American Old West Part 2

The American Old West or Wild West comprises thehistory, geography, peoples, lore, and cultural expression oflife in the Western United States (e.g., anywhere west of the Mississippi River), most often referring to theperiod of the latter half of the 19th century, between theAmerican Civil War and the end of the century. Moreencompassing and more accurate, however, is the inclusion of theentire 19th century and to the end of the Mexican Revolution in1920. Through treaties with foreign nations and nativepeoples, political compromise, technological innovation, military conquest, establishment of law and order, and the great migrations of foreigners, the United States expandedfrom the coast to the coast (Atlantic Ocean-to-PacificOcean), fulfilling its belief in Manifest Destiny.