Research Paper on:
Journal Entries on the Expedition of Lewis and Clark

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
and in so doing feel as if their daring proves their inherent lofty stature in the eyes of both God and man. It is this attitude that pervades the work  of Gunther Barth and his book The Lewis and Clark Expedition. However, aside from the expansionist theories and colonizing thoughts, the discoveries of the new areas and the impact  that the contact with the first Native Americans in the west are interesting reading. Most accept the book as being fairly historical and accurate, but if one considers this statement  from the perspective of the Native American, it is probably quite lacking. This paper will endeavor to deliver the good, bad and ugly about the books attempt to portray a  pivotal event in history: the discoveries of the Lewis and Clark expeditions. With all due credit to then president, Thomas Jefferson, it was determined that the territory of the Louisiana  Purchase needed to be explored, charted, mapped, and contact made with the indigenous people living there. Their specific instructions included meeting with the Indians and observing their political and social  structures, then inviting their representatives to meet with him in Washington. Based in part on Lewis and Clarks detailed journals, this book speaks of the various tribes that the  two met during their push westward. If one looks at Lewis entries it is obvious that he considers the white population to have had it all together better than the  indigenous peoples. This is egotism at its worst, one might state. How he could have possibly believed that the white man was more organized, unified, visionary and disciplined, lent to  the conclusion that he certainly had not done a great deal of study of American Indian cultures. In fact, though this may be true of any anthropologist, it can be