“The object of your mission is to explore the Missouri river, & such principal stream of it as by it's [sic] 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 purposes of commerce.” --Letter from Thomas Jefferson to
Meriwether Lewis

Based on Jefferson’s letter to Meriwether Lewis, what was the purpose of the Lewis and Clark expedition?

The expedition was to settle along the Missouri River.

The expedition was to find the most direct river route to the Pacific Ocean.

The expedition was to find the best way to attack the Spanish.