TV American Experience - Season 7 Episode 12 : The Way West (1): Westward, the Course of Empire Takes Its Way (1845-1864) American Experience - Season 7 Episode 12 : The Way West (1): Westward, the Course of Empire Takes Its Way (1845-1864) 6.6/10 by 43 users A six-hour documentary of how the West was lost and won, from the time of the Gold Rush in 1848 until after the last gasp of the Indian Wars at Wounded Knee in 1893, when the West was settled, subdued, exploited and incorporated into the American empire. Lakotas, Cheyennes, Kiowas, Poncas, Apaches, Nez Perces and Utes fought back, then watched as everything they had was taken from them, their way of life all but destroyed. Details Casts Posters Images Title American Experience - Season 7 Episode 12 : The Way West (1): Westward, the Course of Empire Takes Its Way (1845-1864) Alternative Titles The American Experience First Air Date 1988-10-04 Last Air Date 2026-01-06 Number of Episodes 400 Number of Seasons 38 Genres Documentary, Networks PBS, Casts Plot Keywords , Episodes List American Experience Season 7 :Episode 1 FDR (1): The Center of the World (1882-1921) FDR (1): The Center of the World (1882-1921) 1994-10-12 TV's most-watched history series brings to life the compelling stories from our past that inform our understanding of the world today. American Experience Season 7 :Episode 2 FDR (2): Fear Itself (1922-1933) FDR (2): Fear Itself (1922-1933) 1992-10-12 TV's most-watched history series brings to life the compelling stories from our past that inform our understanding of the world today. American Experience Season 7 :Episode 3 FDR (3): The Grandest Job in the World (1933-1940) FDR (3): The Grandest Job in the World (1933-1940) 1994-10-13 TV's most-watched history series brings to life the compelling stories from our past that inform our understanding of the world today. American Experience Season 7 :Episode 4 FDR (4): The Juggler (1940-1945) FDR (4): The Juggler (1940-1945) 1994-10-13 TV's most-watched history series brings to life the compelling stories from our past that inform our understanding of the world today. American Experience Season 7 :Episode 5 Telegrams from the Dead Telegrams from the Dead 1994-10-19 TV's most-watched history series brings to life the compelling stories from our past that inform our understanding of the world today. American Experience Season 7 :Episode 6 Midnight Ramble Midnight Ramble 1994-10-26 TV's most-watched history series brings to life the compelling stories from our past that inform our understanding of the world today. American Experience Season 7 :Episode 7 Battle of the Bulge Battle of the Bulge 1994-11-09 TV's most-watched history series brings to life the compelling stories from our past that inform our understanding of the world today. American Experience Season 7 :Episode 10 One Woman, One Vote (1) One Woman, One Vote (1) 1995-01-23 TV's most-watched history series brings to life the compelling stories from our past that inform our understanding of the world today. American Experience Season 7 :Episode 11 One Woman, One Vote (2) One Woman, One Vote (2) 1995-01-30 TV's most-watched history series brings to life the compelling stories from our past that inform our understanding of the world today. American Experience Season 7 :Episode 12 The Way West (1): Westward, the Course of Empire Takes Its Way (1845-1864) The Way West (1): Westward, the Course of Empire Takes Its Way (1845-1864) 1995-05-08 TV's most-watched history series brings to life the compelling stories from our past that inform our understanding of the world today. American Experience Season 7 :Episode 13 The Way West (2): The Approach of Civilization (1865-1869) The Way West (2): The Approach of Civilization (1865-1869) 1995-05-09 TV's most-watched history series brings to life the compelling stories from our past that inform our understanding of the world today. American Experience Season 7 :Episode 14 The Way West (3): The War for the Black Hills (1870-1876) The Way West (3): The War for the Black Hills (1870-1876) 1995-05-16 TV's most-watched history series brings to life the compelling stories from our past that inform our understanding of the world today. American Experience Season 7 :Episode 15 The Way West (4): Ghost Dance (1877-1893) The Way West (4): Ghost Dance (1877-1893) 1995-05-17 TV's most-watched history series brings to life the compelling stories from our past that inform our understanding of the world today.