Chapter 3: Launching the Republic "Into the Great Unknown" Introduction      In this chapter, you learned about the nation's westward expansion, most notably the Louisiana Purchase, which doubled the size of the United States. You also read about Meriwether Lewis and William Clark—the men who were charged with exploring this vast territory unknown to colonial settlers. Examine more closely the harrowing voyage of these two explorers and their crew by going on the Internet. Destination Title: Lewis and Clark Note: Clicking on the link above will launch a new browser window. Need help using your browser for this activity? Click here for tips. Directions Start at the Lewis and Clark Web site. Click on The Archive, then scroll down and click on A Timeline of the Trip. Examine the time line of the trip, then answer the following questions. 1. What preparations did Lewis make in 1803 for the upcoming trip? 2. What did the explorers encounter in August 1805 that appeared to disappoint them? 3. What near disaster struck in September 1805? How were the explorers saved? 4. In deciding where to spend winter in 1805, how did the team show an enlightened view of Africans and women? 5. In the wake of their trip, Lewis and Clark were honored across the country. Imagine you are writing an editorial about the two explorers for your town's newspaper. Based on your closer look at their trip, write a short editorial about their accomplishment.