Charles Wilkes

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/charles-wilkes

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. When was Charles Wilkes born?April 3, 1798
2. Where was Charles Wilkes born?New York City, New York
3. What was Charles Wilkes known for?He led the first big American scientific expedition that sailed around the world, exploring many places and making detailed maps.
4. Why did Charles Wilkes go to Antarctica?He wanted to chart the coastlines of the southern continent and show America’s presence there.

United States Exploring Expedition: A landmark global scientific and survey mission (1838-1842) that significantly expanded American knowledge of geography and natural sciences.
Hydrography: The scientific study and mapping of the Earth's surface waters, crucial for navigation.
Antarctic Coastline: The boundary where the Antarctic continent meets the ocean, a region Wilkes claimed to have discovered.
Trent Affair: A critical diplomatic incident during the Civil War involving the seizure of Confederate envoys from a British ship, testing U.S.-British relations.