An excellent review of early American History. I'm looking forward to the second part. Mr. Wall has a way of catching the essence of events without overburdening them with detail. His sense of humor lightens the subject matter while at the same time keeping it in context. His sidebars are a welcome innovation. I think this book would be of interest to older readers (as I am) interested in a refresher course as well as to those grappling with the basics of this fascinating subject.

This easy-to-read book is the history I should have learned in school years ago but did not. Highly recommended. Author has humor and tidbits that make the reading speed by.

James Wall's The Boundless Frontier: American From Christopher Columbus To Abraham Lincoln is a superb historical survey of key events in early American history. After an informative introduction, Wall dedicates individual chapter so the American Indians; exploration and discovery; the English interest in America; the Virginia Colony 1607-1699; the New England Colonies 1620-1691; the Middle Colonies 1664-1702; the Southern Colonies 1632-1734; religion in colonial America; patterns of settlement in North America; the colonial wars 1689-1763; British-American estrangement 1763-1775; the American Revolution 1775-1783; the Confederation Government 1781-1789; the Federal Constitution; the federalist Era 1789-1801; the Jeffersonian Era 1801-1815; the "Era of Good Feelings" 1815-1825; the Jacksonian Era 1825-1841; the era of "Manifest Destiny" 1841-1850; the era of popular sovereignty 1850-1860; the era of the Civil War 1861-1865; and a postscript "An Essay For Students" with commentary on books as history, periodization, dates and places. The Boundless Frontier is an impressive work of meticulous scholarship and a highly recommended, single volume survey of early American political history and development from colonial times through the end of the Civil War.

One of the most thought provoking, heartwarming, character building, well presented slices of life I have ever read! Every parent, child, business owner, employee, teacher, student, politician, citizen - in short, everyone - should read this book. Rank it with (Jim Stovall's) The Ultimate Gift, and place it on the shelf with the most profound members of your private library, beginning with the Bible. Should be part of every school cirriculum in the United States. A must read!