The period 1781 to 1848 was bookended by the two defining moments in early American history-the end of hostilities with Great Britain and the Mexican-American War. Although the interim period was not marked by any large-scale military conflict, domestic political and social disputes engaged Americans from all walks of life. Caucasian, African and Native Americans; men and women; rich and poor; eastern and western; northern and southern-all possessed different visions of what the United States should be. This course will explore the intense struggle conducted by these disparate Americans to forge a nation.