The Western History of the United States

The western history of the United States is a rich and complex story, one that has shaped the country’s culture, politics, economy, and religion. Its past stretches from the earliest European colonization of the Americas to recent developments in globalization and international trade. It is also a history that has been influenced by changing ideas and images of nature, culture, and national identity. This article will explore the different ways that historians have interpreted this complex story.

Traditionally, most scholars have seen the West as a frontier—the meeting point between civilization and savagery, in the words of historian Frederick Jackson Turner. Recently, however, some historians have begun to turn away from this traditional view. They have argued that the West was more than just a frontier; it was a crossroads where different cultures struggled for property, profit, and cultural dominance.

This new approach to western history has shifted the field’s attention from how people interacted with each other to the interaction between civilization and the environment. It has also changed the way that we think about the relationship between religion and society, between science and knowledge. It has led to the creation of many new museums and cultural centers, as well as a wide range of academic disciplines.

As the West continues to grow and change, its past has become a source of fascination and controversy. Historians have been trying to find a balance between presenting a full, accurate account of western history and creating texts that appeal to students’ interests and imaginations.

In this article, we will look at some of the major events that have shaped the West. We will also examine some of the myths that have been created about the West, such as the idea that the cowboy was a glamorous and heroic figure. We will then explore some of the ways that this history has influenced contemporary society.

This essay was originally published in Great Plains Quarterly 14:2 (Spring 1994) Copyright 1994 Center for Great Plains Studies, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.