Why did Jefferson send Lewis and clark to explore the new territory?

because he wanted more westerners to settle in the lands there, but of course he didn't just want to throw the citizens out there. They had no idea what lurked in those new lands and they wanted to make sure it was safe. ALSO he sent them their to check if there was the northwest passage (to see if the Missouri river [ithink] led straight out to the ocean which would help them in trading)

yupp(: