The history of the American Bulldog is a controversial issue, unaided by the many twists & turns of truth from various people. You can choose to believe what you want; I am not one to say what is the truth, since I was not here hundreds of years ago. Here are some of the “truths” out there:

It is speculated that the ancestors of the American Bulldog were brought to the British Isles circa 50 AD by the ancient Romans whose renowned war dogs are ancestor to many molosser breeds today.   Originally called "pugnace" from the Latin word pugnare "to fight" these ancestors remained in the British Isles as war dogs- who were often trained to pull down horses during battle- throughout the early Middle Ages.  When the William the Conqueror defeated the Saxons in 1066, the Norman Conquest began.  The Normans infiltrated the Saxon society with their language and culture, including their traditions of baiting bulls, bears, lions, horses, dogs, and other animals for amusement.  The native dogs were bred and used widely in England for this purpose and for working livestock for centuries.  They were bred for working function.  These truculent and tenacious dogs were known for their strong character, athleticism and strength, great heart and gameness.   They were often referred to as fawn or brindle and white and eventually became known as "Bulldogs" during the 17^th century.   In 1835, baiting contests were made illegal and the bulldog in England was ultimately crossed with the pug, eventually becoming the English Bulldog.  Fortunately, the dog that would become the American Bulldog emigrated to the Americas centuries before and remains far truer to the archetype of the original Bulldog.

The American Bulldog is the breed that most closely resembles the original "Bulldog." Since the 1600's English colonists brought with them the old working Bulldog for use as utility farms dogs, catching livestock, and protecting the farm from animals and other intruders.   These bulldogs required speed, endurance, strength, courage, heart and loyalty as they were used to vanquish bears, wolves, coyotes, mountain lions, wild boar and catch domestic livestock.  For centuries, these dogs thrived on working farms and in rural areas in Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Florida and the Carolinas.  While they were called by various names and had certain diversity in type, these Bulldogs were all true to the heritage as a total working dog. 

Eventually, the number of these dogs dwindled and until the 1960's when breed enthusiasts such as John D Johnson and Alan Scott strove to bring back the breed from extinction.  The American Bulldog is still considered a rare breed.  The modern American Bulldog maintains some diversity in type as many working farms continue to breed for function alone.