Sacagawea 1786?-1812
Shoshone Explorer, Interpreter, and Guide
Sacagawea (sak uh guh WEE uh) was a Shoshone woman who had a vital role in the exploration of what is now the United States. She was 15 years old when she traveled with explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark from what is now North Dakota into the Pacific Northwest. They had been sent by President Thomas Jefferson to explore the newly purchased Louisiana Territory.
Sacagawea helped Lewis and Clark's expedition in many ways. She found fruits and vegetables for the group to eat. She also helped the explorers communicate and trade with the American Indians whom they met along the trail. When the explorers' boat tipped over, she jumped into the water and saved the group's maps and journals. If she had not done so, the expedition would have failed. Thanks in part to Sacagawea's bravery and intelligence, the expedition was a success.
Critical Thinking
What might Lewis and Clark's expedition have been like if Sacagawea had not helped them?