68 pages • 2-hour read
Undaunted Courage: The Pioneering First Mission to Explore America's Wild Frontier
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Index of Terms
Pirogue
A pirogue is a small, flat-bottomed boat used by the Corps of Discovery for navigating the narrow and often shallow rivers that comprised their expedition route. The pirogue’s portability and maneuverability made it indispensable in rugged terrain and on unpredictable waterways.
Keelboat
The keelboat was a larger, specially designed vessel used during the early stages of the expedition to carry heavy equipment, provisions, and scientific instruments. Its bulk and difficulty in navigating upstream eventually led Lewis and Clark to abandon it, demonstrating the logistical limits of exploration.
Sextant
A sextant is a navigational instrument used to measure the angle between celestial bodies and the horizon, crucial for determining latitude. Lewis brought sextants as part of his scientific toolkit to create accurate maps and charts of the newly explored territories.
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease that caused recurring fevers and weakness among members of the expedition, particularly during the warmer months. Lewis brings quinine to treat the illness. Although medical knowledge at the time was limited, and many medicines stocked by the expedition (such as mercury) were useless if not harmful, quinine is effective against malaria and is still used to treat the illness today.
Smallpox
Smallpox was a deadly viral disease that had already devastated many Indigenous communities by the time of the Lewis and Clark expedition. The disease represents the tragic and often unseen consequences of European and American expansion into Indigenous lands.
Unlock all 68 pages of this Study Guide
Get in-depth, chapter-by-chapter summaries and analysis from our literary experts.
- Grasp challenging concepts with clear, comprehensive explanations
- Revisit key plot points and ideas without rereading the book
- Share impressive insights in classes and book clubs