Settle and Conquer

This rereading of the history of American westward expansion examines the destruction of Native American cultures as a successful campaign of "e;counterinsurgency."e; Paramilitary figures such as Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett "e;opened the West"e; and frontiersmen infiltrated the enemy, learning Indian tactics and launching "e;search and destroy"e; missions. Conventional military force was a key component but the interchange between militia, regular soldiers, volunteers and frontiersmen underscores the complexity of the conflict and the implementing of a "e;peace policy."e; The campaign's outcome rested as much on the civilian population's economic imperatives as any military action. The success of this three-century war of attrition was unparalleled but ultimately saw the victors question the morality of their own actions.