Trailblazers of America

Bass Reeves

In 1875, America finally stretched from coast to coast. The Union had grown to thirty-seven states, with unsettled territory set aside for the Indians in what is now Oklahoma. Patrolling the Indian Territory and stopping the bandits who made it lawless wasn't easy—but trailblazer Bass Reeves rose to the challenge. This episode—based on a PragerU Kids biographical book—completes the story of America’s westward expansion through the eyes of Bass Reeves, a former slave and fugitive turned self-made lawman.