SS02 StoryReels
A Changing Country — Jefferson, Lewis & Clark, Sacagawea
In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson made the biggest land deal in American history — the Louisiana Purchase. To explore the new land, he hired Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, who set out with a remarkable guide: Sacagawea.
Jefferson believed that all people have rights — he wrote it in the Declaration of Independence: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. As president, he bought the Louisiana Territory from France and doubled the size of the United States.
Sacagawea was a young Shoshone woman who spoke multiple languages and knew the western lands. She guided Lewis and Clark through the Rocky Mountains and interpreted so they could communicate with Native peoples. Her help was essential to the mission's success.
| What she did | Why it mattered |
|---|---|
| Guided the route | She knew the mountain paths |
| Interpreted languages | Helped them talk with Native peoples |
| Got horses | Shoshone horses crossed the Rockies |