The Making of America's West: 1850 - 1900

This set of four lectures explores American notions of the “Wild West” and how the history of the

region was experienced in reality by a range of different actors and groups including pioneers, Native

Americans, entrepreneurs, Latinos, Chinese as well as men and women. We will look at economic

transformations conflicts that came with the railroad, mining and cattle raising among other things. We

will also be exploring key figures such as Jesse James, Billy the Kid, Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, and

Wild Bill Hickock.