Detailed Course Information

The American Frontier class (two parts) will discuss the shifting boundary between settled areas and unexplored or sparsely inhabited lands, especially during the 18th and 19th centuries. It was a place of opportunity where settlers sought land, wealth and new beginnings; but it also was a region of hardship and uncertainty. The frontier played a key role in shaping the American identity, emphasizing independence and self-reliance. It was also a site of conflict, particularly involving Native American tribes who were displaced from their ancestral lands. Overall, the frontier closed as expansion reached the Pacific, marking a major turning point in American history. We will also discuss different groups from these times such as: explorers, cowboys, miners, loggers, frontiersmen, farmers, city folk, western women and gunfighters. Individuals from this era in American history who will be discussed include: Lewis and Clark, Daniel Boone, Kit Carson, John Jacob Astor, Wyatt Earp, Billy the Kidd, the James Gang and many others.