The True Story of Sacajawea

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Sacajawea is known as the Indian women who led Lewis and Clark on their famous expedition to explore the Louisiana Purchase and find the path that led to the Pacific Ocean. Born into the Shoshone tribe on their land of the Rocky Mountains, she was born in the lovely state of Idaho in 1788. Her story has been told all over the world in different countries and in many different ways. No one actually knows the real story of her life since all of her sources have been mixed up and combined into a different story. Sacajawea was shaped by three major events in different stages of her life ("Sacajawea"). To begin, Sacajawea grew up as a member of the Lemhi band of the Native American Shoshone tribe. She was surrounded by the Rocky Mountains in the Salmon River region of Idaho. She had a tough life growing up. The Shoshone became enemies with the Hidatsa tribe who lived along the Missouri River. In 1800 the Hidatsa tribe later captured Sacajawea, leaving her family and friends, during a buffalo hunt. They officially adopted her into their culture and she became known as a Hidatsa. She was a Shoshone by birth and a Hidatsa through culture. Three years later, through a trade, French-Canadian Toussaint Charbonneau bought her making Sacajawea become his ownership. At age 16, Sacajawea became one of two wives' of Charbonneau and later was the mother of her son Jean Baptiste Charbonneau. She had a very difficult life growing up leading her to going on a famous expedition. ("Sacajawea"). Sacajawea ended up going on the great expedition exploring the Louisiana Purchase and the Pacific Ocean. Thomas Jefferson originally sent Lewis and Clark, but they chose a leader to guide them through. Sacajawea wasn't even supposed to go on the expedition. I... ... middle of paper ... ...neau and his several wives until her death ("The True Story of Sacajawea and her People"). In conclusion, Sacajawea lived a very adventurous yet disturbing life before her death on December 20th, 1812 in Fort Lisa. Her death was caused by a putrid fever at age 25 leaving her husband, Charbonneau, her son, Jean Baptiste Charbonneau, and her young daughter, Lizette Charbonneau. About eight months after Sacajawea's death, explorer William Clark adopted both Lizette and her brother Jean. Charbonneau was forced to give William Clark full custody to both kids. Her remarkable legend grew immediately among the people surprising everyone. No one wanted to believe her death. In fact, her death wasn't accepted by white or Native Americans until historical documents came out. Sacajawea is now a true great American due to three major events throughout her life (“Sacajawea”).

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