Expanding America

When America acquired the Louisiana Territory, it changed a lot of plans Jefferson had in mind, and for the better.  Before Lewis and clark set of on the expedition, they were taught many key pieces of information ranging from mapping, to botanical knowledge.  People such as Andrew Ellicott, Benjamin Rush, and Benjamin Smith Barton, were some of the important people that helped provide Lewis with all the tools he needed to collect the specimens Jefferson asked him to find as he traveled west.

Benjamin Smith Barton 

Benjamin Rush 

Andrew Ellicott 

If it weren't for these three influential and intelligent people the travels might not have been so successful.  Jefferson believed that the west would secure liberty for "millions yet unborn". Before the expedition many were against the idea of traveling west, until their findings made their way back to the White House in 1805.  Animals including a prairie dog and a magpie made the long journey back and were initially kept in the White House for safe keeping.  The botanical specimens that were found were transported to Barton while some stayed with Jefferson to start Monticello.  

Prairie Dog 

Magpie

The word that Lewis and Clark started to identify with the west was "sublime".  Its the only word they felt that most effectively described the things that they saw and encountered on their journey.  Many poets, and writers began sharing the experiences Lewis and Clark had.  Wulf wrote in Founding Gardeners, "The sublime became America's language of national identity, with artists scrambling up mountains to capture the spectacular sights and poets celebrating landscape".