As the century draws to a close, the scars of systematic ethnic cleansing of native peoples along with US claims on land stretching the span of the entire continent, seemingly ends 'the frontier' chapter in American history.

A race of the railroads to join the east and west coast would begin a new chapter in US dominance and lead to the rise of the American icon: the cowboy.

The newly acquired territory of California would prove invaluable as the chance discovery of gold unleashes the largest migration in US history and ignites a vicious debate on slavery, culminating in the American Civil War.

Mexican-owned Texas offers land and freedom for those white settlers searching for a fresh start but the influx of 'Americans' would be the catalyst for the brutal Mexican-American war that would change the course of US history forever.

As the United States advances west, the true nature of the land is revealed. What appeared to be a boundless empty terrain was in fact a richly inhabited landscape of diverse indigenous peoples who were not about to surrender their lands without a fight.

As the former British Colonies on the east coast became the United States of America, their sights were now set on what lay west. A ludicrously good land deal with France unlocks a vast wilderness seemingly open for the taking.