The 1800s brought much change to the United States: new territory, new minerals, and new opportunity. This was a time when men, women, and children journeyed across the country for a life unknown. The new area they headed for was called the West. There, settlers had to rebuild their lives. From learning how to farm the land and building homes to encountering Native Americans, the pioneers experienced life like no one had before. This book describes the history of life on the frontier, its ups and downs, and how it transformed the history of the United States.