The American frontier /
James D. Torr, book editor.
- San Diego, Calif. : Greenhaven Press, c2002.
- 240 p : ill., maps ; 23 cm.
- Turning points in world history .
Includes bibliographical references (p. 232-234) and index.
Foreword -- Introduction -- Opening of the West -- Lewis and Clark's journey across the continent / Gerald F. Kreyche ; Significance of the Lewis and Clark expedition / National Park Service ; East of the Mississippi : the agricultural frontier / Thomas D. Clark ; Opening of Texas and the Santa Fe Trail / Dale Van Every ; Mountain men : the importance of the fur trade in the opening of the West / William H. Goetzmann -- Destiny and war -- Manifest destiny : Americans embrace expansionism / Ray Allen Billington ; War with Mexico / Don Nardo ; Manifest destiny as a turning point in U.S.-Indian policy / Reginald Horsman ; Manifest destiny-- or genocide? / W. Eugene Hollon -- Gold fever -- California Gold Rush and the American dream / Malcolm J. Rohrbough ; Veritable revolution : the economic significance of the California Gold Rush / Gerald D. Nash ; Gold Rush as melting pot / Walter Nugent ; Colorado Gold Rush and the reimagining of America / Elliot West -- Transcontinental Railroad -- Transcontinental Railroad and the development of the West / Leonard J. Arrington ; Destruction of the buffalo and the opening of the cattle driving frontier / Richard White ; Rise and fall of the cattle kingdoms / T. Harry Williams, Richard N. Current & Frank Freidel ; Closing of the American frontier / John F. Stover -- Epilogue : Frontier thesis in modern American history -- America's frontier heritage / Ray Allen Billington.
Examines the history of the formative years of the United States, focusing on westward expansion and the role of the frontier in shaping the new nation.