Abel J. Morneault Memorial Library

Includes bibliographical references (p. 200) and index.

Antebellum -- Long way west -- Mountain men -- Riding the trail to Santa Fe -- Susan Magoffin's diary -- Feature- "Another fine cow died this afternoon" -- Getting there -- Latter-Day Saints -- Coast-to-coast destiny -- Hero of his times -- Texas-tempting and beautiful -- Fighting over a border -- There's gold in them hills -- Feature-Chinese, the know-nothings, and Abraham Lincoln -- Clipper ships and pony express -- Feature-dots, dashes, the computer, and idea connections -- Flying by stagecoach -- Feature- Keeping up with the presidents and other things -- Arithmetic at sea -- Thar she blows! -- Japanese boy in America -- Cities and progress -- Land of movers -- "She wished to ornament their minds" -- Feature-special teachers -- Do girls have brains? -- Seneca Falls and the rights of women -- Feature-Climb every mountain -- Woman named Truth -- Life in the mills -- Working women and children -- Feature-I am well which is one comfort -- American writers -- Mr. Thoreau-at home with the world -- Melville and company -- If a poet writes you a letter, pay attention -- Painter of birds and painter of Indians -- Feature-United States of artists -- Feature-American folk art -- Amistad means friendship -- Webster defends the Union -- Big problems and a little giant -- Dreadful decision -- Fleeing to freedom -- Over the river and underground -- Seven decades.

Discusses the period of growth in American history prior to the Civil War, describing the lives of people from a variety of backgrounds, including Jedediah Smith, Emily Dickinson, John James Audubon, and Sojourner Truth.