Jefferson’s Instructions to Meriwether Lewis

Jackson provides a close reading and contextual analysis of Thomas Jefferson’s June 20, 1803 letter of instructions to Meriwether Lewis, one of the most important documents in the history of American exploration. The article examines each section of Jefferson’s instructions — the geographic objectives, diplomatic goals with Native nations, scientific observations required, and commercial intelligence to be gathered — and situates them within the broader context of Jefferson’s continental vision and the recent Louisiana Purchase. Jackson demonstrates how Jefferson’s instructions reflected the intellectual currents of the Enlightenment, the practical concerns of a nation seeking to control its western territory, and the president’s personal scientific curiosity. The article also traces the evolution of the instructions through multiple drafts, showing how Jefferson incorporated suggestions from members of the American Philosophical Society and other advisors.