The American Frontier class (two parts) will discuss the shifting boundary between settled areas and unexplored or sparsely inhabited lands, especially during the 18th and 19th centuries. It was a place of opportunity where settlers sought land, wealth and new beginnings; but it also was a region of hardship and uncertainty. The frontier played a key role in shaping the American identity, emphasizing independence and self-reliance. It was also a site of conflict, particularly involving Native American tribes who were displaced from their ancestral lands. Overall, the frontier closed as expansion reached the Pacific, marking a major turning point in American history. We will also discuss different groups from these times such as: explorers, cowboys, miners, loggers, frontiersmen, farmers, city folk, western women and gunfighters. Individuals from this era in American history who will be discussed include: Lewis and Clark, Daniel Boone, Kit Carson, John Jacob Astor, Wyatt Earp, Billy the Kidd, the James Gang and many others.