Although British colonist William Bradford once called America "a hideous and desolate wilderness, " that type of sentiment did not keep colonists and future Americans from pressing westward to discover new lands, new riches, and new perils. Students will learn about famous and lesser-known explorers who traversed the great expanse. Through a variety of primary-source documents, readers will learn how the expansion affected not only the establishment of the country but international relationships and indigenous populations. Students gain a fuller understanding of the costs and benefits of Manifest Destiny.