The Settlement of America: An Encyclopedia of Westward Expansion from Jamestown to the Closing of the Frontier

formative movement and defining theme in American history, the settlement of the frontier and expansion of U.S. territory from the Atlantic to Pacific Ocean are the focus of this compelling and richly detailed new work. Rigorously researched and colorfully written by experts in the field of Western history, the nearly 500 articles in this encyclopedia provide the most current scholarship on America’s frontier movement over the course of three centuries. The depth and breadth of coverage help students appreciate shifting historical perspectives and understand how Western expansion shaped the national character. A multicultural approach allows students to consider frontier settlement from multiple perspectives—of explorers and settlers, trappers and traders, Native Americans, immigrants, and women. Supporting materials include extensive photos, maps, primary documents, and a master bibliography.