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More than an extension of the British colonial backcountry, the region between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River was defined, at least in part, by its isolation.  Divided from the east by its namesake mountain range, the Trans-Appalachian West developed its own distinct character as British North America transitioned from a contested colonial zone into a budding nation-state.  From drawn-out wars with various Indian groups to the contentious issue of access to the Mississippi River, the Trans-Appalachian West was a region which was shaped by a series of distinct regional e