Issues surrounding agriculture have always had pride of place among academic research in economic history. Interest in agricultural issues does not seem to come into fashion, and then fade into the background only to return years later. Indeed, agriculture was so vital to the workings of...

1. Introduction -- 2. Native American and Colonial Agriculture -- 3. Land Distribution and the Expansion of the American Landscape -- 4. Opening up the American West -- 5. Water Access and Immigration Issues -- 6. Public Sector Institutions, Education, and Innovation -- 7. Infrastructure...