saturdayjournal Essays - Exploration, Exploration Of North America

Two of the discoveries the Wilkes expedition brought about were a new species of sea turtles and weapons from the Fiji people. The expedition was known as the Wilkes expedition that charted unknown islands, and discovered Anartica. "The collections of the USXX became the foundations for the Smithsonian Museum" (0:30). It was a four year round the world expedition that mapped hundreds of islands and mapping the coastline of Anartica. Since it was an U.S funded expedition, the captian treated the expedition as a military expedition and thus they planted the American flag at there numerous checkpoints where they were going. Since the expedition was four years, it took a lot or resources to make possible. The scientist needed the right equipment and also the crew needed food and water to last for the voyage. To get the turtles, the scientist would have faced problems in getting them back safely alive to analyze. At the time of the expedition, the scientists did not realize that they sea turtles were any different. It was not until they got back to the United States did they realize that they had a new species of sea turtles. Another maritime discovery made by the Wilkes expedition was Anartica. When they were going on the trip they inadvertently discovered Anartica. Since they did not know that there was another continent, they did not know what to expect. They eventually mapped out the coastline of Anartica which was a major moment for science in the United States. The discoveries altered the plans because the United States did not realize there was more land to be discovered. The expedition found Anartica and the project of the Ocean-Space was going to be in the area where Anartica was discovered at. This not only changed the plans, but the United States stopped pursiing it. Expeditions are not only important for science, but also for countries that sponsor these expeditions. Maritime discoveries are crucial for people to want to learn more about the sea. If a co untry knows more about the sea than another country than they will have advantages. The United States expedition was also considered a military expedition as well so as the people were traveling and making discoveries, the military portion of the expedition involved the United States putting there flags down in the areas in which they had traveled to. This shows other people that the United States have been and explored the area and it shows people that the United States is powerful. This helps the identity of the United States because it shows that it does not have a limit of range in its influence. The United States is always trying to expand, since that is in the DNA of humans.