The Way West: The Approach of Civilization, 1865-1869  (1995)

Theatrical Release Information:
The Way West: The Approach of Civilization, 1865-1869

Ric Burns' four-part series The Way West focuses on the often untold history of American expansion. Written from the Native American perspective, the documentary begins with the Gold Rush of the 1840s. With an ever-increasing Anglo population, the West became a hotbed of racial strife. The Way West: The Approach of Civilization, 1865-1869 explores these explosive years. The Great Plains was a constant battlefield with Indian leaders taking on American soldiers. Red Cloud and Crazy Horse became heroes by defeating the U.S. Army in 1868. But, the real threat to Native American independence came with the completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869. ~ Sarah Ing, All Movie Guide