Winner of the 1925 Pulitzer Prize in History. Explore the rich history of the American West in this essential volume by Paxson. Covering the period from 1763 to 1893, this comprehensive work offers a detailed account of the westward expansion that shaped the nation's destiny.Through fifty-nine insightful chapters, Paxson traces the journey of the American pioneer from the early settlements in New England to the shores of California. With meticulous research and thoughtful analysis, he provides fresh perspectives on key events such as the War for Independence, the Louisiana Purchase, conflicts with Native Americans, and the Civil War. Paxson's narrative goes beyond conventional boundaries, examining the historical, geographic, and practical aspects of Westward expansion. From frontier finance to the operations of canal and railroad companies, he sheds light on lesser-known facets of this transformative era in American history. An indispensable resource for history enthusiasts and scholars alike, this volume showcases Paxson's literary skill and enduring contribution to our understanding of the American West.

Who owns the West? -- Buffalo Bill and Karl May : the origins of German Western fandom -- A wall runs through it : western fans in the two Germanies -- Little houses on the prairie -- "And then the American Indians came over" : fan responses to indigenous resurgence and political change -- Indians into Confederates : historical fiction fans, reenactors, and living history.

A Masterwork and Winner of The Pulitzer Prize for History Frederic L Paxson’s History of the American Frontier offers a sweeping account of the American West and the country’s westward expansion from 1763-1893. This gripping journey through the heart of America’s past is a must-read for every student of American history. Paxson masterfully paints a picture of how the land of the United States was settled over approximately 150 years, starting with the English settlers in New England and tracing the expansion across the continent, ending at the shores of the Pacific Ocean. Paxton’s literary genius shines through in this meticulously researched chronicle as he takes a historical, geographic, and pragmatic view of Westward expansion. He masterfully illuminates the untamed expanses, courageous pioneers, and the pivotal events in American history, from the War for Independence to the Louisiana Purchase, regional conflicts with Native Americans as well as the Civil War. In addition to these events that shaped American history, Paxton offers keen insight into the intricacies behind the scenes of frontier finance, executive orders from Presidents Washington to Roosevelt, and an inside look at the corporations who constructed and managed the canals and railroads. The vivid portrait Paxton paints of this captivating era in American history was worthy of The Pulitzer Prize he received in History for his portrayal of the intense struggles, the hard won triumphs and the pioneer spirt. This beautifully designed edition includes 10 easy to read maps so the reader can follow along on the journey west.

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for History in 1925, Paxson was the first American historian presenting the War of Independence from both American as well as British points of view.

In The First American Frontier, Wilma Dunaway challenges many assumptions about the development of preindustrial Southern Appalachia's society and economy. Drawing on data from 215 counties in nine states from 1700 to 1860, she argues that capitalist exchange and production came to the region much earlier than has been previously thought. Her innovative book is the first regional history of antebellum Southern Appalachia and the first study to apply world-systems theory to the development of the American frontier. Dunaway demonstrates that Europeans established significant trade relations with Native Americans in the southern mountains and thereby incorporated the region into the world economy as early as the seventeenth century. In addition to the much-studied fur trade, she explores various other forces of change, including government policy, absentee speculation in the region's natural resources, the emergence of towns, and the influence of local elites. Contrary to the myth of a homogeneous society composed mainly of subsistence homesteaders, Dunaway finds that many Appalachian landowners generated market surpluses by exploiting a large landless labor force, including slaves. In delineating these complexities of economy and labor in the region, Dunaway provides a perceptive critique of Appalachian exceptionalism and development.