Artist view of mouth of Columbia River and surrounding country,
courtesy of Jim Niehues
ifferent moments recorded in the journals of Lewis and Clark throughout their long and eventful Expedition may resonate with the historian, anthropologist, cartographer or biologist, but there is one event that seems to catch the attention of all who hear of it.
The month of November, 1805, as the party bitterly battled the elements in the final stretch of their transcontinental voyage, they produced some of the most heart wrenching journal entries as well as one of the most celebrated decisions of the entire voyage.
It was during this difficult month when the Corps was literally being stripped of their clothing by the raging storms, that they were also stripped down to their most basic humanity. Their words evoke empathy as they struggled to keep hope and endure the harsh weather with little food or shelter. We can actually feel Clark's despair when he writes, "O! how horriable is the day," and his growing anxiety over the safety of his crew, when he fears "the bulk of the party will Suffer very much," should cold weather arrive before they acquire new skins for clothing.
Out of this period of darkness, though, emerged a ray of light when the Captains chose to employ the minds and hearts of their companions in deciding the location of their camp for the fast-approaching winter. This occasion is unprecedented because two military captains relinquished their power to a democratic vote. This action has further significance because of the mixed group of individuals included in the vote. Historians have focused on this event as a precursor to an evolved American society, where minorities and women eventually get to vote.
The following readings and activities allow you to explore the meaning of this momentous occasion in the history of our fledgling country. Questions remain over exactly why and how this vote was conducted as well as what implications it had for the party. As you consider the factors at hand, imagine what your vote might have been. Did the collective party make the best decision? Did the actual process of voting have a dramatic impact on the group morale? Was the vote truly democratic for all concerned? Consider the success of the decision -- did they accomplish what they intended by making this choice?
