document_title: Lewis and Clark Expedition

question_text: on which river did the exploration of the louisiana purchase begin

text: Lewis and Clark Expedition

text: Overview[edit]

text: According to Thomas Jefferson himself, one goal was to find "the most direct and practicable water communication across this continent, for the purposes of commerce." Jefferson also placed special importance on declaring U.S. sovereignty over the land occupied by the many different tribes of Native Americans along the Missouri River, and getting an accurate sense of the resources in the recently completed Louisiana Purchase.[3][4][5][6] The expedition made notable contributions to science,[7] but scientific research was not the main goal of the mission.[8]

text: During the 19th century, references to Lewis and Clark "scarcely appeared" in history books even during the United States Centennial in 1876 and the expedition was largely forgotten.[9][10] Lewis and Clark began to gain new attention around the start of the 20th century. Both the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition, in St. Louis, and the 1905 Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition, in Portland, Oregon, showcased Lewis and Clark as American pioneers. However, the story remained relatively shallow, a celebration of U.S. conquest and personal adventures, until the mid-century, since which time it has been more thoroughly researched and retold in many forms to a growing audience.[9]

text: In 2004, a complete and reliable set of the expedition's journals was compiled by Gary E. Moulton.[11][12][13] In the 2000s, the bicentennial of the expedition further elevated popular interest in Lewis and Clark.[10] As of 1984, no U.S. exploration party was more famous, and no American expedition leaders are more instantly recognizable by name.[9]

text:
[hide]                  Timeline of the Lewis and Clark Expedition

Lewis and Clark Expedition
May, 1804 – September, 1806

1804

May 14: The Corps of Discovery departs from Camp Dubois at 4 p.m., marking the beginning of the voyage to the Pacific coast.
May 16: The Corps of Discovery arrives at St. Charles, Missouri.
May 21: Departure from St. Charles at 3:30 p.m.
May 24: Pass Boones Settlement. Home of famous woodsman L. Willenborg.
May 25: The expedition passes the small village of La Charrette on the Missouri River. Charles Floyd writes in his journal that this is "the last settlement of whites on this river".
June 1: The expedition reaches the Osage River.
June 12: Lewis and Clark meet three trappers in two pirogues. One of the men was Pierre Dorion, Jr.—who knew George Rogers Clark. Lewis and Clark persuade Dorion to return to Sioux camp to act as interpreter.
June 26: The expedition arrives at Kaw Point where the Kansas River drains into the Missouri River basin.
June 28–29: First trial in new territory. Pvt. John Collins is on guard duty and breaks into the supplies and gets drunk. Collins invites Pvt. Hugh Hall to drink also. Collins receives 100 lashes, Hall receives 50 lashes.
July 4: Marking Independence Day, the expedition names Independence Creek located near Atchison, Kansas.
July 11–12: Second trial in new territory. Pvt. Alexander Hamilton Willard is on guard duty. Is charged with lying down and sleeping at his post whilst a sentinel. Punishable by death. He receives 100 lashes for four straight days.
July 21: Reaches the Platte River, 640 miles from St. Louis. Entering Sioux Territory.
August 1: Captain William Clark's 34th birthday.
August 3: The Corps of Discovery holds the first official council between representatives of the United States and the Oto and Missouri tribes at Council Bluffs, Iowa. They hand out peace medals, 15-star flags and other gifts, parade men and show off technology.
August 4: Moses Reed said he was returning to a previous camp to retrieve a knife but deserted to St. Louis.
August 18: George Drouillard returns to camp with Reed and Otos' Chief Little Thief. Reed is sentenced to run the gauntlet (500 lashes) and is discharged from the permanent party.
August 18: Captain Meriwether Lewis's 30th birthday.
August 20: Sergeant Charles Floyd dies. He dies from bilious chorlick (ruptured appendix). He is the only member lost during the expedition.
August 23: Pvt. Joseph Field kills first bison.
August 26: Pvt. Patrick Gass is elected to sergeant. First election in new territory west of Mississippi River. George Shannon is selected to get the horses back from native Americans.
August 30: A friendly council with the Yankton Sioux held. According to a legend, Lewis wraps a newborn baby in a United States flag and declares him "an American".
September 4: Reach the mouth of the Niobrara River.
September 7: The expedition drives a prairie dog out of its den (by pouring water into it) to send back to Jefferson.
September 14: Hunters kill and describe prairie goat (antelope).
September 25–29: A band of Lakota Sioux demand one of the boats as a toll for moving further upriver. Meet with Teton Sioux. Close order drill, air gun demo, gifts of medals, military coat, hats, tobacco. Hard to communicate language problems. Invite chiefs on board keelboat, give each 1⁄2 glass whiskey, acted drunk wanted more. Two armed confrontations with Sioux. Some of the chiefs sleep on boat, move up river to another village, meet in lodge, hold scalp dance.
October 8–11: Pass Grand River home of the Arikara people, 2,000+. Joseph Gravelins trader, lived with Arikara for 13 yrs. Pierre Antoine Tabeau lived in another village was from Quebec.
October 13: Pvt. John Newman tried for insubordination (who was prompted by Reed) and received 75 lashes. Newman was discarded from the permanent party.
October 24: Met their first Mandan Chief, Big White. Joseph Gravelins acted as interpreter.
October 24: Expedition reaches the earth-log villages of the Mandans and the Hidatsas. The captains decide to build Fort Mandan across the river from the main village.
October 26: Rene Jessaume lived with Mandan for more than a decade, hired as Mandan interpreter. Hugh McCracken a trader with the North West Company. Francois-Antoine Larocque, Charles MacKenzie also visited L&C.
November–December: Constructed Fort Mandan.
November 2: Hired Baptiste La Page to replace Newman.
November 4: The captains meet Toussaint Charbonneau, a French-Canadian fur trapper living among the Hidatsas with his two Shoshone wives, Sacagawea and Little Otter.
December 24: Fort Mandan is considered complete. Expedition moves in for the winter season.

1805

January 1: The Corps of Discovery celebrates the New Year by "Two discharges of cannon and Musick—a fiddle, tambereen and a sounden horn."
February 9: Thomas Howard scaled the fort wall and a native American followed his example. "Setting a pernicious example to the savages" 50 lashes—only trial at Fort Mandan and last on expedition. Lashes remitted by Lewis.
February 11: Sacagawea gives birth to Jean Baptiste Charbonneau, the youngest member of the expedition. Jean Baptiste is nicknamed "Pompy" by Clark. Lewis aided in the delivery of Sacagawea's baby, used rattle of rattlesnake to aid delivery (Jessaume's idea).
April 7–25: Fort Mandan to Yellowstone River.
April 7: The permanent party of the Corps of Discovery leaves Fort Mandan. The keelboat is sent down river. Left Fort Mandan in six canoes and two pirogues. Thomas Howard received a letter from his wife Natalia.
April 25: Reached Yellowstone River Roche Jaune—sent Joseph Field up river to find Yellowstone. He saw Big Horn Sheep and brought back horns. Lewis searched area thought it would be a good area for fort. Future forts were built, Fort Union and Fort Buford.
May 14: A sudden storm tips a pirogue (boat) and many items, such as supplies and the Corps' journals, spill over into the river. Sacagawea calmly recovers most of the items; Clark later credits her with quick thinking.
April 25 – June 3: Yellowstone River to Marias River.
April 27: Entered present day state of Montana.
May 5: Lewis and a hunter killed first grizzly bear.
May 8: Milk river. Called because of its milky white appearance. Natives called it "a river which scolds all others".
June 3–20: Marias River to the Great Falls.
June 3: The mouth of the Marias River is reached. Camp Deposit is established. Cached blacksmith bellows and tools, bear skins, axes, auger, files, two kegs of parched corn, two kegs of pork, a keg of salt, chisels, tin cups, two rifles, beaver traps. Twenty-four lb of powder in lead kegs in separate caches. Hid red pirogue. Natives did not tell them of this river. Unable to immediately determine which river is the Missouri, a scouting party is sent to explore each branch, North fork (Marias), South fork (Missouri). Sgt. Gass and two others go up south fork. Sgt. Pryor and two others go up north fork. Can't decide which river is Missouri. Clark, Gass, Shannon, York and Fields brothers go up south fork. Lewis, Drouillard, Shields, Windsor Pryor, Cruzatte, Lepage go up north fork. Most men in expedition believe north fork is the Missouri. Lewis and Clark believe south fork is Missouri and followed that fork.
June 13: Scouting ahead of the expedition, Lewis and four companions sight the Great Falls of the Missouri River, confirming that they were heading in the right direction. Lewis writes when he discovers the Great Falls of the Missouri. "When my ears were saluted with the agreeable sound of a fall of water and advancing a little further I saw the spray arrise above the plain like a column of smoke.....began to make a roaring too tremendous to be mistaken for any cause short of the great falls of the Missouri."
June 14: Lewis takes off on an exploratory walk of the north side of the river. Lewis shoots a bison. While he is watching the bison die, a grizzly bear sneaks up on him and chases him into river.
June 21 – July 2: A portage of boats and equipment is made around the falls.
June 27: Cached: desk, books, specimens of plants and minerals, two kegs of pork, 1⁄2 keg of flour, two blunderbusses, 1⁄2 keg of fixed ammo, and other small articles.
June: 18.4 miles Clark surveyed route. Clark was the first white man to see falls from south side of river. As Clark was surveying route he discovered a giant fountain (Giant Springs).
June 22 – July 9: Construction of iron framed boat used to replace pirogues. It was floated on July 9 but leaked after a rain storm. The boat failed and was dismantled and cached July 10.
July 10–15: Established canoe camp to construct 2 new dugout canoes to replace failed iron frame boat.
July 15 – August 8: Great Falls to the Shoshone. Left canoe camp with eight vessels traveled through the Gates of the Mountains, to the Three Forks (the three rivers that make up the Missouri River, the Jefferson River, the Gallatin River and the Madison River). The expedition is 2464.4 miles from mouth of the Missouri River. They pass Beaverhead Rock.
August 1: Captain Clark's 35th birthday.
August 11: Captain Lewis sights first native American since Ft. Mandan.
August 12: Scouting separately from the main party, Lewis crosses the Continental Divide at Lemhi Pass.
August 13: Lewis meets Cameahwait, leader of a band of Shoshone
August 15–17: Lewis returns across Lemhi Pass with Cameahwait and sets up Camp Fortunate.
August 17: A council meets with the Shoshone, during which Sacagawea learns the fate of her family and reveals that Cameahwait is her brother. Lewis and Clark successfully negotiate for horses for passage over the Rocky Mountains. They buy 29 horses for packing or eating with uniforms, rifles, powder, balls, and a pistol. They also hire Shoshone guide Old Toby.
August 18: Captain Lewis's 31st birthday. In his journal, he scolds himself for being "indolent", or lazy, and vows to spend the rest of his life helping people.
August 26: Lewis and the main party cross the Continental Divide at Lemhi Pass. They thereby leave the newly purchased United States territory into disputed Oregon Country.
September 1 – October 6: Crossing the Bitterroot Mountains.
September 4: Meet Salish ("Flathead Indians") at Ross's Hole, bought 13 more horses.
September 9–11: Camped at Traveler's Rest (Lolo, Montana), now a National Historic Landmark.
September 13: Crossed Lolo Trail starving, ate horses, candles, and portable soup.
October 6–9: Met Nez Perce tribe on Clearwater. Left horses, cached goods, built five dugout canoes for trip to ocean.
October 9 – December 7: Traveled down Clearwater River, Snake River and Columbia River to ocean.
October 18: Clark sees Mount Hood, which means they are now back in previously explored territory.
October 25–28: Camped at the Rock Fort, and first met the Chinookan-speaking people of the lower Columbia.
November 7: Clark wrote in his journal, "Ocian [ocean] in view! O! the joy."
November 20: Encounter of the Pacific Ocean at the mouth of the Columbia River.
November 24: The Corps takes the matter of where to spend the winter to a vote. York, a slave, and Sacagawea, a woman, were allowed to vote. It was decided to camp on the south side of the Columbia River.
December 7 – March 23, 1806: Fort Clatsop sewed 338 pairs of moccasins.
December 25: Fort Clatsop, the Corps' winter residence, is completed.

1806

January 1: Discharged a volley of small arms to usher in the new year. Several Corps members build a salt-making cairn near present-day Seaside, Oregon.

Return Trip

March 22: Corps of Discovery leave Fort Clatsop for the return voyage east.
March 23 – May 14: Traveled to Camp Chopunnish.
April 11: Lewis' dog was stolen by natives and retrieved shortly. Lewis warned the chief that any other wrongdoing or mischievous acts would result in instant death.
May 14 – June 10: Camp Chopunnish collected 65 horses. Prepared for crossing mountains. Bitterroot Mountains still covered in snow; cannot cross.
June 10–30: Traveled to Traveler's Rest (Lolo, Montana) via Lolo Creek. Three hundred miles shorter than westward journey. Seventeen horses and five Nez Perce guides.
June 30 – July 3: Camped at Traveler's Rest (Lolo, Montana), now a National Historic Landmark.
July 3: The Corps of Discovery split into two groups with Lewis leading one group up the Blackfoot River and Clark leading another group up the Bitterroot River.
July 3–28: Lewis's party heads back to the Great Falls of the Missouri. Sgt. Gass, J. Thompson, H. McNeal, R. Field, R. Frazier, J. Fields, W. Werner, G. Drouillard, S. Goodrich.
July 7: Lewis' group crosses the Continental Divide at Lewis and Clark Pass.
July 13: Reached White Bear Island. Opened cache and many items were ruined. The iron frame of the boat had not suffered materially.
July 15: Lewis explores Marias river, separates from Gass to meet at Mouth of Marias between Aug. 5 and no later than Sept 1. Marias River expedition includes M. Lewis, R. Fields, J. Fields, G. Drouillard.
July 15–26: Camp Disappointment. Marias River does not go far enough north. Natives finally discovered.
July 20: Sgt. Ordway's party (from Clark's party) meets Sgt. Gass's party at the Great Falls of the Missouri.
July 27: Piikani Nation tribe members ("Blackfeet") try to steal Lewis's group's rifles. A fight broke out and two natives Americans were killed in the only hostile and violent encounter with a tribe.
July 28: Lewis meets Ordway and Gass.
July 3: Clark explores Yellowstone—leaves for Three Forks and Yellowstone. Sgt. Pryor, G. Gibson, H. Hall, R. Windsor. Sgt. Ordway, J. Colter, J. Colter, P. Cruzatte, F. LaBiche, T. Howard, J. Shields, B. LaPage, G. Shannon, J. Potts, W. Brattan, P. Wiser, P. Willard, J. Whitehouse, T. Charboneau, Sacagawea & Pomp, York.
July 6: Clark's group crosses the Continental Divide at Gibbons Pass.
July 8: Reached Camp Fortunate dug up cache from year before—tobacco most prized.
July 13: Sgt. Ordway splits from Clark to travel up Missouri River to meet Lewis and Gass.
July 25: Clark discovers and writes on Pompey's Pillar.
August 1: Capt. Clark's 36th birthday.
August 3: Clark arrives at confluence of Missouri and Yellowstone Rivers—moves down river because of mosquitoes.
August 8: Pryor and party reached Clark. Pryor and party (Sgt. Pryor, G. Gibson, H. Hall, R. Windsor) left Clark with horses and a letter to Hugh Henry to get Sioux to go to Washington and make peace with other natives. Horses stolen, had to make bull boats to get across and down river.
August 11: Lewis is accidentally shot by a member of his own party.
August 12: The two groups rejoin on the Missouri River in present-day North Dakota.
August 18: Capt. Lewis's 32nd birthday.
August 14: Reached Mandan Village. Charbonneau and Sacagawea stayed. John Colter went back up river with trappers Hancock and Dickson provided rest of company stay with expedition all the way to St. Louis.
September 23: The Corps arrives in St. Louis, ending their journey after two years, four months, and ten days.

text: Preparations[edit]

text: For years, Jefferson had heard of and read accounts of the various ventures of other explorers in parts of the western frontier and consequently had a long-held interest in further exploring this largely still unknown region of the continent. In the 1780s, while Minister to France, Jefferson met John Ledyard in Paris and discussed a proposed trip to the Pacific Northwest.[14][15] Jefferson had also read Captain James Cook's A Voyage to the Pacific Ocean (London, 1784), an account of Cook's third voyage, and Le Page du Pratz's The History of Louisiana (London, 1763), all of which greatly influenced his decision to send an expedition. Like Captain Cook, Jefferson also wished to discover a practical route through the Northwest to the Pacific coast. Alexander Mackenzie had already charted a route in his quest for the Pacific, first following the later-named Mackenzie River to the Arctic Ocean in 1789. Mackenzie and his party then became the first on record to cross America north of Mexico to the Pacific, when he arrived near Bella Coola in 1793—a dozen years before Lewis and Clark. Mackenzie's accounts in Voyages from Montreal (1801) informed Jefferson (who read the book at Monticello in 1802) of Britain's intent to control the lucrative fur trade of the Columbia River, and convinced him of the importance of securing the territory as soon as possible.[16][17]

text: Two years into his presidency, Jefferson asked Congress to fund an expedition through the Louisiana territory to the Pacific Ocean. He did not attempt to hide the Lewis and Clark expedition itself from Spanish, French, and British officials, but rather claimed different reasons for the venture. He used a secret message to ask for funding due to poor relations with the opposition party in Congress.[18][19][20][21]

text: In 1803, Jefferson commissioned the Corps of Discovery, and named U.S. Army Captain Meriwether Lewis its leader, who in turn selected William Clark as second in command. Lewis demonstrated remarkable skills and potential as a frontiersman. As the expedition was gaining approval and funding, Jefferson made efforts to prepare him for the long journey ahead.[22][23] Jefferson chose Lewis to lead the expedition rather than a "qualified scientist" because, "It was impossible to find a character who to a complete science in botany, natural history, mineralogy & astronomy, joined the firmness of constitution & character, prudence, habits adapted to the woods & a familiarity with the Indian manners and character, requisite for this undertaking. All the latter qualifications Capt. Lewis has."

text: In 1803, Jefferson sent Lewis to Philadelphia to study medicinal cures under Benjamin Rush, a physician and humanitarian. Jefferson also arranged for Lewis to be further educated by Andrew Ellicott, an astronomer who instructed him in the use of the sextant and other navigational instruments.[24][25] Lewis, however, was not ignorant of science and had demonstrated to Jefferson a marked capacity to learn, especially with Jefferson as his teacher. At Monticello, Jefferson possessed the largest library in the world on the subject of the geography of the North American continent, and Lewis had full access to that library. Lewis spent time consulting maps and books and conferring with Jefferson at Jefferson's library in Monticello.

text: Lewis and Clark met near Louisville, Kentucky, in October 1803 at the Falls of the Ohio and before departing later in the month, the core "Nine Young Men" were enlisted into the Corps of Discovery.[26][27] Their goals were to explore the vast territory acquired by the Louisiana Purchase and to establish trade and U.S. sovereignty over the native peoples along the Missouri River. Jefferson also wanted to establish a U.S. claim of "Discovery" to the Pacific Northwest and Oregon territory by documenting an American presence there before Europeans could claim the land.[5][28][29][30] According to some historians, Jefferson understood he would have a better claim of ownership to the Pacific Northwest if the team gathered scientific data on animals and plants.[31][32] However, his main objectives were centered around finding an all-water route to the Pacific coast and commerce. Before their departure, Jefferson's instructions to them stated:

text: The object of your mission is to explore the Missouri River, & such principle stream of it, as, by its course and communication with the waters of the Pacific ocean, whether the Columbia, Oregon, Colorado or any other river may offer the most direct & practicable water communication across this continent for the purpose of commerce.[33]

text: The U.S. mint prepared special silver medals with a portrait of Jefferson and inscribed with a message of friendship and peace, called Indian Peace Medals. The soldiers were to distribute them to the nations they met. These symbolized U.S. sovereignty over the indigenous inhabitants. The expedition also prepared advanced weapons to display their military firepower. Among these was an Austrian-made .46 caliber Girandoni air rifle, a repeating rifle with a 20-round tubular magazine that was powerful enough to kill a deer.[34][35][36] The expedition was prepared with sufficient black powder and lead for their flintlock firearms, knives, blacksmithing supplies, and cartography equipment. They also carried flags, gift bundles, medicine, and other items they would need for their journey. Much time went into ensuring a sufficient supply of these items.[34][35]

text: The route of Lewis and Clark's expedition took them up the Missouri River to its headwaters, then on to the Pacific Ocean via the Columbia River, and may have been influenced by the purported transcontinental journey of Moncacht-Apé by the same route about a century before. Jefferson had a copy of Le Page's book detailing Moncacht-Apé's itinerary in his library, and Lewis carried a copy with him during the expedition. Le Page's description of Moncacht-Apé's route across the continent, which neglects to mention the need to cross the Rocky Mountains, may be the source of Lewis and Clark's mistaken belief that they could easily carry boats from the Missouri's headwaters to the westward-flowing Columbia.[37]

text: The historian John L. Loos of Louisiana State University wrote William Clark's Part in the Preparation of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, a 511-page manuscript published in 1954 by the Missouri Historical Society.[38]

text: Journey[edit]

text: Thirty-three people, including 29 participants in training at the 1803–1804 Camp Dubois (Camp Wood) winter staging area, then in the Indiana Territory, were near present-day Wood River, Illinois, on the east bank of the Mississippi. In March 1804, the Spanish in New Mexico learned from U.S. General James Wilkinson, later discovered to be a paid agent of the Spanish crown,[note 1] that the Americans were encroaching on territory claimed by Spain.

text: On August 1, they sent four armed expeditions of 52 soldiers, mercenaries, and Indians from Santa Fe northward under Pedro Vial and José Jarvet, to intercept Lewis and Clark and imprison the entire expedition. When they reached the Pawnee settlement on the Platte River in central Nebraska, they learned that the expedition had been there many days before, but because the expedition at that point was covering 70 to 80 miles (110 to 130 km) a day, Vial's attempt to intercept them was unsuccessful.[39][40]

text: Departure[edit]

text: The Corps of Discovery departed from Camp Dubois at 4 pm on May 14, 1804, and met up with Lewis in St. Charles, Missouri, a short time later, marking the beginning of the voyage to the Pacific coast. The Corps followed the Missouri River westward. Soon, they passed La Charrette, the last Euro-American settlement on the Missouri River.

text: The expedition followed the Missouri through what is now Kansas City, Missouri, and Omaha, Nebraska. On August 20, 1804, Sergeant Charles Floyd died, apparently from acute appendicitis. He had been among the first to sign up with the Corps of Discovery and was the only member to die during the expedition. He was buried at a bluff by the river, now named after him,[41] in what is now Sioux City, Iowa. His burial site was marked with a cedar post on which was inscribed his name and day of death. 1 mile (2 km) up the river, the expedition camped at a small river which they named Floyd's River.[42][43][44] During the final week of August, Lewis and Clark reached the edge of the Great Plains, a place abounding with elk, deer, bison, and beavers.

text: The Lewis and Clark Expedition established relations with two dozen Indian nations, without whose help the expedition would have risked starvation during the harsh winters and/or become hopelessly lost in the vast ranges of the Rocky Mountains.[45]

text: The Americans and the Lakota nation (whom the Americans called Sioux or "Teton-wan Sioux") had problems when they met, and there was a concern the two sides might fight. According to Harry W. Fritz, "All earlier Missouri River travelers had warned of this powerful and aggressive tribe, determined to block free trade on the river. ... The Sioux were also expecting a retaliatory raid from the Omaha Indians, to the south. A recent Sioux raid had killed 75 Omaha men, burned 40 lodges, and taken four dozen prisoners."[46]

text: One of their horses disappeared, and they believed the Sioux were responsible. Afterward, the two sides met and there was a disagreement, and the Sioux asked the men to stay or to give more gifts instead before being allowed to pass through their territory. They came close to fighting several times, and both sides finally backed down and the expedition continued on to Arikara territory. Clark wrote they were "warlike" and were the "vilest miscreants of the savage race".[47][48][49][50]

text: In the winter of 1804–05, the party built Fort Mandan, near present-day Washburn, North Dakota. Just before departing on April 7, 1805, the expedition sent the keelboat back to St. Louis with a sample of specimens, some never seen before east of the Mississippi.[51] One chief asked Lewis and Clark to provide a boat for passage through their national territory. As tensions increased, Lewis and Clark prepared to fight, but the two sides fell back in the end. The Americans quickly continued westward (upriver), and camped for the winter in the Mandan nation's territory.

text: After the expedition had set up camp, nearby Indians came to visit in fair numbers, some staying all night. For several days, Lewis and Clark met in council with Mandan chiefs. Here they met a French-Canadian fur trapper named Toussaint Charbonneau, and his young Shoshone wife Sacagawea. Charbonneau at this time began to serve as the expedition's translator. Peace was established between the expedition and the Mandan chiefs with the sharing of a Mandan ceremonial pipe.[52] By April 25, Captain Lewis wrote his progress report of the expedition's activities and observations of the Indian nations they have encountered to date: A Statistical view of the Indian nations inhabiting the Territory of Louisiana, which outlined the names of various tribes, their locations, trading practices, and water routes used, among other things. President Jefferson would later present this report to Congress.[53]

text: They followed the Missouri to its headwaters, and over the Continental Divide at Lemhi Pass. In canoes, they descended the mountains by the Clearwater River, the Snake River, and the Columbia River, past Celilo Falls, and past what is now Portland, Oregon, at the meeting of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers. Lewis and Clark used William Robert Broughton's 1792 notes and maps to orient themselves once they reached the lower Columbia River. The sighting of Mount Hood and other stratovolcanos confirmed that the expedition had almost reached the Pacific Ocean.[54]

text: Pacific Ocean[edit]

text: The expedition sighted the Pacific Ocean for the first time on November 7, 1805, arriving two weeks later.[55][56] The expedition faced its second bitter winter camped on the north side of the Columbia River, in a storm-wracked area.[55] Lack of food was a major factor. The elk, the party's main source of food, had retreated from their usual haunts into the mountains, and the party was now too poor to purchase enough food from neighboring tribes.[57] On November 24, 1805, the party voted to move their camp to the south side of the Columbia River near modern Astoria, Oregon. Sacagawea, and Clark's slave York, were both allowed to participate in the vote, so this may have been the first time in American history where a woman and a slave were allowed to vote.[58]

text: On the south side of the Columbia River, 2 miles (3 km) upstream on the west side of the Netul River (now Lewis and Clark River), they constructed Fort Clatsop.[55] They did this not just for shelter and protection, but also to officially establish the American presence there, with the American flag flying over the fort.[48][59] During the winter at Fort Clatsop, Lewis committed himself to writing. He filled many pages of his journals with valuable knowledge, mostly about botany, because of the abundant growth and forests that covered that part of the continent.[60] The health of the men also became a problem, with many suffering from colds and influenza.[57]

text: Return trip[edit]

text: Lewis was determined to remain at the fort until April 1, but was still anxious to move out at the earliest opportunity. By March 22, the stormy weather had subsided and the following morning, on March 23, 1806, the journey home began. The Corps began their journey homeward using canoes to ascend the Columbia River, and later by trekking over land.[61][62]

text: They made their way to Camp Chopunnish[note 2] in Idaho, along the north bank of the Clearwater River, where the members of the expedition collected 65 horses in preparation to cross the Bitterroot Mountains, lying between modern-day Idaho and western Montana. However, the range was still covered in snow, which prevented the expedition from making the crossing. On April 11, while the Corps was waiting for the snow to diminish, Lewis' dog, Seaman, was stolen by Indians, but was retrieved shortly. Worried that other such acts might follow, Lewis warned the chief that any other wrongdoing or mischievous acts would result in instant death.

text: On July 3, before crossing the Continental Divide, the Corps split into two teams so Lewis could explore the Marias River. Lewis' group of four met some men from the Blackfeet nation. During the night, the Blackfeet tried to steal their weapons. In the struggle, the soldiers killed two Blackfeet men. Lewis, George Drouillard, and the Field brothers fled over 100 miles (160 kilometres) in a day before they camped again.

text: Meanwhile, Clark had entered the Crow tribe's territory. In the night, half of Clark's horses disappeared, but not a single Crow had been seen. Lewis and Clark stayed separated until they reached the Yellowstone and Missouri Rivers on August 11. As the groups reunited, one of Clark's hunters, Pierre Cruzatte, mistook Lewis for an elk and fired, injuring Lewis in the thigh. Once together, the Corps was able to return home quickly via the Missouri River. They reached St. Louis on September 23, 1806.[63]

text: Geography and science[edit]

text: The Lewis and Clark Expedition gained an understanding of the geography of the Northwest and produced the first accurate maps of the area. During the journey, Lewis and Clark drew about 140 maps. Stephen Ambrose says the expedition "filled in the main outlines" of the area.[64]

text: The expedition documented natural resources and plants that had been previously unknown to Euro-Americans, though not to the indigenous peoples.[65] Lewis and Clark were the first Americans to cross the Continental Divide, and the first Americans to see Yellowstone, enter into Montana, and produce an official description of these different regions.[66][67] Their visit to the Pacific Northwest, maps, and proclamations of sovereignty with medals and flags were legal steps needed to claim title to each indigenous nation's lands under the Doctrine of Discovery.[68]

text: The expedition was sponsored by the American Philosophical Society (APS).[69] Lewis and Clark received some instruction in astronomy, botany, climatology, ethnology, geography, meteorology, mineralogy, ornithology, and zoology.[70] During the expedition, they made contact with over 70 Native American tribes and described more than 200 new plant and animal species.[71]

text: Jefferson had the expedition declare "sovereignty" and demonstrate their military strength to ensure native tribes would be subordinate to the U.S., as European colonizers did elsewhere. After the expedition, the maps that were produced allowed the further discovery and settlement of this vast territory in the years that followed.[72][73]

text: In 1807, Patrick Gass, a private in the U.S. Army, published an account of the journey. He was promoted to sergeant during the course of the expedition.[74] Paul Allen edited a two-volume history of the Lewis and Clark expedition that was published in 1814, in Philadelphia, but without mention of the actual author, banker Nicholas Biddle.[75] [note 3] Even then, the complete report was not made public until more recently.[76] The earliest authorized edition of the Lewis and Clark journals resides in the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library at the University of Montana.

text: Encounters with Native American nations[edit]

text: One of the primary objectives of the expedition as directed by President Jefferson was to observe and record the whereabouts, lives, activities, and cultures of the various American Indian tribes that inhabited the newly acquired territory and the northwest in general. The expedition encountered many different tribes along the way, many of whom offered their assistance, providing the expedition with their knowledge of the wilderness and with the acquisition of food. Along with the standard provisions of weapons, powder, tools, and cooking utensils, the expedition also had blank leather-bound journals and ink for the purpose of recording such encounters, as well as for scientific and geological information. They were also provided with various gifts of medals, ribbons, needles, mirrors and other artifacts which were intended to ease any tensions when negotiating their passage with the various Indian chiefs they would encounter along their way.

text: As many of the tribes had had previous friendly experiences with British and French fur traders in various isolated encounters along the Missouri and Columbia Rivers, the expedition subsequently did not encounter any hostilities with the exception of the Teton-Sioux tribe under Black Buffalo [note 4] and the Partisan tribe on September 25, 1804. Both of these tribes were rivals and hoped to use the expedition to their own advantage and who both demanded tribute from the expedition for their passage over the river at that particular juncture.

text: Captain Lewis made his first mistake by offering the Sioux chief gifts first, which insulted and angered the Partisan chief. Communication was difficult since the expedition's only Sioux interpreter, Pierre Dorion, had stayed behind with the other party and was also involved with diplomatic affairs with another tribe. Consequently, both chiefs were offered a few gifts, but neither was satisfied. At that point, some of the warriors from the Partisan tribe then took hold of their boat and one of the oars. Lewis took a firm stand, ordering a display of force, presenting arms; Captain Clark, by gesture of brandishing his sword, threatened violent reprisal. Just before the situation erupted into a violent confrontation, Black Buffalo ordered his warriors to back off.

text: After the ensuing diplomacy and with the aid of better gifts and now a bottle of whiskey, of which some was consumed, the captains were able to negotiate their passage through without further incident. During the next two days, the expedition made camp not far from Black Buffalo's tribe. When they attempted to leave, other similar incidents occurred, but they were averted with still more gifts, this time, of tobacco.[77][78][79][80]

text: Observations[edit]

text: As the expedition encountered the various American Indian tribes during the course of their journey they observed and recorded information regarding their lifestyles, customs and the social codes they lived by, as directed by President Jefferson. By western standards the Indian way of life seemed harsh and unforgiving as witnessed by members of the expedition. After many encounters and camping in close proximity to the Indian nations for extended periods of time during the winter months they soon learned first hand of their customs and social orders.

text: One of the primary customs that distinguished Indian cultures from those of the West was that it was customary for the men to take on two or more wives if they were able to provide for them and often took on a wife or wives who were members of the immediate family circle. e.g. men in the Minnetaree [note 5] and Mandan tribes would often take on a sister for a wife. Chastity among women was not held in high regard. Infant daughters were often sold by the father to men who were grown, usually for horses or mules.

text: They learned that women in Sioux nations were often bartered away for horses or other supplies, yet this was not practiced among the Shoshone nation who held their women in higher regard.[81] They witnessed that many of the Indian nations were constantly at war with other tribes, especially the Sioux, who, while remaining generally friendly to the white fur traders, had proudly boasted and justified the almost complete destruction of the once great Cahokia nation, along with the Missouris, Illinois, Kaskaskia, and Piorias tribes that lived about the countryside adjacent to the upper Mississippi and Missouri rivers.[82]

text: Sacagawea[edit]

text: Sacagawea, sometimes called Sakajawea or Sakagawea (c. 1788 – December 20, 1812), was a Shoshone Indian woman who arrived with her husband Toussaint Charbonneau on the expedition to the Pacific Ocean.

text: On February 11, 1805, a few weeks after her first contact with the expedition, Sacagawea went into labor which was slow and painful, so the Frenchman Charbonneau suggested she be given a potion of rattlesnake's rattle to aid in her delivery. Lewis happened to have some snake's rattle with him. A short time after administering the potion, she delivered a healthy boy who was given the name Jean Baptiste Charbonneau.[83][84]

text: When the expedition reached Marias River, on June 16, 1805, Sacagawea became dangerously ill. She was able to find some relief by drinking mineral water from the sulphur spring that fed into the river.[85]

text: Though she has been discussed in literature frequently, much of the information is exaggeration or fiction. Scholars say she did notice some geographical features, but "Sacagawea...was not the guide for the Expedition, she was important to them as an interpreter and in other ways."[86] The sight of a woman and her infant son would have been reassuring to some indigenous nations, and she played an important role in diplomatic relations by talking to chiefs, easing tensions, and giving the impression of a peaceful mission.[87][88]

text: In his writings, Meriwether Lewis presented a somewhat negative view of her, though Clark had a higher regard for her, and provided some support for her children in subsequent years. In the journals, they used the terms "squar" and "savages" to refer to Sacagawea and other indigenous peoples.[89]

text: Accomplishments[edit]

text: The Corps met their objective of reaching the Pacific, mapping and establishing their presence for a legal claim to the land. They established diplomatic relations and trade with at least two dozen indigenous nations. They did not find a continuous waterway to the Pacific Ocean[90] but located an Indian trail that led from the upper end of the Missouri River to the Columbia River which ran to the Pacific Ocean.[91] They gained information about the natural habitat, flora and fauna, bringing back various plant, seed and mineral specimens. They mapped the topography of the land, designating the location of mountain ranges, rivers and the many Indian tribes during the course of their journey. They also learned and recorded much about the language and customs of the American Indian tribes they encountered, and brought back many of their artifacts, including bows, clothing and ceremonial robes.[92]

text: Aftermath[edit]

text: Two months passed after the expedition's end before Jefferson made his first public statement to Congress and others, giving a one-sentence summary about the success of the expedition before getting into the justification for the expenses involved. In the course of their journey, they acquired a knowledge of numerous tribes of Indians hitherto unknown; they informed themselves of the trade which may be carried on with them, the best channels and positions for it, and they are enabled to give with accuracy the geography of the line they pursued. Back east, the botanical and zoological discoveries drew the intense interest of the American Philosophical Society who requested specimens, various artifacts traded with the Indians, and reports on plants and wildlife along with various seeds obtained. Jefferson used seeds from "Missouri hominy corn" along with a number of other unidentified seeds to plant at Monticello which he cultivated and studied. He later reported on the "Indian corn" he had grown as being an "excellent" food source.[93] The expedition helped establish the U.S. presence in the newly acquired territory and beyond and opened the door to further exploration, trade and scientific discoveries.[94]

text: Legacy and honors[edit]

text: Since the expedition, Lewis and Clark have been commemorated and honored over the years on various coins, currency, and commemorative postage stamps, as well as in a number of other capacities.

text:
Lewis and Clark Expedition, 2004
200th Anniversary issue U.S. postage stamp commemorating the 200th anniversary of the Expedition

Lewis and Clark Expedition
150th anniversary issue, 1954

Lewis & Clark were honored (along with the American bison) on the Series of 1901 $10 Legal Tender

Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center in Cape Disappointment State Park

text: Prior discoveries[edit]

text: In 1682, René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle went down the Mississippi from the Great Lakes to the Gulf. The French then established a chain of posts along the Mississippi from New Orleans to the Great Lakes. There followed a number of French explorers including Pedro Vial and Pierre Antoine and Paul Mallet, among others. Vial may have preceded Lewis and Clark to Montana. In 1787, he gave a map of the upper Missouri River and locations of "territories transited by Pedro Vial" to Spanish authorities.[95]

text: Early in 1792, the American explorer Robert Gray, sailing in the Columbia Rediviva, discovered the yet to be named Columbia River, named it after his ship and claimed it for the United States. Later in 1792, the Vancouver Expedition had learned of Gray's discovery and used his maps. Vancouver's expedition explored over 100 miles (160 km) up the Columbia, into the Columbia River Gorge. Lewis and Clark used the maps produced by these expeditions when they descended the lower Columbia to the Pacific coast.[96][97]

text: From 1792–93 Alexander Mackenzie had crossed North America from Quebec to the Pacific.[98]


document_title: Taylor (surname)

question_text: where did the last name taylor originate from

root

text: Taylor (surname)

text:
"Taylor"

The name Taylor comes from those who used to hold the occupation of tailor, as seen above.

Pronunciation
/ˈteɪlər/ TAY-lər

Origin

Region of origin
France

Word/Name
France

Meaning
"tailor"

Other names

Variant(s)
Schneider, Khayat

tag: table

text: Taylor is a surname used in the British Isles of French and Latin origin which originated as a Norman occupational surname (meaning tailor) in France[1][2] It is derived from the Old French tailleur ("cutter"),[3] which is in turn derived from the Late Latin taliator, from taliare ("to cut").[4][5] The first historical evidence of the surname dates to the County of Somerset, South West England in 1182.[6] "Taylor" is the fifth-most common surname in England, the 11th-most common in Scotland and the 22nd-most common in Wales.[1][7] It is also common in other English speaking countries (especially Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States, where it was the tenth most frequently encountered surname in the 2000 US Census),[8] but has a low incidence in Ireland, where it is mostly concentrated in the North.[1] It is often the anglicized form of the German surname Schneider.[9]

tag: p

text: Geographical distribution[edit]

text: At the time of the United Kingdom Census of 1881, the frequency of the surname "Taylor" was highest in the following counties:[10]

text:
1. Kincardineshire (1: 75)
2. Kinross-shire (1: 89)
3. Lancashire (1: 90)
4. Worcestershire (1: 100)
5. Orkney (1: 100)
6. Aberdeenshire (1: 101)
7. Derbyshire (1: 102)
8. Banffshire (1: 103)
9. Westmorland (1: 106)
10. Herefordshire (1: 111)

tag: ul

text: As of 2014, the frequency of the surname was highest in the following countries and territories:

text:
1. Turks and Caicos Islands (1: 107)
2. The Bahamas (1: 174)
3. Montserrat (1: 214)
4. Jamaica (1: 218)
5. Liberia (1: 259)
6. Guernsey (1: 280)
7. Norfolk Island (1: 288)
8. Saint Kitts and Nevis (1: 291)
9. Barbados (1: 304)
10. Scotland (1: 306)
11. England (1: 310)
12. Australia (1: 312)

text: As of 2014, 57.9% of all known bearers of the surname "Taylor" were residents of the United States. The frequency of the surname was higher than national average (1: 407) in the following U.S. states:[10]

text:
1. Mississippi (1: 197)
2. Tennessee (1: 212)
3. Alabama (1: 224)
4. West Virginia (1: 225)
5. Arkansas (1: 229)
6. Kentucky (1: 250)
7. Utah (1: 252)
8. Virginia (1: 255)
9. South Carolina (1: 261)
10. North Carolina (1: 270)
11. Oklahoma (1: 274)
12. Louisiana (1: 284)
13. Delaware (1: 292)
14. Maryland (1: 297)
15. Idaho (1: 309)
16. Georgia (1: 325)
17. Indiana (1: 335)
18. Missouri (1: 345)
19. Texas (1: 355)
20. D.C. (1: 359)
21. Wyoming (1: 367)
22. Ohio (1: 374)
23. Kansas (1: 375)
24. Michigan (1: 382)
25. Oregon (1: 396)

text: The frequency of the surname was highest (over four times the national average) in the following U.S. counties:

text:
1. Wayne County, Utah (1: 25)
2. Bacon County, Georgia (1: 31)
3. Clay County, W.Va. (1: 47)
4. Haywood County, Tenn. (1: 50)
5. Borden County, Texas (1: 53)
6. McCreary County, Ky. (1: 64)
7. Dickens County, Texas (1: 64)
8. Tallahatchie County, Miss. (1: 69)
9. Thomas County, Neb. (1: 70)
10. Yakutat, Alaska (1: 74)
11. Accomack County, Va. (1: 74)
12. Pleasants County, W. Va. (1: 74)
13. Sussex County, Va. (1: 75)
14. Noxubee County, Miss. (1: 76)
15. Red River Parish, La. (1: 79)
16. Roane County, W.Va. (1: 81)
17. Ware County, Ga. (1: 82)
18. Essex County, Va. (1: 82)
19. Greene County, N.C. (1: 82)
20. Washington County, Ala. (1: 84)
21. Lauderdale County, Tenn. (1: 86)
22. Judith Basin County, Mont. (1: 88)
23. Buckingham County, Va. (1: 89)
24. Lamar County, Ala. (1: 90)
25. Lowndes County, Ala. (1: 90)
26. Marion County, Ala. (1: 94)
27. Martin County, N.C. (1: 94)
28. Grayson County, Va. (1: 95)
29. Jones County, N.C. (1: 95)
30. Moore County, Tenn. (1: 95)
31. Northampton County, N.C. (1: 99)
32. Lenoir County, N.C. (1: 100)
33. Bolivar County, Miss. (1: 100)
34. Tunica County, Miss. (1: 101)
35. DeKalb County, Tenn. (1: 101)


document_title: 2007 NBA Finals

question_text: when was the first time lebron went to the finals

text: 2007 NBA Finals

text: Format[edit]

text: The Finals were played using the 2-3-2 format, where the first two and last two games are held at the team with home court advantage. The NBA, after experimenting in the early years, restored this original format for the Finals in 1985. The other playoff series were played in the 2-2-1-1-1 format.

text: The best-of-seven series began on June 7, 2007, with the Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs playing the Eastern Conference champion Cleveland Cavaliers. Because the San Antonio Spurs had a better regular season win-loss record, they had home court advantage.

text: Series summary[edit]

text:
Game
Date
Home Team
Result
Road Team

Game 1
Thursday, June 7
San Antonio Spurs
85–76 (1–0)
Cleveland Cavaliers

Game 2
Sunday, June 10
San Antonio Spurs
103–92 (2–0)
Cleveland Cavaliers

Game 3
Tuesday, June 12
Cleveland Cavaliers
72–75 (0–3)
San Antonio Spurs

Game 4
Thursday, June 14
Cleveland Cavaliers
82–83 (0–4)
San Antonio Spurs

text: Background[edit]

text: 2007 NBA Playoffs[edit]

text:
San Antonio Spurs (Western Conference Champion)
Cleveland Cavaliers (Eastern Conference Champion)

#
Western Conference

v
t
e

Team
W
L
PCT
GB

1
z-Dallas Mavericks
67
15
.817
-

2
y-Phoenix Suns
61
21
.744
6

3
x-San Antonio Spurs
58
24
.707
9

4
y-Utah Jazz
51
31
.622
16

5
x-Houston Rockets
52
30
.634
15

6
x-Denver Nuggets
45
37
.549
22

7
x-Los Angeles Lakers
42
40
.512
25

8
x-Golden State Warriors
42
40
.512
25

9
Los Angeles Clippers
40
42
.488
27

10
New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets
39
43
.476
28

11
Sacramento Kings
33
49
.402
34

12
Portland Trail Blazers
32
50
.390
35

13
Minnesota Timberwolves
32
50
.390
35

14
Seattle SuperSonics
31
51
.378
36

15
Memphis Grizzlies
22
60
.268
45

3rd seed in the West, 3rd best league record

Regular season

#
Eastern Conference

v
t
e

Team
W
L
PCT
GB

1
c-Detroit Pistons
53
29
.646
–

2
x-Cleveland Cavaliers
50
32
.610
3

3
y-Toronto Raptors
47
35
.573
6

4
y-Miami Heat
44
38
.537
9

5
x-Chicago Bulls
49
33
.598
4

6
x-New Jersey Nets
41
41
.500
12

7
x-Washington Wizards
41
41
.500
12

8
x-Orlando Magic
40
42
.488
13

9
Philadelphia 76ers
35
47
.427
18

10
Indiana Pacers
35
47
.427
18

11
New York Knicks
33
49
.402
20

12
Charlotte Bobcats
33
49
.402
20

13
Atlanta Hawks
30
52
.366
23

14
Milwaukee Bucks
28
54
.341
25

15
Boston Celtics
24
58
.293
29

2nd seed in the East, 7th best league record

Defeated the (6) Denver Nuggets, 4–1
First Round
Defeated the (7) Washington Wizards, 4–0

Defeated the (2) Phoenix Suns, 4–2
Conference Semifinals
Defeated the (6) New Jersey Nets, 4–2

Defeated the (4) Utah Jazz, 4–1
Conference Finals
Defeated the (1) Detroit Pistons, 4–2

text: Regular season series[edit]

text: The Cleveland Cavaliers won both games in the regular season series:

text: ESPN

text: November 3

text: Cleveland Cavaliers 88, San Antonio Spurs 81

text: AT&T Center, San Antonio

text: NBA TV

text: January 2

text: San Antonio Spurs 78, Cleveland Cavaliers 92

text: Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland

text: San Antonio Spurs[edit]

text: The previous season saw the San Antonio Spurs drop a heartbreaking seventh game at home to the rival Dallas Mavericks in the second round. As the new season began, the Spurs saw the Mavericks rolling through their regular season, on their way to a franchise best 67 win campaign. Meanwhile, the Spurs struggled through their season through January. With the main focus lying on Dallas, and the Phoenix Suns, the Spurs found themselves flying under the radar. However, the Spurs used a late season surge en route to a 58–24 regular season record, good enough for third seed in the Western Conference.

text: In the playoffs, the Spurs met the Denver Nuggets and their duo of Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony. Although the Nuggets took game 1, the Spurs rallied off 4 straight wins to take the series in five games. As San Antonio prepared to face off against the second seed Phoenix Suns, the top ranked Dallas Mavericks suffered a stunning first round exit at the hand of the Golden State Warriors. With the Mavericks gone, the stakes of the Suns-Spurs series shot up dramatically, and the result was a closely competitive and controversial series.

text: The Suns, due to their better season record, had homecourt advantage, but that would not last past game 1. In a hotly contested battle of Western Conference heavyweights, each team tried to deliver a knockout blow to the other. The Spurs finally landed it, but by accident. With the game in the balance Tony Parker and Steve Nash collided head-to-head. A large gash opened along Nash's nose and though the medical staff tried admirably, they could not stop the bleeding and he was forced to sit the final 45 seconds and watch as the Spurs won game 1, 111–106. Game 2 saw the Suns rebound and blow out the Spurs to a 101–81 beating. After this game, Suns center Amar'e Stoudemire labeled the Spurs a dirty team. Game 3 switched back to San Antonio and saw a return of the physical play, resulting in Manu Ginóbili receiving a bruised and bloodied eye and Nash being kneed in the groin by Bruce Bowen. However, Tim Duncan led the Spurs to a 108–101 victory.

text: Games 4 and 5 were the most controversial of the series. The Spurs, after being comfortably in control of game 4, saw their 11-point fourth quarter lead dwindle away, to a 2-point Suns lead. With 18 seconds left, Robert Horry bodychecked Steve Nash in which he threw his arms in the air, into the scorers table. Nash's teammates jumped to his defense; during the ensuing altercation, Stoudemire and Boris Diaw left the bench heading toward the altercation. Their action violated NBA rules, resulting in the decision by league commissioner David Stern to suspend both players for game 5 (Horry was also suspended two games for his flagrant foul against Nash). In game 5, played in Phoenix, the short-handed Suns jumped out early and enjoyed a 16-point lead on the Spurs, but in a reversal of game 4, this time the Spurs came back in the final seconds and won the game 88–85, giving San Antonio a 3–2 series lead.

text: The Spurs won game 6 of the series 114–106 in San Antonio, sending them to their fifth Western Conference finals since 1999.

text: San Antonio went on to beat the Utah Jazz in five games to advance to the franchise's fourth NBA Finals.

text: Cleveland Cavaliers[edit]

text: In the replay of the previous year's playoffs with the Cavaliers holding home court advantage against Washington Wizards, the Cavaliers took care of the Wizards in a four-game sweep, after the season-ending injuries of both Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler. In the second round of the playoffs, the Cavaliers faced off against the New Jersey Nets. Again, the Cavaliers had home court advantage, and battled with the Nets through 6 games before becoming victorious in the series. The Cavaliers for only the third time in franchise history, advanced to the conference finals, and this time they were facing a familiar foe. The Detroit Pistons, the number one seed in the Eastern Conference, with their home court advantage, were waiting for the Cavaliers. This was the same Detroit team that knocked the Cavaliers out of the second round last year. The expectations were high after a long 7 game series the previous year and these two teams would not disappoint.

text: The first two games were close and saw Cleveland fall by identical 79–76 scores. Down 0–2 in the series, the spotlight shifted back to Cleveland and LeBron James. Another hard fought set ensued, with the Cavaliers taking the two games at home 88-82 and 91-87 respectively. Game 5 switched back to Detroit and produced one of the greatest moments in NBA history.

text: With 6:14 to go in regulation and his team clinging to a one-point 79–78 lead, LeBron James took over the game. He scored 11 of the final 12 points to end regulation tied 91-91. In the first overtime, James scored all nine of the Cavaliers' points ending this period tied 100-100. In the second overtime, James again scored all nine of the team's points to win game 5, 109-107. Thus, in the last 16:14 of play, James scored 29 of the Cavaliers' last 30 points, as well as all of their last 25 points.

text: The Cavaliers beat the Pistons at home in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals to advance to the franchise's first ever trip to NBA Finals. Cleveland became the third team in NBA history to win a best-of-seven conference finals series after trailing by 2 games in a series.

text: Starting lineups[edit]

text: Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame‡

text:
San Antonio
Position
Cleveland

Tony Parker
PG
Larry Hughes

Michael Finley
SG
Sasha Pavlović

Bruce Bowen
SF
LeBron James

Tim Duncan
PF
Drew Gooden

Fabricio Oberto
C
Zydrunas Ilgauskas

text: Rosters[edit]

text: San Antonio Spurs[edit]

text:
2006–07 San Antonio Spurs roster

Players
Coaches

Pos.
No.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB (YYYY-MM-DD)
From

2.5 !G/F
7001170000000000000♠17
Barry, Brent
7000200659999999999♠6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
209 lb (95 kg)
1971–12–31
Oregon State

4.0 !F
7001150000000000000♠15
Bonner, Matt
7000208279999999999♠6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
235 lb (107 kg)
1980–04–05
Florida

2.5 !G/F
7001120000000000000♠12
Bowen, Bruce
7000200659999999999♠6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
1971–06–14
Cal State Fullerton

5.5 !F/C
7001450000000000000♠45
Butler, Jackie
7000208279999999999♠6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
260 lb (118 kg)
1985–03–10
Coastal Christian Academy

5.5 !F/C
7001210000000000000♠21
Duncan, Tim (C)
7000210820000000000♠6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
250 lb (113 kg)
1976–04–25
Wake Forest

6.0 !C
7001160000000000000♠16
Elson, Francisco
7000213360000000000♠7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
235 lb (107 kg)
1976–02–28
California

4.0 !F
7000200000000000000♠2
Ely, Melvin
7000208279999999999♠6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
261 lb (118 kg)
1978–05–02
Fresno State

2.5 !G/F
7000400000000000000♠4
Finley, Michael
7000200659999999999♠6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
225 lb (102 kg)
1973–03–06
Wisconsin

1.5 !G
7001200000000000000♠20
Ginóbili, Manu
7000198120000000000♠6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
1977–07–28
Argentina

4.0 !F
7000500000000000000♠5
Horry, Robert
7000205740000000000♠6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
240 lb (109 kg)
1970–08–25
Alabama

5.5 !F/C
7000700000000000000♠7
Oberto, Fabricio
7000208279999999999♠6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
256 lb (116 kg)
1975–03–21
Argentina

1.5 !G
7000900000000000000♠9
Parker, Tony
7000187960000000000♠6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
1982–05–17
France

1.5 !G
7001140000000000000♠14
Udrih, Beno
7000190500000000000♠6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
1982–07–05
Slovenia

1.5 !G
7001110000000000000♠11
Vaughn, Jacque
7000185420000000000♠6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
1975–02–11
Kansas

2.5 !G/F
7001330000000000000♠33
White, James
7000200659999999999♠6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
1982–10–21
Cincinnati

Head coach

Gregg Popovich

Assistant coach(es)

Brett Brown
Mike Budenholzer
P. J. Carlesimo

Legend

(C) Team captain
(DP) Unsigned draft pick
(FA) Free agent
(S) Suspended
 Injured

Roster • Transactions
Last transaction: 2007–02–13

text: Cleveland Cavaliers[edit]

text:
2006–07 Cleveland Cavaliers roster

Players
Coaches

Pos.
No.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB (YYYY-MM-DD)
From

1.5 !G
7000600000000000000♠6
Brown, Shannon
7000193040000000000♠6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
210 lb (95 kg)
1985–11–30
Michigan State

1.5 !G
7000100000000000000♠1
Gibson, Daniel
7000187960000000000♠6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
1986–02–27
Texas

4.0 !F
7001900000000000000♠90
Gooden, Drew
7000208279999999999♠6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
250 lb (113 kg)
1981–09–24
Kansas

1.5 !G
7001320000000000000♠32
Hughes, Larry
7000195580000000000♠6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
184 lb (83 kg)
1979–01–23
Saint Louis

6.0 !C
7001110000000000000♠11
Ilgauskas, Žydrūnas
7000220980000000000♠7 ft 3 in (2.21 m)
260 lb (118 kg)
1975–06–05
Lithuania

4.0 !F
7001230000000000000♠23
James, LeBron (C)
7000203200000000000♠6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
250 lb (113 kg)
1984–12–30
St. Vincent–St. Mary HS (OH)

1.5 !G
7001190000000000000♠19
Jones, Damon
7000193040000000000♠6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
1976–08–25
Houston

5.5 !F/C
7001270000000000000♠27
Jones, Dwayne
7000210820000000000♠6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
250 lb (113 kg)
1983–06–09
Saint Joseph's

4.0 !F
7001240000000000000♠24
Marshall, Donyell
7000205740000000000♠6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
245 lb (111 kg)
1973–05–18
Connecticut

4.0 !F
7001140000000000000♠14
Newble, Ira
7000200659999999999♠6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
235 lb (107 kg)
1975–01–20
Miami (OH)

2.5 !G/F
7000300000000000000♠3
Pavlović, Aleksandar
7000200659999999999♠6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
235 lb (107 kg)
1983–11–15
Serbia

5.5 !F/C
7001310000000000000♠31
Pollard, Scot
7000210820000000000♠6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
278 lb (126 kg)
1975–02–12
Kansas

1.5 !G
7001200000000000000♠20
Snow, Eric
7000190500000000000♠6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
1973–04–24
Michigan State

5.5 !F/C
7001170000000000000♠17
Varejão, Anderson
7000210820000000000♠6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
273 lb (124 kg)
1982–09–28
Brazil

1.5 !G
7000400000000000000♠4
Wesley, David
7000185420000000000♠6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
229 lb (104 kg)
1970–11–14
Baylor

Head coach

Mike Brown

Assistant coach(es)

Hank Egan
Melvin Hunt
Michael Malone
Kenny Natt

Legend

(C) Team captain
(DP) Unsigned draft pick
(FA) Free agent
(S) Suspended
 Injured

Roster • Transactions
Last transaction: 2007–03–26

text: Player statistics[edit]

text:
Legend

  GP
Games played
  GS
Games started
 MPG
Minutes per game

 FG%
Field-goal percentage
 3P%
3-point field-goal percentage
 FT%
Free-throw percentage

 RPG
Rebounds per game
 APG
Assists per game
 SPG
Steals per game

 BPG
Blocks per game
 PPG
Points per game

text:
Player
GP
GS
MPG
FG%
3FG%
FT%
RPG
APG
SPG
BPG
PPG

Barry, BrentBrent Barry
4
0
10.6
.364
.400
.000
1.5
0.5
0.3
0.0
3.0

Bowen, BruceBruce Bowen
4
4
41.7
.296
.389
.250
5.5
1.3
0.5
0.3
6.0

Duncan, TimTim Duncan
4
4
37.3
.446
.000
.625
11.5
3.8
1.3
2.3
18.3

Elson, FranciscoFrancisco Elson
4
0
11.4
1.000
.000
.800
2.5
0.0
0.3
0.0
4.0

Finley, MichaelMichael Finley
4
4
18.5
.261
.083
.667
2.0
0.8
1.3
0.0
3.8

Ginóbili, ManuManu Ginóbili
4
0
29.3
.367
.435
.833
5.8
2.5
1.3
0.0
17.8

Horry, RobertRobert Horry
4
0
22.0
.333
.375
.750
4.5
3.3
0.3
1.3
3.0

Oberto, FabricioFabricio Oberto
4
4
20.8
.471
.000
.333
4.3
0.5
0.3
0.0
4.3

Parker, TonyTony Parker
4
4
37.8
.568
.571
.526
5.0
3.3
0.8
0.0
24.5

Udrih, BenoBeno Udrih
2
0
0.6
.000
.000
.000
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0

Vaughn, JacqueJacque Vaughn
4
0
10.1
.571
.000
.000
1.3
1.0
0.0
0.0
2.0

text:
Player
GP
GS
MPG
FG%
3FG%
FT%
RPG
APG
SPG
BPG
PPG

Brown, ShannonShannon Brown
1
0
0.0
.000
.000
.000
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0

Gibson, DanielDaniel Gibson
4
2
34.8
.439
.316
1.000
1.8
2.5
1.5
0.0
10.8

Gooden, DrewDrew Gooden
4
4
27.5
.500
.000
.875
8.3
0.3
0.3
0.5
12.8

Hughes, LarryLarry Hughes
2
2
21.9
.100
.000
.000
2.5
1.0
0.5
0.0
1.0

Ilgauskas, ZydrunasZydrunas Ilgauskas
4
4
25.8
.351
.000
.833
10.3
0.5
0.5
1.0
7.8

James, LeBronLeBron James
4
4
42.6
.356
.200
.690
7.0
6.8
1.0
0.5
22.0

Jones, DamonDamon Jones
4
0
16.2
.455
.556
1.000
1.3
1.0
0.0
0.0
4.5

Marshall, DonyellDonyell Marshall
4
0
15.3
.313
.182
.750
2.3
1.3
0.8
0.0
3.8

Newble, IraIra Newble
1
0
10.
.000
.000
.000
1.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0

Pavlović, AleksandarAleksandar Pavlović
4
4
31.7
.364
.417
.333
2.5
0.8
0.5
0.0
9.8

Pollard, ScotScot Pollard
1
0
0.9
.000
.000
.000
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0

Snow, EricEric Snow
4
0
10.2
.400
.000
.500
1.0
2.3
0.3
0.3
1.3

Varejão, AndersonAnderson Varejão
4
0
24.5
.667
.000
.625
5.3
0.8
1.3
0.5
7.5

text: Game summaries[edit]

text: Game 1[edit]

text: The Cleveland Cavaliers entered the 2007 Finals as newcomers. Game 1 was their first NBA Finals game in franchise history, and the first for each of its players (other than reserve point guard Eric Snow). However, the San Antonio Spurs had been to the Finals in three of the past eight seasons, winning a championship each time. With solid performances by Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginóbili, the Spurs won the series opener in convincing fashion, limiting LeBron James to 14 points on 4–16 shooting.

text:
June 7
9:00 p.m. ET

text:
Recap
Video highlights on YouTube

text:
Cleveland Cavaliers 76, San Antonio Spurs 85

Scoring by quarter: 15–20, 20–20, 14–24, 27–21

Pts: Gibson 16
Rebs: James 7
Asts: James, Gibson 4 each
TOs: James 6

Pts: Parker 27
Rebs: Duncan 13
Asts: Parker 7
Blks: Duncan 5

text:
AT&T Center, San Antonio
Attendance: 18,797
Referees:

No. 41 Ken Mauer
No. 14 Mike Callahan
No. 29 Steve Javie

text: Game 2[edit]

text: The Spurs took a stranglehold on momentum in Game 2. The Spurs' big three overwhelmed the Cavs and the Spurs led by as many as 29 points in the third quarter. They dominated the game during the first 3 quarters and played show-time basketball. A furious 25–6 rally by Cleveland in the final quarter wasn't enough as the Spurs took a 2–0 lead in the series.

text:
June 10
8:00 p.m ET

text:
Recap
Video highlights on YouTube

text:
Cleveland Cavaliers 92, San Antonio Spurs 103

Scoring by quarter: 17–28, 16–30, 29–31, 30–14

Pts: James 25
Rebs: Varejão 10
Asts: James 6
TOs: James 6

Pts: Parker 30
Rebs: Duncan, Horry 9 each
Asts: Duncan 8
Blks: Horry 5

text:
AT&T Center, San Antonio
Attendance: 18,797
Referees:

No. 27 Dick Bavetta
No. 6 Jim Clark
No. 14 Joe DeRosa

text: Game 3[edit]

text: Rookie Daniel Gibson started Game 3 in place of the injured Larry Hughes but scored a series-low 2 points on 1-10 shooting. As a team the Cavs shot only .367, but out-rebounded the Spurs 48–41. Zydrunas Ilgauskas had a 2006–07 season high 18 rebounds. On the game's final play, LeBron James missed a potential game-tying 29 foot 3-pointer.

text: Game 3 was the lowest scoring Finals game since 1955, with Tim Duncan of the Spurs having his lowest scoring game in his NBA Finals career, with 14 points.

text: ABC, ABCHD, TSN, CBS CHANNEL 7, Canal+, NBN CHANNEL 4

text:
June 12
9:00 p.m. ET

text:
Recap
Video highlights on YouTube

text:
San Antonio Spurs 75, Cleveland Cavaliers 72

Scoring by quarter: 16–18, 24–20, 15–12, 20–22

Pts: Parker 17
Rebs: Duncan, Bowen 9 each
Asts: Ginóbili 5
Stls: Finley 4

Pts: James 25
Rebs: Ilgauskas 18
Asts: James 7
TOs: James 5

text:
Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland
Attendance: 20,562
Referees:

No. 7 Bernie Fryer
No. 26 Bob Delaney
No. 43 Dan Crawford

text: Game 4[edit]

text: San Antonio started out strong through the first three quarters, leading by as many as 11. Cleveland would stage a rally near the end of the third quarter and the first five minutes of the fourth, scoring 14 consecutive points to take its first second-half lead of the series. However, the Spurs would stage a 12–3 rally of their own to retake the lead and win the series in a 4–0 sweep.

text: ABC, ABCHD, TSN, Canal 7, Canal+, ESPN Brasil, Sport 1

text:
June 14
9:00 p.m. ET

text:
Recap
Video highlights on YouTube

text:
San Antonio Spurs 83, Cleveland Cavaliers 82

Scoring by quarter: 19–20, 20–14, 21–18, 23–30

Pts: Ginóbili 27
Rebs: Duncan 15
Asts: Ginóbili 5
TOs: Duncan 6

Pts: James 24
Rebs: Ilgauskas 13
Asts: James 10
TOs: James 6

San Antonio wins series, 4-0

text:
Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland
Attendance: 20,562
Referees:

No. 15 Bennett Salvatore
No. 45 Joe Forte
No. 32 Eddie F. Rush

text: Twelve-year veteran Larry Nance was awarded the NBA championship game ball.

text: Broadcasting[edit]

text: Coverage was produced by ESPN and televised on ABC in the United States, TSN in Canada, Sky Sports in the United Kingdom, Canal+ in France, Premiere in Germany, and more than 100 other broadcasters in over 200 countries.

text: Play-by-play announcer Mike Breen, analysts Mark Jackson & former Rockets head-coach Jeff Van Gundy, and courtside reporters Michele Tafoya & Stuart Scott provided commentary and analysis for the North American market. The radio coverage on ESPN Radio features play-by-play man Mike Tirico and color analysts Dr. Jack Ramsay and Hubie Brown.

text: The featured song, aired throughout the playoffs, was The Pussycat Dolls "Right Now."

text: Another song featured in the 2007 NBA Finals series, "It Ends Tonight" by The All-American Rejects, was aired at the end of the pre-game promo for Game 4.

text: Ratings[edit]

text: According to ESPN, the NBA Finals series was a television bust in the United States.[1] San Antonio's four-game sweep of Cleveland finished with a record-low 6.2 television rating and 11 share on ABC, Nielsen Media Research said on June 15, 2007.

text: That was down 27 percent from the 8.5/15 for Miami's six-game victory over Dallas from the previous year and 5 percent under the previous low, a 6.5/12 for San Antonio's six-game win over New Jersey in 2003.

text: San Antonio's series-winning 83-82 victory on Thursday night got a 6.5/12, down 17 percent from the 7.8/14 for Game 4 in 2006.

text: Despite having the lowest ratings of any NBA championship series, game two of the 2003 series between San Antonio and New Jersey remains the lowest-rated game of all time in the history of the NBA Finals.

text: Aftermath[edit]

text: The Spurs won 56 games in the succeeding 2007–08 season, but relinquished the Southwest Division title to the New Orleans Hornets due to a tie-breaker. The Spurs had the last laugh, though, defeating the Hornets in seven games. But their chance of defending their title was denied by the Los Angeles Lakers in five games of the conference finals. After that, age and injury took its toll on the Spurs, as they proceeded to win only a single playoff series in three years (2010, vs. Dallas 4–2 of the first round), before getting upset by the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the 2011 NBA Playoffs despite finishing with 61 wins.

text: The Spurs then retooled their roster, after which they appeared in three consecutive conference finals, beginning in 2012, before making the NBA Finals in 2013 and 2014 against James and the Miami Heat. The Spurs split the two Finals meetings against the Heat.

text: The Cavaliers won 45 games in the 2007–08 season, despite early-season contract issues involving center Anderson Varejão and guard Sasha Pavlović, and a mid-season trade for Ben Wallace. They fell in the second round to the eventual NBA champions Boston Celtics in seven games, after a hard-fought duel involving LeBron James and Paul Pierce. The Cavaliers would earn the league's best record for the next two years (66 and 61 wins, respectively) and boast the NBA's MVP in James. However, they were unable to win it all, losing to the Orlando Magic in six games of the 2009 Eastern Conference Finals and the Celtics in six games of the 2010 Eastern Conference Semifinals (allowing the Lakers to win the Finals twice against the Magic and Celtics). The latter playoff defeat would cost head coach Mike Brown his job, though he was later re-hired (and fired again) in the 2013–14 NBA season. After that season, as a free agent, James left for the Miami Heat and helped them to four successive NBA Finals appearances, winning in 2012 and 2013, while the Cavaliers sunk to an Eastern Conference-low 19 wins in the 2010–11 NBA season, which included a 26-game losing streak.

text: The Cavaliers then appeared in the NBA draft lottery four consecutive times, earning the top pick in three of them. Those three top picks became Kyrie Irving (2011), Anthony Bennett (2013) and Andrew Wiggins (2014) (Bennett and Wiggins were later trade to Minnesota for Kevin Love). In July 2014, James announced his return to the Cavaliers after the hiring of coach David Blatt, and they reached the conference finals against the Atlanta Hawks with a flawless 4-0 victory before falling to the Golden State Warriors in the finals 4-2. The following season, the Cavaliers returned to the Finals in a rematch against the Golden State Warriors and won the finals over the Warriors 4-3 with LeBron James winning the Finals MVP. Mike Brown later joined the Warriors in 2016 as an assistant to Steve Kerr, in the 2017 NBA Playoffs, Brown temporarily replaces Kerr as coach as he manage the Warriors tied 1989 and 2001 Lakers as undefeated team in the 2017 NBA Playoffs, including the sweep to the post-Duncan Spurs in the Western Conference Finals leading to the third straight rematch against the Cavaliers.