Raquel A.’s Reviews > The Course Of Empire: The Dramatic History of Exploration That Defined America―From Balboa to Lewis and Clark > Status Update

The expedition returns to St. Louis. They succeeded in accomplishing their goals. They found the route to the Columbia River leading them to Pacific Ocean. They made contact with the Indian tribes to learn about the land and establish trading relationships. They made maps and surveys of the lands for future settlement. This led to the expansion of the United States to the Pacific Coast through Oregon.

It’s around 1800 and Thomas Jefferson is on his farm. He loves to explore and many of his friends were land surveyors of the colonies. Now that the United States country there is a push west for settlement. The Purchase of the Louisiana territory, president Jefferson sponsors and expedition of the New Western lands.

France, England, and Spain are competing for territory in North America. The American colonies declare independence and become a new country called the USA. The French loose territory to the British in Canada because they don't have enough money to defend it. The Native Americans are caught in the middle of France and England. They loose territory and suffer from disease and alcohol.