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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Lewis tried to spin the bad news that

2. Lewis recommended compensation to all of the members of his party, with the exception of

3. Under Bates' watch, the St. Louis area was having many struggles over

4. Publication of Lewis' journals would prove to be

5. The men could tell they were nearing a trading post because they saw

Short Essay Questions

1. In what way was Lewis being overly confident when crossing the Lolo trail?

2. Did Lewis' celebrity go to his head?

3. What were some of the changes the expedition experienced as they came nearer to the coast?

4. The author speculates, in addition to other possibilities, that Lewis had a combination of malaria, manic-depression psychosis, alcoholism or some other physical ailments. Discuss what may have sent Lewis into depression at this point in his life.

5. What was Lewis' biggest failure?

6. Does it seem odd that the Captains and their soldiers had no idea of how they would be rewarded by the government prior to their return from the expedition?

7. What were two of the worst problems for the expedition at Clatsop? Explain

8. Describe Lewis' grand scheme for American fur trading.

9. Why was Lewis desperate to get some Indians to Washington?

10. Discuss Lewis' varied capabilities that made him the perfect leader for this journey.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Research and write an expository essay on the rumor/legend/fact that Thomas Jefferson had an affair and a child with his black slave.

1) What is known about this rumor now? Was it true?

2) Have the relatives of this relationship surfaced, and, if so, how much credibility can we give to their stories?

3) Jefferson was never married. Can it be determined whether he was in love with this female slave?

4) Jefferson was known as something of a womanizer. If there is little factual information to support the affair, is it likely to have been true, given Jefferson's lifestyle?

Essay Topic 2

Write a narrative essay on the weapons the expedition took with them. On page 85, the author describes the US Model 1803 Army rifle, and others are described throughout the story.

1) Research what was available during that time for the expedition, what they used for, how accurate they were, what distances they could cover, their weight, how they were loaded and what kind of ammunition was used.

2) Find out about the "air rifle" that Lewis used to astonish the Indians. Was there only one of these on the expedition? How did it work? Was it copied later?

3) Define and describe a blunderbuss, its purpose what replaced it as an army weapon.

Essay Topic 3

Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were very close friends, but had very different personalities and backgrounds. Compare and contrast:

1) How differently did the two men grow up?

2) What did they have in common?

3) How did their leadership habits mesh or clash?

4) Were they a good team?

(see the answer keys)

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