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The American settlers head west

In the mid-to-late 1800s, thousands of settler pioneers headed west across continental North America, in order to take up an offer from their government to build farms and settle them. The motivation was clear and huge, but it was a risky venture. It was also very difficult in an unfamiliar and lonely environment and was incredibly hard work. Houses were built from sods cut from the earth. Letters from one settler family describe the life they lived and the nature of the settler society.

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4 minutes