Why did Jefferson organize the Lewis and Clark expedition of the Louisiana Purchase territory?

A.
Jefferson wanted Lewis and Clark to take a census of inhabitants for determining congressional representation and for tax-collecting purposes.

B.
Jefferson wanted to build a settlement on the Pacific Coast and needed scouts to discover the best site for a new American city.

C.
Jefferson wanted to sign treaties with all of the various tribes of Native Americans who lived west of the Mississippi before they created anti-government alliances.

D.
Jefferson wanted to educate himself and the nation about the natural landscape and people who lived between the Mississippi and the Pacific Coast.

I think its D. Can someone confirm.

To confirm the answer, let me explain how we can approach this question. Jefferson's reasons for organizing the Lewis and Clark expedition can be found by examining historical records and primary sources. One such primary source is a letter from Jefferson to Congress, where he outlined the purpose of the expedition.

In this letter, Jefferson specifically mentions that the primary objective of the expedition was to explore the territory acquired through the Louisiana Purchase, which includes the land between the Mississippi and the Pacific Coast. The purpose was to gather information about the natural landscape, flora, fauna, and indigenous people living in the region.

This suggests that option D, "Jefferson wanted to educate himself and the nation about the natural landscape and people who lived between the Mississippi and the Pacific Coast," is the most accurate answer.

Therefore, your intuition is correct, and option D is indeed the correct answer.