Introduction
 
 
 

Lewis and Clark were the first humans (so far as we know) to cross and recross the North American continent from the Atlantic to the Pacific.  Hundreds of thousands of people lived in the areas west of the Mississippi.  None, however, had extensive knowledge beyond their own domains, nor had traveled the entire breath of the continent.  Lewis and Clark were the first.  That, of course, does not mean that Lewis and Clark were necessarily heroes--although their actions surely were heroic.  What they were, were harbingers of European self-confidence, and of the unstoppable white European advance across the continent that occurred in the century that followed their expedition. 
 
 

Most historians today agree that history is "constructed" by working historians, just like a particular building might be designed and constructed.  That does NOT mean that historians can just write whaterever they like (as if they were architects designing a building to suit their fancy). 
To the contrarty, historians must work by very strict rules when they are researching and writing--constructing their histories.  They must be as honest and as accurate as they can be. 
To show that they have only constructed what they actually found happened in the past, historians ALWAYS support their statements and conclusions by references to valid, accurate historical sources. 

Where historians have the greatest control is in their choice of: 
a) their topic--what they decide to write about
b) the questions that they raise about their topic (whoever gets to ask the questions, controls the conversation that follows)
c) The conclusions that they choose to emphasize.
 
 
 
 

In this Web Quest about Lewis and Clark crossing and recrossing the Continent, YOU will be a student historian.  That means that you, by yourself or with a partner or in a small group, will decide exactly what question about the Expedition you will investigate.  When you complete your Web Quest, you will then present your results--your conclusions--backing up what you say with references to your sources of information. 
 

Go to THE TASK Now!  Just click here.

Next, to see how you will do this, see the PROCESS page.  To check it out now, click here.
 
 

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