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The primary purpose of the Lewis and Clark expedition was to gather information and map a route to the Pacific Ocean. Commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson in 1803, the explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark aimed to enhance knowledge about the geography, flora, fauna, and the various Native American tribes in the newly acquired Louisiana Territory. They sought a navigable water route that could link the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean, which was vital for trade and expansion efforts. The expedition provided valuable insight into the western territories and laid the groundwork for westward expansion, making it one of the key developments in early American history.

Other options, while related to broader themes of exploration and expansion, do not accurately capture the primary aim of the expedition. Establishing permanent settlements and negotiating trade agreements were not the initial goals, and while military considerations were part of the broader context of westward expansion, they did not define the primary mission of this expedition.