostbit badly…”
13. Underline and write 13 next to the temperature.
14. Describe the coldest experience or the experience you have had with EXTREME weather. (2-3 sentences)
15. “…we were now about to penetrate a country …in which the foot of civilized man had never trodden; the good or evil it had in store for us was…yet to determine… I could but esteem this moment of my departure among the most happy of my life.”
15. Based on the ABOVE excerpt, list TWO adjectives to to describe the emotions of Lewis:
&
16. “We all believe that we are about to enter on the most difficult part of our voyage…All appear
perfectly to have made up their minds to succeed in the expedition or perish in the attempt.”
16. Based on the ABOVE excerpt, list TWO adjectives to describe the attitude of the members of the expedition.
&
Lewis and Clark Close Reading Part 3
“…at every halt these poor fellows tumble down and are…asleep in an instant…some are limping from the soreness of their feet, others faint and unable to stand…yet…all go with cheerfulness…” Lewis
17. List TWO adjectives to describe the physical condition of the crew.
18. Underline and write 18 next to the word describing the mental state of the crew.
The grueling portage (carrying all the goods) left the men badly worn down with mountains still to come. But they willingly followed their captains – very different men, who seemed to command as one. There is no record the two friends ever argued or disagreed on an important decision.
19.THINK ON YOUR OWN: List THREE characteristics that make a good leader.
20. Who is the best student leader in your grade (Sports, extracurriculars, stu-co)?
“…I discovered immense ranges of high mountains still to the West of us with their tops
partially covered with snow… I could observe high, rugged mountains in every direction as far as I could see…”
21. After several months of travels, how do you think Lewis felt after making this observation? (1-2 sentences)
“Worst of all, there was almost no game [animals to hunt]. The crossing became a starvation trek… We suffered everything cold, hunger and fatigue could impart.”
“I have been wet and as cold in every part as I ever was in my life, indeed I was at one time fearful my feet would freeze in the thin moccasins which I wore…”
22. How do you think you would have done as a member of the crew under these conditions? Could you have endured the hardships the Corps of Discovery experienced. (3-4 sentences)