Final answer:
Thomas Jefferson proposed a modest sum of $2,500 to compensate the Lewis and Clark Expedition, aiming to secure backing from Congress and preemptively address any criticism by providing clear instructions and underlining the expedition's benefits.
Step-by-step explanation:
President Thomas Jefferson proposed to compensate the explorers, Lewis and Clark, for their journey by securing a funding of $2,500 approved by Congress for their mission of exploration. This sum was intended to cover their equipment, supplies, and various expenses involved in the journey across the newly acquired Louisiana Territory. Jefferson likely expected members of Congress to support this allocation given that the Act they passed, while expressed in general terms, was meant to sanction the objectives of his confidential message. His meticulous planning aimed to head off criticism by outlining clear instructions and objectives for the mission, emphasizing the importance of exploration, mapping of the territory, noting natural resources and wildlife, and establishing trade with Native American tribes. He understood the importance of gaining accurate geographical knowledge to identify potential trade routes, bolster U.S. claims to the Pacific Northwest, and explore the commercial possibilities of the new land. Furthermore, by presenting the expedition as a relatively low-cost venture compared to the vast potential benefits, Jefferson would make the proposal more palatable to the frugal legislators.