The American Frontier

The West lives on in American imagination as a place where rugged individuals triumphed over adversity to conquer an inhospitable land. However, historians often disagree with that view. In this assignment, you will be looking at the common myths about the American Frontier and the historical realities.

Write a paper that contrasts the common myths of the American Frontier from the historical realities. Choose one group who had a significant presence in the West (e.g., Native Americans, White settlers, Black Americans, women, etc.), and maintain focus on your chosen group throughout the paper. In addition, explain all of the following points:

-Explain what two opportunities and/or challenges this group faced during the last half of the 1800s. You can choose two opportunities, two challenges, or one opportunity and one challenge.

-Explain the impact of the "closing of the frontier" during the last half of the 1800s on this group.

-Explain how the myths relevant to this group contrasted with reality.