The Pioneers: The Heroic Story of the Settlers Who Brought the American Ideal West

While receiving some accolades, The Pioneers has also elicited sharp criticism. Reviewers praise David McCullough for bringing to light an important piece of American history. Given the critical role that Ohio played in the settlement of the west, McCullough makes a significant contribution to popular knowledge in telling the stories of its founding pioneers. Most people had never heard of Rufus Putnam, Samuel Hildreth, or the others who feature in this work, so McCullough brings their stories to the attention of a wide general audience.

Like in his earlier works, McCullough painstakingly researches the lives of the early pioneers. He provides an extensive bibliography that includes many primary sources, such as newspapers and letters from the time period, as well as secondary sources. To support his conclusions about the intellectual interests of the pioneers and their devotion to freedom, he uses their own words and/or those of their contemporaries, including obituaries upon their deaths. He analyzes the Northwest Ordinance to make the case for its monumental significance. In this sense, McCullough supports his argument with evidence and properly cites sources. It is a work of non-fiction, with no false details added to embellish the