Short Term and Long Term Impacts
The most noticeable short-term impact of the Lewis and Clark Expedition was the rise in the northern plains fur trade from 1806 to 1812. Individuals such as Manuel Lisa and John Colter, who went on the expedition, began brief trade from northern South Dakota to Montana. Also, artists proceeded the expedition, such as Paul Kane, George Catlin, and Karl Bodmer. Those individuals showed the world surprising images of life on the Northern Plains. The images helped bring attention to the west.
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The Lewis and Clark Expedition was significant in history because it ultimately led to westward expansion in the USA. Also, Lewis and Clark collected and exchanged data which helped government and citizens to know the people, botany, and wildlife of the west. The most noticeable long-term impact was the Native Americans having lands taken from them. Since more people were moving westward due to the Homestead Act of 1862, and Lewis and Clark's discoveries, the Native Americans were moved from their lands and forced to move onto reservations. This was a devastating time for these western Native American tribes. To this day, these Native American tribes are still living on reservations.